Question
Is it OK to take TB meds as well as ARVs?
26 September 2017. Related: All topics, Drug interactions.
I’ve been taking my ARVs together with my TB resistance tablet, will this affect it working on my body?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
Its very common that someone who is positive and on ARVs will also be using TB drugs. They’ll both work as they should do. The ARVs on the HIV, and the TB drugs will help prevent you contracting TB.
Hello Kego and many thanks for getting in touch.
Your doctor did the right thing to stop your ARVs and re-start after you had got used to your TB medication.
That is a common guideline to prevent any reactions and IRIS (https://i-base.info/iris/) from both treatments and your immune system becoming strong again.
Re-starting the ARVs after a few weeks is also standard practice and ensures your immune system will not become weaker by HIV.
Please do not worry.
Continue taking your medication (all of them) but inform your doctor as they need to monitor you and provide solutions and treatments if you need them.
Hi… I tested positive last year October, I am also taking TB meds. The doctor stopped my ARVS for some time. When I started taking both of them I start coughing 2 weeks after and it happened twice.
Any advice?
Hi Alvina, where in the world are you and your cousin based? People who are found to be HIV positive should be started on ART immediately. Even if someone is Tb positive and is being treated, it is still recommended that the treatments be started together. Has your doctor explained why they did not start them at the same time?
Has your cousin had any testing to find out their viral load and CD4 count?
Hi my cousin found out he has HIV about a month ago and after that he was told he also have TB but the doctor have not place him on HIV tablets but only gave him the TB treatment please advise me on how to help him.
Hi Buhle, what is the name of the ARVs you are taking?
Hello is good to take Salonex 300 with Arvs? The will be no side effects?
Hi Weza,
Are you using ARVs? If you are, please see here: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/ If you’re not, then so far your husband has been very lucky.
I have been 2 years HIV sleeping with my husband and even we r still 2gether when he go 4 check up he s negative plz guys look 4 ur self