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
Hello Niki and thanks for getting in touch.
I can’t directly answer your question because I don’t know which ARVs you are on.
Please use this site to check for possible interactions (use the ingredients list on the bottles of your medication and supplements):
https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org
Here in i-base we don’t recommend supplements as their benefit is limited and not evidence based.
Please discuss with your doctor as there might not be a need to take supplements or there might be other ways to help you.
Hi is safe to take my arvs with cranberry pills
Hello Zack and thanks for getting in touch.
Yes, it is safe to take these while you are on ARVs.
Be careful of their other components though as somme might contain metals (magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, etc.) which will interact with some ARVs.
To be sure please check here:
https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org
It’s best to stop taking them about a week before you have blood tests as they might interfere with your results but otherwise they are safe and don’t cause problems with the kidneys.
Remember to drink at least 2 litres of water per day to help your kidneys while you take protein and creatine supplements.
Hi. Is it safe to take protein and creatin as gym supplements while I’m taking HIV medication? I’m on ART. ?
Hi April, thanks – and great you are doing so well. There ins;’t an interaction if the supplement only contains these ingredients. In general, vitamin supplements are only useful if you have a deficiency. Pls talk to your doctor though about why you want to take these in case there is something else that can help.
Hi I’m hiv+ for the last past 9 years , I’m taking arv’s everyday after 8pm , can I take B_Cal_K2 supplements?
Hello MMilander and thank you for getting in touch.
Please use this site to check for interactions as there might be with some ARVs but not with others
https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org/checker
Hy I am on Arvs can I take collagen extreme? Won’t it interact with my medication?
Hi Nomsa, please look up your meds here to find out about any interactions:
https://i-base.info/guides/category/arvs
Also look for the active ingredients in the supplement – or please ask your doctor or pharmacist to help.
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