Question
What are the effects of not taking ARVs if you are HIV-positive?
7 June 2011. Related: All topics, Opportunistic infections, Starting treatment.
Answer
In general, most people who do not use ARVs will slowly develop a weaker immune system.
This is shown by a CD4 count that drops. At counts below 200 the risk of serious illnesses increases.
Treatment is recommended ion most guidelines before the CD4 count drops below 350.
At higher CD4 counts, ARVs are not usually used.
Hi Kholo, I’m sorry it sounds like it tough time for your friend at the moment. Some meds can make people feel really bad like this. Is your friend taking Tribuss or Atroiza? It’s really important that she sees the doctor urgently. Can you give her support to do this? And is there somebody at the clinic, or another clinic close by, that could help. New meds can help stop symptoms like these. Please ask her to ask about changing them.
My friend stop taking the meds cz she says she is feeling lyk she is drunk and feel lyk killing her self and she stated feeling dizzy,itching, vommiting, and feels to go to toilet immediately after taking the meds…is it a risk on that?
Hi k. it sounds like your HIV meds included a drug called efavirenz. The symptoms you describe can sometimes be see effects, especially feeling dizzying or not sleeping well. There should be alternative HIV meds that you can use that don;t have these side effects. Please talk to your clinic again saying you want to try a different treatment. It is better for you health to be on treatment, but this needs to be medicine that you can tolerate without side effects.
I miss 3month taking arvs because the side effects was over to me and i w
as taking tablets at night when its time to wakup in morning all mybody is very sore .dizzy and headaches. My bones feel like loose and my job is to drive a bus I decided to stop taking them. I told them in the clinic they said maybe is pragnancy symptoms .i told them its not
Hi Kedibogetse,
Is there any particular reason why your husband has chosen to stop taking his meds? Was he having problems with them?
Though this may be frustrating, it may help if you share with him what will happen to him now that he’s stopped meds. This is discussed here, please see Q7
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Am worried about my husband he is on ARV and high blood pressure treatment but his not taking medication anymore,am worried about him.
Your comment has been answered in a new question here:
http://i-base.info/qa/11772
What are the benefits of using ARVs and the risk of not taking ARVs?
Being 5 minutes late shouldn’t cause any problems and you don’t need to worry about this. Generally it is OK to be up to one hour early or late without this making any difference to your treatment. There is more information about this here.
Are there any consequences if you have taken your ARV’s 5 minutes later than your normal time and if there are how to remedy the situation?