Question
Is it safe to take TB medication with my ARVs?
14 December 2011. Related: All topics, Complications and coinfections, South Africa, Starting treatment, TB.
Hi. I am HIV positive and on ART for 10 months.
My viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is 180.
Last month I was suffering form breathing problems. Then I went to the doctor and and found fluid in my lungs. They removed that and now they prescribed me TB medicines along with ART.
My ART meds are: Tavin EM (tenofovir and emtricitabine) in the morning; Atazor R (atazanavir and ritonovir (evening).
I also take ZOCOn 150 (1 tab in a weak) and sepmax (one tab afternoon).
My TB medicine is: (1) Ributin150 1 tab alternate day before breakfast; (2) Wysolone 20 after bf for 15 days; (3) Benadon (half tab after bf); (4) pyrazinamide (750 2 tab after lunch); (5) Combutol (1000 1 tab after dinner).
My question is, along with ART medicine, is this combination good for me or is it going to harm me? Please let me know.
Answer
Thank you for your question
I appreciate that it must be difficult for you having to take so many meds at the moment. This will only be for a short time though until the TB is treated.
The TB meds you are taking are recommended for TB. It will therefore not harm you as it is meant to cure the TB. The meds are also routinely prescribed even for people taking HIV meds (called ART), as is your case.
One of your meds, the Wysolone, is or treating breathing difficulties, which is one of the things you mentioned in your email.
Although the TB drugs can be tough and have some side effects, you will only need to take them for about 6 to 12 months, depending on the combination. This is the standard for first line regimen which you are on. It is therefore really important that you take thee meds carefully. This means taking them as prescribed by your doctor.
Missing TB meds can cause drug resistance and even MDR TB (multidrug resistant TB). Treatment for MDR TB is longer and has much nastier side effects, so it is best to adhere to your first line regimen in order to cure the TB and ensure that you don’t develop MDR TB. If you have just started taking the TB meds, you should start to feel better within in 2-3 weeks.
Good luck with completing the remaining meds.
Best wishes.
Further info
TB and HIV coinfection (from the i-Base training manual)
https://i-base.info/ttfa/5-ois-and-coinfections/7-tuberculosis-tb
UK (BHIVA) guidelines on HIV and TB coinfection.
https://www.bhiva.org/TB-guidelines
Hi Martin,
The simple answer is see a doctor. However, this will also depend on what you mean by worse. Are you referring to possible side effects of the medication?
What to do when an HIV and TB person gets weaker or worse?
Hi Karol,
Thanks, and please let us know how you get on.
Best wishes, Roy
Thanks for your advice.the doctor said it will be 18months for tb treatment.as I was failing from the other drugs I started on November 2017this November will be ayear.I should be discharged next year May.Karol.
Hi Karol,
How are you? I hope you’re feeling okay.
Your TB drugs should be fine with Trivenz. Please see here if you’d like some technical info. But you’ve been taking Trivenz for a year and your viral load is not yet undetectable. But there has been an improvement in your CD4 count. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctors about your viral load. You can also ask them about how much longer you will have to take the TB drugs.
I’m on arv treatment (Trivenz)for 4years.last year September I got sick and I was diagonised with TBMenegitis my cd4count was 160 and my viral load 109100.now my cd4count is 261 and viral load 47200.am I get better or the medication is not helping.please advise me.Karol.
My Tb meds are Winthrop Isoniazid 300mg,ethambutol400mg,moxiflocan400 and pyridoxine25mg.taking them at night all together with my Trivenz.forgot to include them on top.thanks in advance.
Ey I’m on trivenz for 6 months nw and I jve joints pain, sweat a lot and sleepless.. I don’t know what to do and my undictated..
Hi Junior,
Its possible that these could be side effects, however you could be feeling like this due to other reasons. The best thing to do is to speak to your doctor.
Hi Thandiwe,
It’s good that your test for TB showed that you were clear. But you can talk to the doctor about needing TB meds. If your HIV treatment is keeping your viral load undetectable and you have a strong CD4 count you might not need to take TB meds.
I have been taking triolar for 3 years now but I have never taken anything for tb been tested for it and I was cleared ,do I need to take any tb meds because I’m HIV positive?