Question
Can ARV treatment cause aching feet?
7 June 2011. Related: All topics, Side effects.
Answer
Yes, a side effect called peripheral neuropathy can cause aching feet, numbness and also pain.
Please see this link for more details.
It is caused mainly by two drugs:
- d4t (stavudine)
- ddI (didanosine)
If you are taking either of these drugs, speak to your doctor about changing them for alternatives. Do not stop the drugs though until you speak to your doctor.
Sometimes a lower dose of d4T can be used, but it is better to change to a completely different drug.
Hi Lihle, thanks. Have you talked to your doctor about this and what did they say? If you started ARVs when your CD4 count was already very low, this pain might be caused by HIV and not the meds. Modern HIV meds do not caused these symptoms which might be nerve damage – called neuropathy. Some other meds cause this though including some TB meds.
Hi I’ve been taking Arv’s for 2 years now but my feets are in pain almost a year now and this pains gets to my hands now …I don’t know if this is related to the treatment
Hello Funeka and thank you for the question.
Side effects can some times happen with medication but the ones you describe are not common.
Here is some more information about the medication that was prescribed:
https://i-base.info/guides/10303
It’s important you make sure the medication is taken as your clinic said.
If you forgot to mention to the clinic any herbal supplements you might be taking please stop them and check with the clinic before re-starting them.
A further review is needed to understand why you are having these symptoms so please inform your clinic.
My husband has been taking ARvs since 2020.The clinic changed his medication last month from Stavodine to Cagol because of his viral load decrease. His feet and hands are swollen and itchy. He’s complaining of whole body pains, no appetite.what could be the reason ? Is this normal?
Hi Gcobisa, how long have you been off HIV treatment and do you know your CD4 count and viral load?
Why are you in hospital? and are you being investigated by the doctors?
I default hiv treatment I’m sick at hospital my feet are swallow what is the cause
Hi Radebe, i-base are not doctors and cannot provide medical advice. Please speak with your doctor about treatment options for helping with this itching.
Can you please help me with the treatment to take for itching of feet and other parts of my body.
Hi Issac, what is the name of the ARVs you have started? and is this the first time you have been taking ARVs?
Have you noticed pain anywhere else? or has anything else changed in the last week that could have caused this pain e.g., injury, infection or other conditions like diabetes?
Have you mentioned this pain to your doctor? and how is it affecting you e.g., are you able to still walk or is the pain unbearable?
After taking arv for week my feet pain