Question
Can I take multivitamins and minerals with ARVs?
28 July 2016. Related: All topics, Drug interactions.
Answer
Hi
Multivitamins are minerals are only really needed if you have a deficiency or if you don;t have a balanced and nutritious diet.
So long as you use recommend dose they will not do any harm.
The only ARVs that interact with multivitamins are integrate inhibitors. It this case you just need to separate dosing of the multivitamins and ARVs by at least four hours
Hi Nozipho, thanks for your question but can I check the details first. Do you mean your CD4 count or viral load? The CD4 count is good to be high. The viral load needs to be low – ideally undetectable. If your viral load is always high, please talk to your doctor as you might need to change to different meds.
Hi im concern about my cd4. It always high i don’t know what’s wrong i always take my meds ok i take them at 8:00 am but it’s like I’m wasting my time and they change my meds but still it does not change and now I see something in the roof of my mouth and it’s not painful but irritating. I really need help at the clinic they always insult me now and then. Help me what must I do?
Hi Ezzy, some HIV meds have interactions that mean separating the HIV meds dose from some multivitamins.
For example, if your meds contain dolutegravir (ie TLD), please see this info:
https://i-base.info/guides/8851
Other drugs are listed here:
https://i-base.info/guides/category/arvs
Hi am taking vitamin c and zinc 5 hours before my ARVs is it ok?
Hi Mapula, if your HIV meds are called TLD or include dolutegravir, please see info at this link about magnesium interactions:
https://i-base.info/guides/14970
Hi.i am on DS 24 multivitamin adn Dr recommended magnesium for fatigue.am I safe?
Hi Mandisa, do you know what your CD4 count is? and what ‘immune boosters’ and multivitamins do you want to take?
Aside from HIV treatment, there are no additional supplements you need to be taking to ‘boost’ your immune system. There is no evidence-based research to suggest that ‘immune boosters’ will help to improve your health.
If you are intending to take these supplements it is advised to take them at the opposite end of the day to your treatment. Some multivitamins contain minerals that will reduce how much HIV treatment is absorbed – this will impact your CD4 count and viral load.
If you take your HIV treatment in the morning, taking these supplements in the evening is long enough to prevent any risk of interaction.
Hey Doc I’m living with HIV and my immune system is very weak then I want to know that can I take the immune boosters and multivitamin at the same time with my ARVs please i need your help.
Hi Lindiwe, as with most supplements it will be recommended to take them at the opposite end of the day to your ARVs.
This is because most supplements contain the minerals calcium, magnesium and/or zinc. In this case, these minerals can reduce how much of the ARVs are absorbed and the treatment will be less effective.
As a minimum you need to take the supplements at least 6 hours BEFORE or 2 hours AFTER taking your ARVs. This amount of time is long enough to prevent any risk of interaction and both will work.
Hi can I take immune with arvs Sametime