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 Xolisile, thanks. Unfortunately, being treated once doesn’t stop reinfection or recurrance in the future. Please speak to your doctor if you are worried about symptoms.
Hi i would like to ask is it possible for TB to come back again? Even if you did complete the course and after that start ARVS?
Hi Norma, yes you can use glutathione supplements while on ARVs. Glutathione is a natural substance made by the liver. Taking a glutathione supplement will not interact with your ARVs.
I would like to know if I can use Glutathione supplements while am on ARV’s?
Hi Lihle, what HIV and Tb medication have are you on/have you been given?
Hie
I was diagnosed with HIV last yr September and I have started my TB medicine …so what I wanted to ask is ..is it safe for me to take ART medicine along with TB ones
Please help am confused coz they didnt give another HIV meds
Hi Zizo,
It’s great that you’ve started taking treatment for HIV and are also taking meds to prevent TB. It sounds like you’re doing all you can to benefit your health.
But it’s sometimes complex to treat HIV and TB together. So please talk to your doctor about the best way to take your meds.
Please let us know how your treatment is going. What ARVs are you taking? And if you have access to your CD4 count and viral load results, please tell us what they are.
Hi can I take my ARV treatment with TB prevention treatment at same time like at 08h00 in the morning
Hi Mamatheso,
Yes it’s possible to take both TB meds and ARVs at the same time. Your partner needs to be on both TB medication as well as ARVs.
Because your partner’s CD4 count is low, he’s going to need to look after himself.
It’s really important that he finds a way to take these meds. If he develops drug resistance treatment becomes much more difficult.
Hi my man is HIV positive and was taking arv’s from 2012 then he defaulted for two years now, so he stated getting sick they discovered that he has TB. Now he is taking TB treatment and ARV same time. Is it safe to take both same time? His CD4 count is 60.