Question
I want to stop taking my medication.
10 March 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load, Stopping treatment.
I’m 66 years old, I have been HIV positive since 1993. I have gone through a lot with HIV, now the past 10 years my t-cells go up and down, right now at 300 and I have been undetectable for many years. I have been on medication for 23 years, I want to stop. I’m tired of taking medication, I want to enjoy my golden years, i’m single with no partner.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
How is your health in general? It is great to see how well you have been doing with medication. Why doing you want to stop? Has there been side effects? Is it the fact you need to take them daily? Are you finding them difficult to take?
I can understand that taking medication daily can be difficult however being undetectable with a reasonable CD4 count shows that they are working. Have you spoken to anyone about your thoughts of stopping?
Choosing to stop would likely mean that you lose your undetectable status. There is also no telling on how quickly HIV would be active in your body. Experiencing your golden years would be much better/easier on medication than without.
Josh.
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