Question
Why are my meds now a different colour?
4 May 2022. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, Southern Africa, Support.
I am HIV positive and live in South Africa. I used to get meds that I think were pink colour bt know they gave me blue , so is it still the same or Iam taking wrong medication?
Answer
Hi there
Whenever you are not sure about your meds, please contact your doctor straight away. You can also ask the pharmacy whee you get your HIV meds.
This is the best way to make sure everything is okay.
Your doctor should always tell you before your meds are changed.
Sometimes these can be the same meds but made by a different company. In South Africa, there can be ten or more different versions of the same meds.
Even though the pill might be a different size or shape or colour, it can contain the same ingredients.
Sometimes it can be a different combination. For example, many countries are changing to dolutegravir-based ART (TLD) from efavirenz-based ART (TLE).
This link includes many of the different generic makes of HIV meds that are commonly used, including in South Africa.
https://i-base.info/guides/12423
Hi Matsietsi, thanks. Great that you are now on ARVs and it sounds like they are working very well. What does your clinic say about the rash? If it is linked to having a low CD4 count, this would explain it getting better on treatment.
If your CD4 count is still low this might explain why it is taking longer to go completely though. Please ask the clinic to say what they think is causing this.
There might be an anti-fungal cream that could help.
Hi I started ARVS in Nov 2024 i was already having fungal rash all over my body and it’s been ten month now using the treatment but I’m still experiencing fungal rash even if it not all over the body like before starting treatment I speak to the healthcare about the rash but the don’t describe anything for the rush so what can I use for the rush
Hello Khayah,
I am very sorry to hear you are experiencing these difficulties.
What has your doctor said about this?
I am not aware of such body changes with PrEP.
Please visit a pharmacist or doctor to discuss this with it as they should assess you and provide some options for you
Hi
I’m not on ARV but on prep meds I use to take white but this time are blue one , they cause painful diaphragm and firm muscle, meaning deform my body
What should I do
Thank you
Hello Xoli and many thanks for getting in touch.
Nowadays most people are on some generic ARV or another.
These comments in different shapes and colours but they have the same active substance (with is the medication).
Try using this guide to identify the names of the medication you take:
https://i-base.info/guides/12423
The generics ensure you can take your medication at a reasonable price.
Most people have no problems when they are changed from one generic brand to another because the active substance remains the same.
However, rarely people do not respond well to some brands.
Please discuss this with your doctor and pharmacist.
Also an itchiness in the genital area can and often is caused by other reasons, not ARVs.
Might be a good idea to see a gynaecologist or have a sexual health screen.
Hi
I’m on ARVs, normally I get white or pink tablets.2 years back I got a pack that has blue colour tablets,it makes my private part iches. lucky my cousin who is also positive got the blue one,bt it didn’t give her problem.so we swapped.last month I went to pick ,,and when I opened it I found blue..now it iches again.so what causes this? What can I do
Thnks