Question
Do I continue ARVs after my pregnancy?
22 August 2011. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, Starting treatment.
Hi guys. I am hiv + and 37 weeks pregnant. I am so scared as I don’t know what to expect. I am currently taking aspen lamzid (AZT/3TC) and Aluvia (lopinavir/r), will I be required to continue with the medication after my baby is born?
My cd4 is 480 and I only started taking medication after I found out that I was pregnant.
The med was giving me diarhea in the beginning, will this affect my baby or will the med do the same to my infant? Please help as am worried.
Answer
Hi
Great news about your pregnancy – and great that you were diagnosed in time to start treatment. The ARVs will dramaticially reduce the risk of your baby catching HIV.
All treatment is individualised. Whether ot not you continue treatment after the pregnancy will depend on many things.
This includes your CD4 count when you started treatment, how you feel about continuing treatment, and sometimes on the guidelines for the country where you live.
Diarrhoea is a common side effects of the Aluvia and other meds but will not affect the health of your baby.
Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy. See also this guide about HIV, women’s health and pregnancy.
Hi Angel, it is best to first see your doctor and to get a new prescription. Once you have this, you can start with the olde drugs (so long as they are still in date and have been stored out of high heat) and this will leave you with a small supply in case you ever have trouble getting to the clinic.
Thanks so so much, i only stopped them after i gave birth and my littel fariy is well and HIV neg.
Ps can i go back on the left overs that i had they are almost a months supply.Or should i get a new set and chuck these out.
Thanks so much and God Bless.
Hi Angel, if your CD4 count is less than 350 then all guidelines strongly recommend that you are on ARVs again. Actually, most guidelines now recommend everyone should be on treatment, even at higher CD4 counts. Your old meds will be fine to go back to. Please speak to your doctor about this. The ARVs will increase your CD4 count and reduce viral load. Vitamins do not do this.
Hi
Im HIV poss and my viral loads are in the 2500 and my cd4 count in the 100s ,its droped in the pass 9 mnths iv lost some weight iv just been on vitamin supp.What i would like to know is should i star ARVs.Also can i take my old med i used when i was preg i stopped them after i gave birth.Will this help better my cd4 count and viral loads.My meds are Aluvia lopinavir/Ritonavir as well as Aspen Lamzid.
Thanks
Hi – I don’t know of pills called rf21 so would need to know the actual drugs names to comment.
Hi..i have a friend whose hiv+,so at the clinic they gave hiv the arvs they were rf21[arvs],but now when he went back to fetch his table they gave him a different pack,so i wanted to know that since they gave him the rf21 must he stick to those pills or is it fine it he takes the different tablets that they gave him the second Time
Hi Ledia, No it’s not too late at all. Congratulations that you’re having a baby.
It’s great that you’ve already started talking ARVs. This can help to keep you healthy, and it can make sure that your daughter is born HIV negative.
Are you getting the support you need from the doctor and the clinic?
You can find out more about HIV, women’s health and pregnancy in this guide:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
If you live in South Africa you can contact TAC. TAC stands for the Treatment Action Campaign. This is the largest HIV positive support organisation in South Africa and they were responsible for the drive to get ARVs available in SA.
The main office is in Cape Town, but there are support groups and branches across the country, including in Jo’burg.
http://www.tac.org.za/contact
They also publish an excellent newsletter every three months, called “Equal Treatment”. This is available in English, Xhosa, Zulu and Tsonga.
http://www.tac.org.za/equal-treatment/pain-public-sector
Best wishes, Roy
hi, i just found out im hiv positive and im 31 weeks pregnant. is it too late for me and my baby? everywhere i go i seem to be getting the worst people to deal with this and im hearing how this is gonna affect my baby and that my baby is going to get the virus. i’m finding it hard to deal with this and my only concern is my baby right now. i started taking ARV’s yesterday and trust me, its a hard pill to swallow. but does this put give us better chances of my daughter being born HIV free?
Please help with clarity.
Hi Comfort, Yes, it’s important to take HIV medication (ART) if you’re going to have a baby.
If you’re on effective ART it can help to make sure your baby is protected from HIV. Have you got support from the doctor or clinic for this? It’s important your doctor looks after your own health during your pregnancy too.
You can find out more about HIV and pregnancy, delivering your baby, and feeding the baby safely here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
I’m HIV positive and pregnant can I take my HIV medication?