Question
Will ARVs still work if I have not used them for a while?
18 July 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load, Newly diagnosed.
After I found out I am HIV positive I was scared and I took my pills for a year. I stopped after a year. I am scared and want to know if the ARVs are still going to work on my body?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
It is great that you want to restart your ARVs. How long were you off them?
Is there a reason you stopped? and have you been able to talk to anyone about feeling scared?
And do you know your current viral load and CD4 count?
Hopefully restarting your medication will be fine and your body will respond. There is a chance that they might not work as well but you won’t know this until you try.
Are you able to access a viral load test? After restarting, getting a viral load test a few weeks later will give you an idea if your ARVs are working.
What ARVs were you taking?
Josh.
Hi, did you start PEP within 72 hours of exposure. Testing is accurate from 6 weeks after finishing PEP if you are using a 4th generation test.
Good evening, I was exposed to hiv 4 weeks back and I had to see the doctor after 7 days, and I bought Trenvir as PEP, and tested negative after 30 days, wanted to know how much time am I suppose to wait for accurate testing.