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 Fiky,
As Lisa says on this Q&A, the meds are likely to still work very well.
For more info on restarting, please see this earlier answer:
http://i-base.info/qa/12271
I was away for less than 3 weeks and forgot my meds, will they still work if i take them again? Please assist.
Hi Johanna,
It’s great that you want to restart taking your meds, this is a really important step.
With regards to what you’re offered, this will depend on where it is that you live, but importantly if you’ve developed any resistance to your previous combination.
Ideally your doctor should run some tests to see what meds will work best for you as well as a CD4 count test and viral load test.
With regards to the fear for being judged, you’ve done nothing wrong and you have a right to be treated with respect.
Hi there, I was diagnosed HIV+ back in 2016 and I was pregnant then, I got off my meds August 2018 with an undetectable VL. I’ve been thinking of going back to the clinic but I’m scared to actually take the first step because of the judgement. I was on Efavirenz, atroiza that’s all I can remember. Are they gonna start me there again or are they gonna change my regimen to 3pills a day? How does it work?
I was away for 4 days and i forgot to take my medication with me. I didn’t use them for about 4 days. And started using them on the 5th day when i was back. Does this mean my viral load has been affected? Last month when i did the blood test the results came back saying, the virus is undetected
Hi Vuvu,
Though not ideal, you should be OK. This is because it take a week or so before a persons viral load becomes detectable again. Are you however able to have a viral load test?
Hi Zama,
It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and start taking your medication too. If you’ve had a break in treatment it’s important that you dicuss this with your doctor. They may want to run tests for viral load to make sure your meds will continue to work well.
Can I ask why you stopped for 2 weeks? Was it because of side effects or did you find it difficult to take them.
What HIV meds are you taking? And if you have access to your CD4 count and viral load, please let us know those results too.
Hi there i stopped my treatment for about 2 weeks now im feeling abit sick and nauseas should i go to the clinic and tell them about this or should I continue taking my medication??
Hi Gabisile,
It’s important that you tell the clinic that you we’ve already taken ARVs, and tell them which ones.
If your viral load isn’t going down, this means that the treatment that you’re currently taking isn’t working. You’re going to need to change. Please see here: http://i-base.info/guides/side/changing-hiv-drugs
I stopped my treatment for a 1 yr and I went to a new clinic they tested me positive now I was afraid to tell them i was on treatment.They made me start a new one it been 7months on a new treatment now I’m worried my VRLD is getting higher every time I go for blood test what can I do now