Question
What happens if I stop taking treatment?
31 August 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics, Changing treatment, Side effects, Southern 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.
My Partner stopped drinking her ARV in June 2022. In April 2023 her CD4 count was 354 and viral load was 11500. I cannot answer or explain why she has stopped drinking her ARV’s. What are the risk/complications for her stop drinking her meds since June 2022 and how soon can her cd4 count drop to 200.
Hi Gina, not being on your meds for a week will not impact your healing. What was your viral load before you had to go without treatment? and have you now been able to restart?
Have you had problems with healing before? If this something new/you are concerned about, please speak with your doctor about possible causes of delayed healing.
How did you cause these cuts? and are they healing normally but slowly, or have you noticed any other changes e.g., warmth, pus, colour changes, etc…
I haven’t taken my HIV meds for about a week I had insurance change to Medicare n was having problems with the insurance paying for my meds I have to pick my meds up tomorrow I’ve had a few little cuts on my thumbs n they don’t seem to get better can it be from me not taking my meds for a week already
Hi Dora, why do you want to stop it until after birth? Treatment is safe to take while pregnant and is the best way at keeping both you and baby healthy. It also works at preventing transmission to baby.
Even being on treatment for a short while during your pregnancy and significantly reduce the risk of transmission. Baby will even be given their own treatment for a short while after birth to make sure the risk is as low as possible.
This is explained further here: https://i-base.info/qa/19891
Hello I started my med in past 3days and I want to stop it and I continue with it after birth what will happen?
Hi Maureen, I am sorry to hear how the last few months have been. Yes you can restart your medication.
How long had you been on treatment before stopping? and do you want to restart the same treatment you were on?
Do you know what your current CD4 count and viral load is? After starting treatment again it is recommended to have another viral load test soon after. This is to check that your treatment is still working. It is great to hear that you do not feel sick or anything.
Am hiv positive,been going thru a lot for like 5-8month now,so I stopped using my drugs,was depressed but now can I continue my drugs though I dont feel sick or anything.pls.what can I do?
Hi Catty, is there a reason your husband has stopped treatment? is he seeing a doctor to have these abscesses treated?
Does your husband know what his current CD4 count and viral load is? As he has not been taking treatment for the last year it is likely that his immune system will be damaged (and cause a lower CD4 count). With a weaker immune system he will be more prone to infections/abscesses.
Do you know if your husband would consider restarting treatment?
Hi my husband’ stop thaking treatment being a year now complaining of abscess now and den
Hi Ceaser, yes this is possible. When did you stop your treatment? and have you been up to date with viral load and CD4 testing?
Are you intending on going back to your original clinic? It is helpful to share your previous treatment history when restarting treatment. This can help guide how your treatment is managed. It is also advised to have a viral load test shortly after restarting. This is to show that your treatment is working.
Do you want to go back on the same treatment you were on before you stopped?