Question
Will “immune boosters” help my CD4 count?
18 December 2015. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Drug interactions, Supplements and herbs.
My friend is also on HIV treatment is taking some immune boosters he bought. Would these help my CD4 count too?
Answer
Hi,
HIV treatment (ART) is the only thing that will help make sure your CD4 count goes up or stays stable.
Both you and your friend should be careful about any product that is branded or sold as an ‘immune booster’.
These and other supplements will do nothing to help your CD4 count. As the ingredients are usually unknown, they could potentially be harmful. The advertising is at best misleading and at worst is likely to be lying to scam you out of your money.
Herbs and supplements can also interact with your HIV meds and stop the medicine from working properly.
Before starting ART tell your doctor and pharmacist about any other drugs, medicines or supplements that you are taking.
This online resoure is a really useful way to check for drug interactions.
Hello Rob and thanks for getting in touch.
Immunex (if I have found the right medication online) is a supplement of colostrum and vitamin C.
In general supplements are not needed for a person who can eat and drink, unless your doctor has discovered a specific deficiency and has prescribed them or advised you to take them.
Depending on which ARVs you take you must check if there is any interaction.
Supplements rich in metals (zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium) interact with more recent ARVs and need to be spaced by 6 hours from your tablets.
I can say that after ten years it’s ok to stop a supplement.
If in doubt about interaction please check with a pharmacist near you.
Morning, when i was diagnosed with hiv 10 years ago my doctor advised me to take immunex original, my cd4 count is ok but now I want to stop taking the supplement. Can I go ahead as my doctor is longer practicing where I knew before?
Thanks,
Hello David and thanks for getting in touch.
It’s great you want to know more about sexual health and how to protect yourself.
You can find more information here:
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
hi can you be infected by hiv through oral sex
Hi Annonymus, what is the name of the ART you are taking?
Was recently diagnosed with ischemic heart disease and am a hypertensive patient too…so is Procydin as a supplement along my ARVs,cholesterol and blood pressure meds safe
Hi Anonymous
As the above post states, there is no evidence that immune boosters have any benefit at all. The only proven way to increase your CD4 count is to use the ARVs that you’re now taking.