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 Chiedza,
If you’ve been off meds for 4 months, ideally you should let your doctor know. They should check your viral load as well as your CD4 count. Yes, you may still be able to use the Atripla, however there are other options that may be more suited to you. This noted, it’s great that you want to restart taking ARVs.
Haven’t taken my ART for four months was taking Atrippler the one tablet .is it ok if l start taking them again.
Hi,
It’s great to hear that you’re ready to restart taking meds.
If you’ve been off meds for a year you need to see a HIV health care professional. Your doctor/nurse will need to check your CD4 count as well as your viral load, they’ll also need to talk to you about your treatment options.
Gooday..I have stop my arv about a year now due to stress .. now I want to continue, can I first go to a private doctor for checkup or I must go to clinic.
Hi Sky,
It’s great to hear that you want to restart taking medication, this is a really positive step. As you’ve been on meds for 4 months the best thing to do is to book an appointment to see your healthcare professional. Let them know that you’ve defaulted, but that you’re now ready to restart. Ideally they should test your CD4 count as well as your viral load.
You might be able to take the same ARVs that you were taking before, you may however need to use something else. Your health care professional should be able to advise you about this.
With regards to getting sick, are you referring to possible side effects?
I stopped taking my ARVs for 4months now i want to go back on treatment but im scared i might get sick
Hi Sombu, thanks. It sounds like you were very lucky to go for a year without meds. During the time off treatment your CD4 count would have dropped. Did your clinic give you these results when you restarted? It is very good that you are back on treatment. This will be better for your health now. So long as your viral load goes back to being undetectable, the meds will keep you well.
Hi stopped taking my arvs for a year because i relocated. Now I am m taking them again I am worried about if will i still survive? Am i likely to survive after I stopped my ARVs for a year?
Hi MP,
It’s possible that he had a rash due to the ARVs, so switching to another combination would be better than not being on any at all. How long do they want to keep him off meds for?
His OI has resolved but still has 1 week for the complete cycle of the antibiotic for his OI.
He is taking Lamivudine / tenofovir / efavirenz.
They said that they’re not sure which caused the rash so they opted to stop all the medications for now and observe.