Question
Can a person restart ARVs?
29 October 2018. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I’ve been off meds for 3 months, can I restart?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
The simply answer is yes. Yes, you can restart meds, and its great to hear that you want to.
If its possible you should book an appointment to see your doctor. Ideally they should check your viral load as well as your CD4 count. Depending on where you are your doctor may also run some resistance tests. These are used to make sure that you’re still ok to take the ARVs that you used to take.
Hi Marie, congratulations on your pregnancy. Have you restarted your treatment? Why did you stop?
I have been not taking my meds well for the past 3 months and now I’m 5 weeks pregnant will this not affect my child. Because I was doing good all along my v load was undetectable
Hi Pam, have you had any recent viral load and CD4 testing to check that the treatment is working?
I stopped in 2018 and went back in 2020 is that gona work because lam stating to have sore feet and headaches
Hi Amile, it is great that you want to restart. If you are not going to the doctor how will you get your treatment? If you are using treatment from 2016 it is likely this will be expired and no longer work. Do you know your current viral load and CD4 count? You will need this to check that your treatment is working after you start and if you need to be on antibiotics.
I stopped talking my meds 2016 Dec will it be okay if I just start without going to the doctor or will that be a risk yo me
Hi Lindiwe, it is great that you want to start taking your meds again. Is there a reason you stopped? and why are you afraid to ask your doctor to restart? It is really good news that you want to do this and your doctor will support you to do so. Even though you did stop taking your medication, it is now important that you want to restart and your doctor will recognise this.
Hi it’s been two years now since I stop taking my meds now I am afraid to go my doctor to ask if it is possible for me to restart my medication.. I don’t know what to do I really really want to take my meds again
Hi Siphesihle, it is great that you want to start taking your meds again. It is not too late to start. Do you know your current viral load and CD4 count?
When you restart, are you able to access a viral load test a few weeks after? This will let you know if the medication is working again.
I stop using my meds 4 years ago and not I want to restart taking my medication will I fight the virus again or it to late