Question
Should I continue taking septrin if my CD4 count has risen to above 200?
24 January 2023. Related: All topics, Opportunistic infections.
How long can a person take Septrin?
Is it ok to continue taking it even if CD4 levels have risen (from below 10 to 270)?
Thanks.
Answer
It is really good news that your CD4 count has risen to 270 cells from such a low count.
Septrin is prescribed as prophylaxis against PCP [a type of pneumonia] when someone has a CD4 count of below 200 cells, and against toxoplasmosis (a type of brain infection) someone is at risk of developing with a CD4 count of less than 100 cells.
In the UK, once a person’s CD4 count increases to above 100 cells when on treatment, then they can stop Septrin. That is, unless they have previously had PCP.
For someone who has previously had PCP, it is recommended to continue until the CD4 count is above 200 cells/mm3. This is based on EACS guidelines (v11.1, October 2022).
In some African countries, Septrin is recommended until the CD4 count is over 350 (and sometimes until over 500). This is because the background risk of infections can vary in different countries.
In countries with high risk of malaria or severe bacterial infections, prophylaxis should continue, irrespective of CD4 count on ART. There are also different recommendations for children and in other specific circumstances. (WHO consolidated guidelines, 2021)
In terms of safety, if your doctor has recommended that you continue taking the septrin, then this is very safe to do so.
This pot was updated in January 2023 from a question frost answered in January 2012.
I have just been diagnosed with hiv+ and my CD4 is 660, then my doctor put me on septrin. Is there a possibility that my CD4 will go down because am not taking ARVs?
Hi Richie,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis- are you feeling any better since starting treatment? Your CD4 will have gone up since you started treatment, and will continue to rise as you get stronger. Please follow this link for more information about CD4 increases.
If a couple are both HIV positive their life expectancy is based on many individual factors, and how well they do on treatment. HIV affects different people differently and some people can be healthy much longer than others without treatment. There are lots of questions on our website about life expectancy.
hello.ihave two questions; 1. i dignosed with hiv this year and my cd4 count was aslow as170.this was after I seriously fell ill.my dr immediately put me on treamen.is my cd4 count gone up now that I have been on treatment for 4 months? 2.who dies first for couples with hiv ,the person who gets infected earlier,or any of them if they are not on treatment.
Hi Richie,
The only way to increase your CD4 count is to use antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Please see this question for more information: What can you do to keep your CD4 count high?
What does it take for a person to increase CD4 count apart from taking the normal doctors prescription?
Hello Richie,
You shouldn’t notice any difference in health from changing to a generic version of Septrin. You also shouldn’t have any higher risk of resistance.
The active ingredients found in brand-name drugs are also found in the generic version. What might be different are the generic drug’s inactive ingredients- things that might affect how quickly a drug is released, the sizes, and shape of the pill. So while they might look or taste different, they should do the same thing as the brand-name drug.
I was earlier taking the original septrin, then when my income went low , I started taking the generic one. Can this affect me or can I develop resistance to it?
Septrin contains two different antibiotics in one pill and is usually only prescribed by a doctor.
If your doctor is prescribing this medicine for you, and your CD4 count is this high, ask your doctor the reason.
Most people who use Septrin when their CD4 count is low to protect against infections. In some countries there are advantages to taking Septrin up to higher CD4 counts – perhaps 350 or 500.
If your CD4 count is higher than 500 there is not usually an HIV-related reason to take Septrin, but this is something to discuss with your doctor.
Can an HIV patient take Septrin if his or her CD4 count is above 1500?
Thanks for your answer. I’m posting on behalf of a relative. Yes, she had PCP and that was when she knew she had the virus. Her doctor said she should continue taking Septrin.