Question
What happens if I stop taking treatment?
31 August 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics, Changing treatment, Side effects, South Africa, Stopping treatment.
What are the side effects if someone stops taking her medication for HIV?
Answer
Thanks for your question.
May I ask why you are thinking of stopping? Many people find adhering hard at some in their lives but there are ways to make it easier. Likewise if you are suffering side effects – you can switch to meds that better suit you.
Several years ago a very large study called SMART reported that stopping treatment increased the risk of serious complications. These included a higher risk for heart, liver and kidney complications in people who stopped treatment and also a higher rate of some cancers.
If you decide to stop treatment, your viral load is likely to rebound within a few weeks. If you stay off treatment your CD4 count will start to drop over the next few months. When this happens the risk of developing other infections and getting sick increases.
How quickly this will happen though varies a lot. The lower your CD4 count was when you started meds, the quicker your CD4 is likely to fall without ART.
In the SMART study, most people who took a treatment break did pretty well for a short time. However, most people were not able to recover their CD4 count to earlier levels even 18 months after they restarted treatment.
Please talk to your doctor about who you feel. It is not generally good to stop treatment. It is definitely not good to do this without first talking to your doctor.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Hey there what is the side effects of defaulting or missing the ARV treatment? Should I go back to hospital or start to take the meds again. I am always dizzy. Don’t have appetite. Throw up overnight i dnt want to feel like like this way. Please help me.
Hi John, I am sorry to hear you are feeling like this. Have you always found taking treatment a burden for the last 7 years? and have you been able to speak with anyone about how you are feeling?
Hello.
I want to stop taking them because it is a hassle and a burden for me to continue with this.
I’ve been on art since 7 years ago, but the clinic is having trouble keeping otself open and available for service.
I don’t make enough to just buy the meds.
I’m thinking of quitting it.
People say you live normal with art. You don’t. You suffer extensively through the inaction of others.
Hi Bimb, have you spoken to a doctor about your bloating? As you have been on established ARV treatment for 3 years, they are not likely to be related.
I-base are not doctors, we are HIV treatment advocates and cannot provide medial advice. You will need to speak with your healthcare provider for further input.
Hi doc I’ve been on my ARV for 3 years now this swollen belle started 3 weeks ago, it’s bloated
Hi Bimb, are you able to talk to a pharmacist about what ARV you are taking? Knowing the name will help figure out if your swollen belly is being caused by your ARV.
How long have you been taking ARVs? and how long have you had a swollen belly?
Yes I’m using the ARV Miss, one side of my belle is swollen
Are you using this ARV?
And I think nigeria got just one type of ARv
Hi Bimb, what makes you say this? and how is your HIV being managed?