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?
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Hi PJ,
Its very unlikely that its the Atrozia that is causing black spots. Have you talked to a dermatologist?
If you’re feeling down you may want to talk to someone, this could help. Though we could email, i-base advocates aren’t counselors.
I have been telling and showing my Dr the rash on my body and its damagingmy skin,as I have black spots all over my body now but they don’t want to change this Atroiza and I’m seriously thinking of stopping the treatment now.I can’t wear short sleeves its so depressing I even have suisidal thoughs.
Hi PJ,
Please see your doctor about this.
I also started on atroiza on January and I have this bad rash on my face and body and am also having hives every afternoon they are itchy and irritating.
Hi Brent,
If you’ve got a rash you should discuss this with your doctor. What meds have you been taking?
Hi! I have been taking ARV also for more than a year now but it keeps on changing the manufacturer but same components for the last 3 ARV’s that I have tried it was okay and the present ARV I got rashes on my legs and arms. I took lots of citerizene but my rashes wont be gone. Is it possiblebthat my new ARV medicine causes my rash?
Hi Khanyisa, Sorry, we aren’t doctors here. But it’s important to get any rash looked at by your doctor. You can ask if it’s linked to your ARV meds.
Hello Doc I’m also on Arv Med since January this year, so now i have a bad rash all over my body and it is itchy especially when its hot
Hi Catherine, have you shown the rash to your doctor. If yes, what did the doctor say? If no, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor now. I am not a doctor and so can’t say whether this is linked to the medicine or not. Pease speak to your doctor.
hi Dr I’m on arvs it’s been 2 months now n I’m developing rash on my face. I take dumiva and efavarin. pls help