Question
Should I worry about IRIS if I started Viraday when my CD4 was 10?
1 March 2015. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Opportunistic infections, Starting treatment.
Hello there
I found out I was HIV positive in January 2015. My viral load was 414,000 and my CD4 was 10. I am not having any symptoms nothing except the skin rash.
I started my HIV medicine (Viraday) a week ago and i felt the side effects. Am I now in any danger ?
My doctors said that I am not, and that everything is good thing and it just needs time.
I’ve read all the questions above but still i wanted to ask how much does it take to increase my CD4 and about the IRIS. If IRIS is gonna happen, after how long from starting the medicine does it come?
Thank you a lot.
Answer
Hi
Thanks for your questions.
First, it is good you are now on treatment. You very have been lucky if you have not had symptoms with such a low CD4 count.
Your CD4 count is already likely to be higher, but for most people this will be a slow and steady increase. On average, it might take a years for your CD4 count to increase to 100 and another year to reach 200.
Some people get larger increases and for some people it might take more time.
If IRIS is going to happen, it is usually in the first few weeks or months after starting treatment. This make it very important to talk to your doctor about any new symptoms. Your doctor needs to decide whether new symptoms are side effects or symptoms of IRIS.
IRIS stand for Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome. IRIS occurs to about 1 in 4 people starting with a CD4 count under 50. The related infections can include TB and CMV. It is important that your doctor checks your eyes for CMV, especially if you have noticed any chances in your eyesight or vision.
Viraday is a generic version of Atripla.
Your viral load is very low for such a low CD4 count. Did you really mean 414 or 414,000?
Hi, Most drugs have side effects for some people. Usually, with current HIV drugs, these are mild and easy to manage. Many people have some side effects in the first few weeks or months after they start HIV treatment. But often the side effects soon get better. And people can experience differences in side effects, and to different degrees, from other people.
Hi, I have a question: How long do side effect last?
Hi,
It is important to tell your doctor or clinic about any symptoms, especially if they involve pain. They can help you work out what is causing this and how to treat it. What you describe is not usually associated with Viraday.
My cd4 count is 155 and viral load is 336904. For last 30 days I am on viradey, but now I have terrible pain in my whole body, is this a side effect of viradey?
Hi,
You should talk to your doctor of clinic about your symptoms. They can help you work out what is causing them and how to treat them.
Hi, i’ve tested HIV positive 3 years ago. I am not on treatment but now i’ve noticed i have red eyes, previously i got treated for rash all over my body, is my condition dangerous?
Great – thanks – appreciate you letting us know on both things – I will change the question so this is clear now. Good luck with everything :)
No, I meant 414 000 … this is why doctor said it has been a long time since I have had it – more than 10 years, no? Thank God I’m not feeling other symptoms or the eyes. I don;t notice any change till now. Thanks you for the information.
Hi Buzwe
There is no reason why you can’t have a baby if this is what you want.
Speak to your doctor who can help with planning this.
Your partner will need to use ARVs during the pregnancy, usually after the first trimester. If her CD4 count is still high, there is a choice afterwards about whether to stay on treatment or not.
See this guide to pregnancy for more info:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi
I am HIV positve and i’ve been a year on ARV’s medication. My partner is also positive, but is not yet on medication on the moment since her CD4 count is still good.
My question could we have a baby without japadising our health?