Question
What is the right time to start ARV treatment?
26 February 2008. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Opportunistic infections, Starting treatment.
My brother who lives in Malawi was diagnosed HIV positive in November 2007. His CD4 count was 80. He has TB and started taking three TB pills. He had a bad reaction with rash all over his body. The doctors stopped him taking the three tablets for three weeks. They resumed treatment with different pills. The doctors are not giving him ARVS and meanwhile he tells me he is getting weaker. What is the right time for my brother to start taking ARVS?
Answer
Thank you for your question. Your brother was diagnosed with two very serious infections and a very low CD4 count. He really should be on antiretroviral therapy. Your brother’s doctors maybe worried about drug interactions between the TB drugs and the kind of antiretrovirals available in Malawi.
But people with HIV who have low CD4 counts and also need to take TB medication, should start on the TB drugs for at least two weeks to see how well they tolerate the drugs. If they can tolerate the drugs well, then they need to start on antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible. At least this is what the UK HIV guidelines suggest. Please do come back to us if you have any further questions.
Hi Thandeka,
The ARVs that a person is offered varies depending on where it is that they live. A CD4 count of 808 won’t have any influence of the ARVs that you may be offered.
Its not possible to predict who will get side effects, and how long side effect will last for. This is because we are all different. Some people get them, whereas others don’t. Please see here for more info: http://i-base.info/guides/starting
Hii I want to know if your CD4 count is 808 which ARV drug you should take and if they have given you the ARV drug you using it how long are the side effects take? what will happen if you take it the next day would you still feel like the first time
Hi Xolamzi,
How long has your brother been on ARVs for? How soon after taking his medication is he vomiting? Is he being seen by specialist doctors?
My brother have a heart problem and he keeps on vomiting ARVs what must be done?
Hi Akali,
You not being on ART is unlikely to be the reason why you’re having issues with your ear. You’ll need to discuss this with a doctor.
Its now recommended that everyone who is positive is on medication, so yes being on ART is a good thing to do. The ART will control your HIV.
I’m hiv infected person n now I’m having problem with my ear the pas is coming from my ear n now I can’t even hear properly . Should I start ART
Hi Ven,
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it’s good to know that you’re already thinking about starting HIV treatment (ART).
Here’s a page from ART in Pictures. This shows how HIV makes your immune system and CD4 cells go into overdrive. It’s like a dog chasing its own tail.
The START study showed that HIV treatment has important benefits for your health, even if your CD4 count is still high.
You can talk to your doctor about treatment options. You can also ask for your CD4 count, viral load and other blood test results to make sure you can chose the meds that suit you as an individual.
It’s been 15 days since my HIV infection, what happens to my cd4 and when should I start my treatment.
Hi Prisca,
UK guidelines recommend that everybody can start treatment any CD4 count. This includes CD4 counts that are higher than 500. There are advantages to this that include keeping the CD4 count high and reducing the risk of other illnesses.
However, if you are diagnosed with serious infections because of a very low CD4 count the clinic might wait for the CD4 result before starting ARVs and other treatment.