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 Worried,
If you don’t take any ARVs for three weeks, your viral load will rebound. What this means is that your HIV will no longer be under control and if you were to have unprotected sex there’d be a risk of transmission. Even if you’re in another province you should be able to get some ARVs. However in you’re in South Africa the best org to get in touch with are the following: https://tac.org.za/
I started my medication 2015 my arvs will get finished on Monday due to covid 19 I have moved to another province so will only go back to Jhb end of April what will happen if I don’t take my medication for 3 weeks.
Hi Melissa,
As you’ve been off meds for a month it’s important that you discuss this with your doctor. Ideally they should check to see what your viral load is as well as CD4 count. You may be able to use the same medication that you were on before, however you may need to use something else. Again, your doctor should discuss this with you.
When you so restart meds, it’s very important that you adhere to them. If you don’t the chances of you developing resistance to your medication will increase, this means that your options will become limited.
But yes, do restart, but with the support of your doctor.
I’m on arv for 3months and I stopped them for a month. Can I start taking them again
Hi Cara,
I’m sorry to hear your story. It sounds like things are tough.
But as you’ve not been able to take your ARVs for 5 months it’s important that you use condoms to protect your partner. That’s because there might be viral rebound which means you are not undetectable any more.
So it’s a good idea to use condoms for now. When you get back home please talk to your doctor about your treatment break.
i have questioned about my case,im taking arv since 2014 and my last CD4 count is 300 and undetectable and currently im illegal or overstayed in Japan so like 5months i have not takimg medecine,my concern is i have partner and can i still do the unprotected sex to him,?by next june this year i will go back to my country and see doctor and going to take med if necessarry,so that my concern can i still have sex with him even i dont know my CD4 test now and how many months that i can still do the unprotected sex for a while until that i risk him to being positive?thank u
Hi Tumi,
First, congratulations on news of your new born baby girl.
It’s good that you’re taking ARVs and that she is on a short course of nevirapine. But why have you run out of pills? Is it because of a stock out?
If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) at this contact link. TAC can help with local support and access to HIV treatment and care.
i was diagnosed wth HIV on the 7th of March i have a new born baby she is taking nevirapine for 6 weeks and my husband tested negative. i was having ARVs for 7. i run out of pills. this is day 2 wth no med. i dnt bo what is happening to me. please help!!
Hi Dole,
It’s common to be worried about starting ARVs, and if you’ve had some side effects then this can put people off. However, it’s really important that you engage in care. This is more pressing if your CD4 is less than 350. If you had side effects last time, then you might be given a different ARV combination. However, this is something that you’d need to talk to your doctor about. I can’t stress enough how important it is to engage with care, so if you can, please see someone before July.
I was diagnosed in July 2018. I did not take any drugs. In December 2019, I was diagnosed again. With fear, I took the drug for 8 days and stopped due to side effects. I don’t feel really sick but I am afraid and don’t know what to do.
I want to start taking it in July, can I start with the same drug or should I get another one.