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 Lesego,
Heftenam is a generic version of Atripla. Please see this Q&A and the first comment about Heftenam being used for PEP. Heftenam contains ARVs. In some countries it can be used as PEP.
Here’s a link to more info about PEP and HIV prevention.
Hi,
I’ve been prescribed Heftenam as PEP after testing HIV negative, and i hear that it’s ARVs. Should i stop taking the treatment? Or does it also function as PEP?
Hi Lilllly,
It’s important to see the doctor with this rash. Sometimes starting treatment like Avonza, that inlcudes efavirenz, can lead to very serious reaction.
Please talk to the doctor about your rash and other symptoms. You can ask if you need to switch to other HIV meds that will be easier for you to take.
Hi I developed a rash a week after starting avonza.
It has efivarenz. The rash is all over my body, tingly lips etc.
I understand that side effects happen but i would like to know a)how to treat them. B) prevent them c) how long they last and recurrent rate?
I have never in the life of me had a rash and I don’t think it’s the HIV but the Medication to treat the hiv that’s causing this. I don’t want to change, I understand I need to adhere to this treatment etc. Thank you so much.
Hi Jack,
What meds are you taking? Do you have any other health issues?
Hy My feet are now swollen after taking the ARV it’s been two weeks now what can I do ?and I’ve been taking the pills for about 3 weeks is it also one of the side effects?
Hi Zinny,
If you have a rash, its important that you talk to a doctor. You may just need some antihistamines.
Hi I started atrozia few weeks back n. Now developed rash on my face n body
Hi Nomonde,
The rash could be due to your ARVs, however it could be due to a number reasons. This is something that will need to be investigated by your HIV consultant and if possible a dermatologist.
Hi I was start a treatment 2012 but by 2016 I was developed a red rash on face until now 2019 every week it comes and gone can I change the treatment I’m using dfc plz