Question
Can I smoke and drink alcohol?
9 May 2017. Related: All topics, Living with HIV long-term.
I’m positive, what should I eat? Can I drink and smoke?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
People who are positive, as with people who are negative, should try to have a balanced and healthy diet. What this is will depend on where you live globally.
It’s OK to drink alcohol. However, this should be done in moderation. Smoking isn’t advised for anyone due to the health risks.
For more info about living well with HIV, please see here:
https://i-base.info/guides/side
Hi Jason,
ARVs start to work as soon as someone takes them, you delaying taking them won’t be an issue.
I got to know about my HIV status and I was living in denial, and I started my medication after 5 months. Its been 6 months since the medication, I feel much better now, but do you think delaying the medication would affect its capability?
Hi Charmaine,
Drinking and smoking won’t have a direct affect on your meds. So it’s a good idea to ask for another viral load test to find out if this was a lab error and a blip.
As Lisa says above, it’s OK to drink alcohol. However, this should be done in moderation. Smoking isn’t advised for anyone due to the health risks.
I smoke and drink, but don’t drink everyday, I usually drink on weekends. My viral load was undetected due to the fact that I was pregnant. I take my meds daily same time everyday even if I’ve had wine I still take them. Now my issue is that when I went for testing my viral load was detected to 252, could smoking and Drinking have an impact on my viral load being detected
Hi Frank,
How long have you been on meds for? What medication are you taking?
Side effects like nausea and constant fatigue are becoming unbearable since starting treatment, what can I do to manage these?
Hi kabelo.
What was your CD4 when you were diagnosed? What was your weight prior to being diagnosed?
I was diagnosed with HIV after
a series of sickness. I’ve lost a
lot of weight since then. I
started my ARVs hoping for
some changes(increase in body
weight) but I’ve noticed none. I
have been using my ARVs for
six months and I’ve been very
underweight weighing about
45kg to 47kg every mon
Hi Gilbert,
For me to be able to help you, I’m going to need to ask you some questions.
When you were diagnosed what was your CD4 count and viral load? What illnesses were you suffering from? What was your weight before you got ill? What ARV’s are you taking?
I was diagnosed with HIV after a series of sickness. I’ve lost a lot of weight since then. I started my ARVs hoping for some changes(increase in body weight) but I’ve noticed none. I have been using my ARVs for six months and I’ve been very underweight weighing about 45kg to 47kg every month.
I’m just 18. Is it is the ARVs or something else?