Question
My husband started meds with a CD4 count of 4? What about his liver?
25 September 2014. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Life expectancy, Side effects, Starting treatment.
My husband’s CD count is 4 and he started on ARV two months ago.
My concern is whether it is too late for him or does he still have a chance to survive. He is also taking two ilvitrim tablets in the morning and at night and vitamin tablets in the morning.
Will these tablets damage his liver?
Answer
Hi
Thanks for your questions – your husband is lucky to have you finding out about his health.
Guidelines recommend starting treatment much earlier when the CD4 count is about 350 or higher. However, if you don’t find out until your CD4 count is already much lower, there are still a really good chance he will be ok.
I know many people who started treatment when their CD4 count less than 10. Then have been leading full and active lives for the last 10-15 years. And meds today are even better than they were back then.
Because his CD4 count was below 50 it is important to be monitored very carefully until it gets above 50 and then above 100. See this post for detail about something called IRIS.
If he has been okay for the last two months, then his CD4 count is already likely to be increasing.
Ilvitrim is a dual antibiotic that is also called co-trimoxazole. See this question for more information
Your husband should have routine monitoring to check his liver is okay. Occasionally there are problems when meds need to be changed. The main concern over the liver is when someone also has hepatitis B or C.
Hi, I’m HIV and my CD4 is 125 now, I’m taking Aluvia and Didivir, is a problem always when I swallow Aluvia, I vomit sometimes and end up not taking it which is wrong. I went to doctor and explain then I did blood resistance and I’m not resistance on this medication. I want to find out if I can change to 1 pill so I can able to drink properly, I’m scared that maybe I can die n Leave my sons.i spoke to doctor n he think I’m having excuses. Help pls
Hi sibongile,
The ARVs wont’ be the reason why you’ve had a long period. Longer periods can be due to all sorts of reasons. This is something that you’ll need to talk to a doctor about.
Hi I’m taking alluvia nd dumiva bt I hv abdominal pain nd since my periods starts this moth they hv nt stopped wat can I do?
Hi Pamella,
If your boyfriend is having chest pains and is having problems eating he’ll need to see a healthcare professional. As his CD4 is 15, he should ideally be getting specialist care and following the advice that’s included here:
https://i-base.info/qa/4643
My boyfriend has just started treatment. He’s having chest pains. His CD4 count is 15. He’s also unable to eat.
Hi Takalani,
Please see here:
https://i-base.info/qa/10149
Hi I’ve been given ilvitrim do I don’t know how many pills per day should I take coz I’m on ARV treatment.
Hey i started my meds wen my CD4 was 10, neverapine. tenolum and cotri. He must not loose hope.
Hi,
There is no reason you shouldn’t be able to change to a once-a-day combination, unless you have resistance. You can ask at your clinic about Atripla, this is sometimes also called Tribuss or Odimune.
I started treatment when my CD 4 count was 30 and was given Aluvia, 3TC and AZT, and i am very well and gaining weight. Can I switch to 1 pill a day because the nurse told me she doubts if I would be able to change because of Aluvia.