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 Amina.
Its possible that this could be a side effect to the medicatio. Your sister should talk to her doctor about this.
Hi
My sister started the HIV meds 10 days ago
But wake up this morning with a serious rash on her face, hands, and feet
What possibly might be the cause
Hi Tabita,
Please talk to your doctor urgently if you have a rash starting your HIV meds. The doctor should have a look at the rash and rule out a serious reaction to Tribuss.
If this is a reaction to Tribuss you can talk to the doctor about switching to different HIV meds. But it’s a good idea to see the doctor very urgently about this.
I have started taking meds Tribuss two weeks ago and now I have a itching rash on ma body and itching hands and feet I am taking allergex tabs but still itching must I stop the Tribuss
Hi PK,
If you have a rash you should talk to your doctor about this.
I have two weeks being on odiumene and I have rash mild an d itching so im taking alllegex tabs
Hi Nomsa,
Its perfectly safe to use Rhineton when taking Odiume, there won’t be any interaction.
Hi
Is it safe to use RHINETON antihastime with ODIMUNE Arvs?
Hi Fasto,
Headaches are common in the first few weeks of starting treatment, these should go within a few weeks. However as you have a rash this is something that should be discussed with your doctor as it could be a sign of a serious side effect.
I’m not sure what the sores may be, so please also talk to a doctor about this.
Hi
just started trivenz 10Day’s ago
N m having rash n heahache
Mostly on my feet,hands,back,n thigh’s.
N m having sores on my head what shuud I do..please help its irritating.