Question
What are natural ways to lower HIV viral load?
24 July 2016. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.
What are natural ways to lower HIV viral load?
Answer
The only way to lower viral load is to use HIV meds (ART). These are really effective treatment and are the only proven way to do this.
HIV is a virus that can only be treated with effective medicines.
ARVs are the “natural” way. Any suggestion otherwise is misguided and unhelpful.
Hi Precious, what was your last viral load result? and have you recently had a vaccine or have been ill when you had the test?
Do you have another viral load test booked soon to confirm the result or if this was an error?
I have been taking ARV’s now for almost 11 years, I take medication on time every day consistently, but now my viral load is 350, I’m really wory
Hi Leo, thanks, your results are really good and you are doing very well. If your viral load was very high when you started treatment, it might just take a little longer to become undetectable. Please keep taking you meds carefully and on time, and you might easily be undetectable by January. It is difficult to comment any more becasue I don’t have you whole HIV history.
It is okay to drink alcohol on ART, but moderation is best. You need to make sure that drinking doesn’t affect you taking your meds on time.
I was diagnosed HIV positive in June 2022 and started taking my medication in July 2022. Last December 1 got tested for my cd4 and it has gone from 191 up to 470 and im wondering why my viral load is 95 copies for almost 6 months taking my medication. Is it possible that end of January is getting lower? And do im allowed to drink alcohol during under medication?
Hi Lesetja, if you miss a dose you do not need to double your next dose. Often HIV medication remains in the body long enough that missing a day is not going to risk your health.
Taking a double dose can sometimes lead to more noticeable side effects. These will only last for as long as there is a higher level of drug in your body. These will usually disappear in a day or two if you even notice them at all.
This event will not have any effect on your white body cells. Have you had a recent test for your CD4 count?
HY WHAT HAPENS WHEN I TAKE 2 TABLETS AT THE SAME TIME MAYBE A DAY OR 2 DAYS AFTER SKIPPING TO TAKE MEDICATION AND WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF HAVING LOW WHITE BODY CELLS
Hi Somahhasi, what is your viral load now?
I have same problem my viral load was undectable for 3 years no start showing up lot More
Hi Sylviia,
It’s great that your viral load has been undetecable for three years. It sounds like your HIV meds are working well.
But you can ask your doctor to test again to check whether it was just a blip. A blip is when viral load goes above 50 copies/mL for a short time and then drops back down.
Please see this link for more about blips.
Hi, over the past three years my viral load was undetectable,below 50 last month all of a sudden its now 358 what could be wrong?