Question
Can I take supplements when I’m HIV positive?
4 August 2010. Related: All topics, Supplements and herbs.
Since I have been taking my HIV regimen the only time I took a vitamin tablet was during my latent TB diagnosis in 2008 (Vitamin B12). I hope vitamin and supplements are not the same?
This supplement came out in Thailand with good results and people were recommending it so much. The supplement was made from rice and called Vital Star.
Why I’m asking is because I don’t want to harm my body with supplements and I don’t know if it is possible for a HIV positive person to take supplements or not.
Please I need your advice but I bought it already.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
It is fine for HIV positive people to take vitamins and supplements. However, you should always check with your doctor first as there are some supplements such as St John’s Wart which interact with certain HIV medications.
For a comprehensive guide to which vitamins and supplements are good for people with HIV please follow this link
Hi Mmapateng, I am sorry but what is Lion Mane and what are the active ingredients. It is easy to also check with you local pharmacist.
Hi,
Is it safe to take Lion Mane capsule alone with ARV’s?
Hello Atuhaire and thanks for getting in touch.
Vitamin and mineral supplements only help if you have a deficiency of that vitamin/mineral.
Some supplements interact with current ARVs – which means they don’t let ARVs to work properly (you can check here if there are interactions: https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org)
There is little benefit from taking vitamins in larger amounts (usually by supplements).
There is also a small risk of developing vitamin toxicity.
This can happen after eating too much of a certain food or taking high dose vitamin or mineral supplements.
However, if you are struggling to eat a balanced diet and provide your body with enough nutrients from food, you should consider speaking with your GP, health worker or dietician about this.
This link has more information:
https://i-base.info/guides/side/diet-a-balanced-diet-and-your-health
If you have HIV you can take wellwoman
Hello Sicbosiswe and thanks for getting in touch.
Vitamin and mineral supplements only help if you have a deficiency of that vitamin/mineral.
Some supplements interact with current ARVs – which means they don’t let ARVs to work properly
(you can check here if there are interactions: https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org)
There is little benefit from taking vitamins in larger amounts (usually by supplements).
There is also a small risk of developing vitamin toxicity.
This can happen after eating too much of a certain food or taking high dose vitamin or mineral supplements.
However, if you are struggling to eat a balanced diet and provide your body with enough nutrients from food, you should consider speaking with your GP, health worker or dietician about this.
This link has more information:
https://i-base.info/guides/side/diet-a-balanced-diet-and-your-health
So can I have phakamisa tablets?
Hello Johanna and thanks for getting in touch.
We specialise in information about HIV treatment.
Are you living with HIV? What ARVs are you on?
Please check with a pharmacist if all this medication should be combined with the specific supplement.
We advise against supplements as they are not tested or regulated.
I have already bought Cardi zoom, but I take highblood pressure pills, sugar diabetes pills, thyroid pills, have asthma
Am I safe to carry on drinking this capsule, have bought them 5 days ago