Question
What can I do to reduce my viral load that rebounded on Kaletra?
7 July 2011. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Changing treatment.
I’ve recently had my bloods done and my viral load has gone up to 1,563.
I’m currently on Kaletra and have been taking them everyday as told but know my doctor is telling me i have to go on more tablets as im showing resistance.
Is there anything else i can do to improve my viral load aswell as taking the medication?
Answer
If Kaletra was the only HIV drug that you were taking, adding in two new drugs from a family called nucleosides (‘nukes’) should bring your viral load back down again.
Although most combinations use three active HIV drugs, several studies showed that for some people, using only Kaletra is strong enough. In these studies, when viral load rebounded, adding in new drugs worked well at pushing the viral load back down again.
If you have been taking Kaletra once-daily (4 tablets once-daily), then your doctor may also recommend moving to a twice-daily schedule (2 tablets, twice daily – every 12 hours).
The new drugs would usually be adding Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) or Kivexa (abacavir/3TC) or sometimes Combivir (AZT/3TC).
However, if you have resistance to Kaletra, then this would normally need to be changed at the same time to an alternative protease inhibitor.
For more information about treatment failure and drug resistance see the Guide to Changing Treatment.
This is all down to find drugs that will control the virus. Other than taking your meds as prescribed, there is nothing else you can do to directly affect viral load.
It’s important to talk to your doctor and repeat the test. Has your viral load been undetectable for the last 2 years? If so, it could be a blip. This is when the test comes back around 200 or 500 and often it can be just an error in the test.
But a repeat test will show if there has been viral rebound. That means for some reason your treatment is not working. If this is the case you can ask to change meds because of the risk of drug resistance.
You can find out more about viral rebound here:
http://i-base.info/guides/changing/confirmed-viral-rebound
I have been taking the combination of efavirenz, tenofovir and emtricitabine one dose every night for the past 2 years and recently my viral load test came back at 2500, I would like to know what to do to reduce it. I’m eating healthy taking my meds at the right time and using protection every time.
Hi Lilian
I think this is your viral load as a log – see this link for a conversion chart:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/viral-load-converting-log-values-to-numbers
This means your viral load in just under 400 copies/mL.
Was it undetectable before? If yes then please speak to your doctor about the results and what they mean.
It might mean repeating this test.
I ve been taking ARV for a year now.2month back they took my blood to test viral load &it was 2.69 .I m drinking my medication correctly as directed by da health worker.what das dis mean should I be worried.
lillian from welkom
Hi Thokozani
The best thing to to have a second viral load test – this is just in case the first result is wrong.
If the second test is still at 4000, then in the UK you would talk to your doctor about changing treatment.
I am not sure of the policy where you are treated but please sask your doctor about this and get back to me with more questions if I can help.
Hi,ive been on ART 9yrs now,using protection,taking my meds correctly which is atripla/atroiza single dose a day,but my viral load came saying 4000 copies,what can i do to reduce it again.I dnt drink or smoke,.
Hi,
If you’re taking your tablets in the same way and you haven’t changed treatment then this could be a viral blip. A viral blip is when you get a single detectable result and when the next result is undetectable. You should ask your clinic to test again. If your next result is undetectable then you don’t have to change treatment. Viral blips are common. They can be caused by other things such having flu or another infection.
You can find out more information about viral rebound and blips here:
http://i-base.info/guides/changing
Hi all, I have been on ART for 5 and a half years. I’ve been taking a combination of efavirenz, tenofovir and emtricitabine all in a single tablet. My viral load has been undetectable. But yesterday I collected my blood results and the viral load had gone up to 303. I’m worried that I’ve not been taking my meds correctly. I don’t drink. What could be the cause and how do I reduce it again? Thanks
Hi Makhosazane. When did you start ART and when was this viral load test taken. Without this infomration it is difficult to talk about options.
my viral load is 4000 so i wish to know how can I reduce it. I don’t have a partner. I take my medication correctly on time but I am worried about this.