Question
I am HIV positive – can I drink alcohol or eat pork?
7 January 2017. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
Hello,
I’m 29 years old and have been HIV positive for almost one year. I have known about my status since December last year. I’m currently living in Germany due to studies and I would like return to my country (Mexico) at the end of this year. My questions are:
1) I have attached the results from the last analysis that have been done and I would like to hear your overall opinion on these and if I should focus in some particular issue.
2) I’m aware that between the last two analyses I went to a party and I drank too much alcohol (about 1.5liters) and I regret it. When you are not on therapy is the alcohol more likely to affect me than when I am on therapy? I mean does it decrease my CD4 and increase my viral load? I don’t want to drink alcohol anymore but it would be nice to know.
3) The Dr. suggested I should not eat pork. I am making big changes in my lifestyle (diet, exercise, etc) and I would like to know if it is possible to estimate when I should start the therapy? I’m worried since I don’t know if I’m going to stay in Germany or move back to Mexico. I’ll be able to know by the end of this year but not before.
My Dr. provided me with this website and I find it amazing with all the information that it’s available for us to learn about the subject.
I really want to thank you all for the great work you do!
Answer
Thank you for your question, and for the feedback – and for your doctor :)
I will try and answer your questions according to the numbers you have given above.
1) Firstly, we are not doctors but HIV treatment advocates.
Monitoring your blood tests you should focus mainly on your CD4 count, your CD4% and your viral load. If you have changes in your liver enzymes, cholesterol or kidney function tests then you would need to monitor those as well.
2) Drinking alcohol will not affect your viral load or CD4 count. T
Moderate alcohol use should not be a problem. It is your decision if you don’t want to drink anymore but it should be because it is what you want to do rather than because you are HIV positive.
The reason you may have been to told to avoid excessive alcohol is that excessive alcohol use can damage the liver. The liver is the organ that filters drugs from the blood so if the liver is damaged then the body has trouble with the HIV treatments.
However, an interesting study showed that HIV positive people not on treatment, might have higher levels of alcohol, (than on ART).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22495786
Also excessive alcohol use can mean that people on medication may forget to take their treatment. This can lead to resistance which means the medication will no longer work.
3. Being HIV positive doesn’t mean you need to change your diet – other than to a more healthy one. A more healthy lifestyle is good for lots of reasons but can still eat the foods your want, including pork. Perhaps ask your doctor the reason they said this.
4. Since 2105, HIV treatment (ART) in generally recommended for everyone, even at high CD4 counts. This means it is good for everyone to think about HIV treatment.
If there are practical issue that mean you cant get treatment for a short time, then if your CD4 count is very high (over 500), this is usually also okay.
Once on treatment your viral load should become undetectable within the first three months.
This Introduction to ART has lots more information.
This answer was updated in January 2017 from a Q&A first posted in May 2010.
Hi,
Drinking alcohol will not affect the way you medication works. It will also not directly affect you CD4 count or viral load. However drinking alcohol can damage your liver and affect your adherence. Adherence is taking your medication every day and at the same time. If you are not adherent you increase the risk of developing resistance to a medication. This means it will not work as effectively.
You can find more information about adherence here: http://i-base.info/guides/starting/adherence
I have been HIV+ for the past 18yrs and on ARVs for 7yrs, i do drink here and there. I would like to know how much is too much beer,or how many litres of beer can an hiv+ person drink at any interval?
Hi
This is something to talk to your doctor about.
Is efavirenz one of the meds in your combination?
If it is, then this may be a side effect of efavirenz called gynaecomastia.
Sometimes switching to a different HIV drug can help with this, but your doctor needs to know about this first.
I’ve been taking arv for a year now but it makes my breast growing big an I’m a male I don’t know what to do please help.
Hi Sagar,
Being HIV positive doesn’t have to mean you don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol doesn’t make HIV worse, and it doesn’t affect HIV treatment. The main caution is that you don’t drink excessively as too much alcohol can be bad for your overall health. And when you are on ARVs it’s important not to drink too much and miss doses of treatment.
I have been HIV positive for 1 year and of late I’ve statred drinking vodka and rum. I can’t give up drinking, can I at least have beer? Please suggest, pls mail me sir/mam
Hi Portia,
It is not common to have blisters with HIV, and not all ARVs cause a rash. If you are experiencing these symptoms it is very important to see a doctor about this.
Hi I would like to ask when your HIV positive why is it that you grow blisters every where and does it cause a rash if your on ARV’s
Hi Lata,
It is fine to drink alcohol when you are HIV positive- as the question above says. If you feel like you are relying on alcohol to cope with stresses in life it is important to get support to help you deal with this.
am hiv positive last 16 years and now of late i ve/ statred drinking vodaka and rum . I can t give up drinking can i atleast have beer .please suggestT