Question
I stopped meds, can I begin taking them again?
14 December 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.
I found out about my HIV status this year September I was then given arvs on the 18 of October I only used them for three weeks I then stop….. It has been a month not taking them, will I become resistance to the treatment if I start using them next month? my cd4count is 327. Im scared if I start using them again I will get sick so I wanna know if I can start using them again or I should take immune boosters
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
Firstly, HIV meds are very good and very safe. They work really well. Even if you have trouble with side effects with one combination, it should be easy to use a different one.
“Immune boosters” are just an advertising scan. Although companies might claim this, there is no evidence that any of them work for HIV – or anything else.
These products will not help your CD4 count, nor your HIV. The only thing that will is ARVs.
Having a month of meds isn’t ideal, but please talk to your doctor about this if you are worried.
It is great that you are thinking about restarting as the combination is likely to still work very well. For more info on restarting, please see this earlier answer:
https://i-base.info/qa/12271
Hi Gugu, yes you can still recover. Have you now started your Tb meds? Have you spoken with your doctors about wanting to restart your HIV meds? It is safe to restart. As it has been a year, when restarting your old treatment you will need a viral load test a few weeks after restarting to make sure your treatment is still working.
Have you kept up to date with your CD4 count and viral load tests? and what was the name of the HIV treatment you were taking?
Can I ask if there was a reason you stopped taking your HIV meds in the first place?
Hi I’m Gugu i stopped taking my ARVs for a year and half now and now I have been diagnosed with TB can I still recover i want start my meds again is it safe
Hi Bophelo, are you able to attend a local clinic/hopsital to ask for a short course of ARVs while you are away from home?
Are you too far from home to make the trip back?
Unfortautnely there is nothing else you can take aside from ARVs. What is the name of the ARVs you take and do you know your viral load?
Hi my is Bophelo, I forgot my arv at home and I’m away for three weeks, what can I use in the meantime?
Hi Reina, it is great that you want to start taking your pills again. Is there a reason you had stopped?
What about returning to the clinic is worrying you? Being on treatment is the best thing you can do for your health. This is something that should be supported by your clinic and you should not feel afraid to go back.
Hey I have not been taking my pills for like 6months now I want to start taking again but am afraid to go back to the old clinic
Hi Tumza, yes it is safe to start treatment again. What treatment were you on before? Are you able to go back to the same clinic?
Have you kept up with your CD4 count and viral load tests? It would be importnat to have a second viral load test after restarting to confirm that your treatment is still working.
Hi I’ve stopped taking my treatment 3 years ago and I want to start again is it safe?
Hi Amanda, how are you doing? It is okay to start treatment again. Have you been getting any signs/symptoms currently?
Have you had recent CD4 and viral load testing? and will you want to start the same treatment you were on previously?
You can return to your old clinic and ask to be restarted. It is important to have a viral load test a few weeks later to make sure that your treatment is working. A CD4 count test will also be needed to check the health of your immune system and if you need any other medication while it recovers.
Hello good morning am Annet i stopped taking ARVs for three years because of some problems but is it okay if i start again because am scared the signs am getting