Q and A

Question

How long does an HIV negative infant take the Ilvitrim syrup?

 For how long can an infant take the ilvitrim suspension syrup when tested negative?

Answer

Hi

Please ask your doctor about this. The doctor will tell you why it is important and how long it need to be used for.

Usually it will be for at least 18 months. However, it also needs to be continued if breastfeeding is longer than this.

Ilvitrim syrup is a combination of two antibiotics. It protects your baby from different infections.

186 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Jennifer,

    ilvitrim is an antibiotic, its not an ARVs. Your child not having the correct dose won’t have any impact on their possible status. As your breastfeeding are you also giving your child ARVs?

  2. Jennifer

    At 6 weeks my baby was put on ilivtrim and i made a mistake of giving him less dose then im suppose to give now they tested him again at 16 weeks is there a possibility of him being infected im breastfeeding and i have been taking my meds just fine so what are the changes of him being infected?

  3. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Milla,

    As Simon says above, please ask your doctor about this. Ilvitrim is an antibiotic but it’s not an HIV med. It’s important to discuss your baby’s treatment and the best way to feed her with your doctor.

  4. MILLA

    my baby was on cimpla nevirapine and breastfeeding her so at 6 weeks they gave her ILVITRIM so will I continue breast feed the baby while am giving her this ILVITRIM?

  5. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Milla,

    Its up to you which formula you want to use for your child. With formula feeding there are no risks at all to you baby. ilvitrim is an antibiotic, it isn’t an ARV. You’ll need to ask your doctor why your child is being given this.

  6. milla

    ei my baby was on cimpla nevirapine and breast feeding her so after 6weeks they gave me ILVITRIM so will I continue breastfeeding the baby? and if no which product do I use for her ?is Similac right for her if I choose to stopped breast feeding the baby is having 7weeks now

  7. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Patrica,

    Formula milk is the prefered feeding methods in a lot of coutries as there’s no risk of transmission. Therefore, if you’re ready to switch from breastmilk to formula then you can. You don’t need to wait until the baby is 6 weeks old. Gripe water should be OK. It won’t have any interactions with the nerirapine.

  8. patricia

    Hi..um an hiv mom nd breastfeeding a week baby is it ok to give gripe water nd also change him to bottlefeed afta the nevirapine period of 6weeks they gave me…my viral load is lower than detectable as they told me…thnx

  9. Thembie

    Hi am hiv+ my viral load is lower than decected. My baby is now 9 weeks I was breastfeeding few weeks after I breastfed my nipples cracked n I saw blood after I breastfed my baby can this infect her I am really scared

  10. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Thembie,

    Please don’t be scared. But it’s important to talk to the doctor about the best way to feed your baby.

    It’s good that you are on HIV treatment (ART). Taking ART and having an undetectable viral load dramatically reduces the risk of transmission through breastfeeding. However, please discuss your cracked nipples with the doctor.

    Do you have access to formula? You can ask if this is a better way to feed your baby now. But it’s important that you don’t mix feed with both breast milk and formula. Mix feeding can increase the risk of transmission.

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