Question
How can I decrease my viral load?
1 November 2016. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
hi my question is that I found out I am hiv positive and my c4 was 64 and am now on treatment. The last time Ii do my varal load was more than 3000, they asked me to do it again this month. I’m stressed to much and that makes me scared. What can I used to boost my viral load? I don’t have a problem with my treatment my problem is the stress I have.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
What was your viral load when you were diagnosed? How long have you been on treatment? Has your CD4 increased since you started meds?
I appreciate that you are concerned that your viral load is not undetectable. It is though still low, and will continue to go down if you take your meds. It can take up to six months to become undetectable. It is taking your meds that will decrease your viral load, and nothing else.
Hi Nana,
Has your viral load ever been undetectable? Do you take your meds daily as prescribed?
When someone is on medication for more than 3 months and their viral load is still high this could be a sign that the meds aren’t working as they should be. If this is the case, you will need to change to another combination. This is something that you’ll need to talk to your doctor about.
There’s info about resistance here:
http://i-base.info/guides/changing
Hi I’m on meds for 10 yrs and I’m worried abt my viral load is still high and I’m so stress rght now
Hi Yoli, Many questions about HIV treatment and body changes are answered here. Modern ART is easier to take and has fewer side effects than older meds.
Starting ART can reduce your viral load to undetectable. You can talk to the clinic about ART side effects and what can be the best meds for your schedule.
I discovered my viral load is high can’t recall by how much left the information in my hand bag. However my cd4 is about 959 I have been + for the last 13years without talking any treatment. My concern n worry about the meds is the after effects where people body’s turn to take on a different shape and the loose their buttocks breast sag and grow a belly is there no way to get it low other than treatment I’ve always fought for my cd4 to go up whenever it dropped can I delay this till my next six month test and see if there won’t be a change
Hello, A CD4 count of 1100 is high and so your immune system is strong. You can ask what the doctor means about the immune booster suggestion. But the goal of being on treatment is to get viral load to below 50 (undetectable). It’s a good idea to check these results with the doctor. If the viral load is still over 3000, you can ask about switching to newer meds.
hello im hiv + for 6 yrs I nd I hv bn on treatment fo yrs . I did my viral load nd cd4 in 2015 it was 23000+ nd 1200cd4 den my doctor advice to change drugs bt later on they said I should repeat the viral load bcos its suppose to be higher viral load lower cd4 nd repeat d 2 tyms in 2016 2017 one is 7000+ den d other 3000+. And my cd4 1100 in 2017oct den my doctor suggest an immune booster to monitor d viral load. my arv I lamivudin zidovudine nevirapine.
Hi Ntombi,
Please see Q6 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
And the following guide:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi!!! I’m on meds same as my partner, the problem it’s that we need a baby, what should I do.
Hi Ntombi,
Has your viral load ever been undetectable? Do you take your medication as prescribed? What meds are you taking?
Hi!! I started my meds on 2013,my cd4 is 396 but my problem is my viral load is up to 900, I’m worried.