Question
I have a serious rash from starting treatment – should I stop taking my meds?
25 January 2011. Related: All topics, Changing treatment, Side effects, Starting treatment, Stopping treatment.
I am a 30 year old woman I got tested for HIV in 2009 and was found positive. In April 2010 I developed Kaposi’s Sarcoma but had only a few lesions. In December 2010 my CD4 count was 221 and I started ARVs, within a week I developed a very bad rash and they had to change my medication, I had been on this new drug for two weeks and I developed another rash which gets worse every day and I’m seriously considering stopping taking ARVs altogether because I feel like I was healthier without them and the rash is really affecting me, physically and emotionally. Please advice
Answer
Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear you are having such a hard time taking the HIV medication. Many people experience side effects when starting medication. Some of these side effects lessen 2-4 weeks after starting the meds. If they continue then you should talk to your HIV doctor about changing your meds again until you find the right combination for you. You should not stop taking the meds or you will become sick very quickly and you could end up with resistance to some of the meds. This will limit your treatment choice in the future.
Although many drugs are linked to rash, the severity of rash and how long it lasts varies considerably. With some drugs, if you develop a rash during the first few weeks of therapy you must report this immediately to your doctor. This is because it can sometimes lead to very serious reactions. These drugs are abacavir (Ziagen, and in Trizivir and Kivexa), nevirapine (Viramune), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva) and T-20 (enfuvirtide, Fuzeon).
Other rashes are more likely to be mild and disappear without treatment, or can be easily treated with antihistamine drugs such as cetirizine (Zirtek) or loratadine (Clarityn).
It would help me give you a more specific answer if you could tell me the meds you took previously and the ones you are on now?
For more information please follow this link.
Hi Mafusana,
Because you’ve been on the Atrozia since December 2016 its unlikely that the rash is related to your ARVs. Therefore, you should speak to a doctor about this.
I am hiv positive and i started treatment in december 2016. i am taking Atroiza and recently i am having a rush on my face and i dont like that, what can i do
Hi Lilly,
Please see a doctor about this as soon as you can. The above post explains why.
Hi just started treatment in a peach colour pull and developed an itchy rash all over my face..can over the country creams help as I’m far from where I get my treatment
Hi Tandi,
As the above post explains this is something that you need to talk to your doctor about. They will be able to give you something, or they may need to change your medication.
Hi sir or madam I’m starting treatment on 21july the colour of treatment is peach so after 3weeks I have a bad rush so is there any chances that I can use facial lotion maybe bio clare so that this rush will stop irritating me?
Hi Mammy,
If you’ve problems with your vagina this will need to be looked at by a doctor. It isn’t something that we can help you with.
Hi i found out that i’m HIV 2016 in August when i was found out that i’m pregnant. Then i began drinking my Meds so nou this year since from May i starting havinf a rash itcheness inside my virgina and it wont go away nd i was drinking the peach pills fr HIV now since they prescribed me the white they make me like that pls help i’m 6months pregnant i dont want to make my bby sick too.
Hi Portia,
A rash can be a sign of a serious side effect. However, it may also be a mild reaction to the Atrozia. To know for sure you will need to see a doctor. Because you’re pregnant its important that you don’t stop taking the meds until you’ve talk to your doctor. Using antihistamines may help with the itching.
I started taking Atroiza and am pregnant after 2weeks i developed a rush and its weekend I cannot go to clinic till Monday I’m worried and its itchy. Please advice