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 Anele, senna tea is fine if this helps. If the constipation continues though please talk to your doctor who can prescribe a more effective medicine. Great that your CD4 count is doing so well :)
Hi there
Then and then I get constipated what should use to get rid of this. It might be oce every 2 or three months, is Senna tea ok. I hv been positive for 5 months now and my cd4 count was 434 when I took the test and I am on arvs
Hi James, HIV treatment taken by someone who is HIV positive is called ART. It also prevents transmission. A reduced combination of HIV drugs taken by an HIV negative person is called PrEP. Alcohol do not stop ART or PrEP from working.
What of if the person is positive, and he don’t skip his drugs at all, maybe he takes it 7am and by 6pm he decided to take little achohol, will it’s stop the PrEP from working??
Hi Kingsley, your HIV status will not stop you working in a food and drink factory. This should all be okay. Which country are you in now though? i-Base is in the UK so please contact an HIV organisation in Germany to find out about getting treatment there. Deutsche AIDS Hilfe might be a good group to contact first: https://en.aidshilfe.de
I’m Hiv positive, pls can i work in food and drink factory in Germany and how can i be getting my drugs in Germany. Need help
Hi Prince,
Your HIV is under control because you’re taking ARVs, your blood type has nothing to do with why your HIV is under control. It’s good that you adhere, it’s OK to talk drink and smoke, neither will have an interaction with your medication. This noted drinking and smoking aren’t great for anyone.
I tested positive since 2012, since then I have been on medication, trust me ever since then I never stop drinking any alcohol of my choice, I even smoke marijuana, I am very OK, and I am undetectable I never miss my medication, my blood group is 0+ which I believed is helping me a lot. Pls does blood type matters?
I found out I was hiv positive a week ago today, started ARV immediately, i was shocked and cried at first, but when I went for the test my mum was there with me, she took it well and being an only son, she gave me hope and courage too, I want to be fine and live long for her, it’s not been an easy ride, but God is doing it for me.
Hi Morgan,
Drinking alcohol has no impact on the effectiveness of ARVs. It’s common to get colds. Do you know what your CD4 count and viral load are?