Question
How can I increase my CD4 count without ARVs?
8 January 2016. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, South Africa, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
I have just found out that I was HIV positive in March, last year. My CD4 count was 270.
I did another test and it was 284 and my doctor said I must start treatment.
I just want to know what I must do to increase my CD4 count without taking treatment.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
The only way to increase your CD4 is to use HIV treatment (ART).
Your doctor is giving you good information and advice.
Nothing else, including multivitamins, supplements or herbal remedies can increase your CD4 count. Looking after yourself is important – for example, eating a balanced diet, keeping physically and mentally active, reducing stress, sleeping well etc. But increasing your CD4 count is only proven by using effective HIV meds.
Even though some companies advertise this vitamins and supplements can help your CD4 count, these are scams. There is no such thing as an “immune booster” and no “immune booster” will help your CD4 count or help control HIV.
Why do you want to delay ART or look at other options? HIV meds are really effective – this is what they were designed for.
ART stops HIV from replicating. The main aim is to reduce your viral load to an undetectable level (less than 50 copies/mL). As your viral load goes down, your immune system start to repair itself. This means that your CD4 count will slowly go up to higher levels again.
Currently South Africa recommendation starting treatment when the CD4 count is below 500 cells/mm3. This may change in the future and treatment might be recommended at any CD4 count. (Note: South African later changed to recommends treatment at any CD4 count).
Here is a link to more information about starting treatment. Please take your time reading it and if you have any further questions do write back to me.
Are you receiving any support from other people? Getting support from your local support group or a counsellor can help you to come to terms living with HIV. Also you will be able to gain and share experiences with others who are in the similar situation as you, rather than having to deal with it in isolation.
This answer was updated in January 2019 and January 2016 from a question first posted on 2 March 2012.
Hi Vijay, no this does not mean your brother has AIDS. Is your brother taking an antibiotic? Usually this is called co-trimoxazole. It is great that your brother is on ART. This is the best and only way for your brothers CD4 count to recover.
Recovery of CD4 count can be slow but it will improve over time. the body is able to naturally recover their CD4 cells. There is no set time on how quickly your brother will recover CD4 cells to specific counts. As long as he continues his treatment it will happen over time.
Hi, I’m Vijay. My brother have tested HIV positive last month and have been taking ART since then. He has CD4 count of 74.Does he have AIDS? How much risk he is at and how much time does it will take to CD4 reach 200?And what else (other than ART) can we do to improve his CD4 count?
Hi Liz, it is great to hear that you have been following a lifestyle for so long. I am sorry to hear about some of the stresses you have experienced. Do you have a good support system/network at home?
Is there a reason you have not taken ART in the past? It is great that you are undetectable. This is rare when some people naturally suppresses HIV themselves without needing treatment. Even in these cases people are recommended ART to ensure that it remains undetectable and at no point does your bodies natural suppression change. Do you know your current CD4 count?
Hi,
I have been living with HIV for 28 years now without treatment of ARV.. i have never taken any ARV since i was diagnosed in 1995.. Ofcourse i tried my best to eat healthy and take multivitamins.. Immune system boosters..and exercise..
I never got sick. except of having flu in winter season which would last a day or two after taking medication.. I dont take alcohol.. I dont smoke..
The only time i felt seriously sick it was when i went through a lot of stress because i had lost everything i worked for.. due to the wrong decisions i made in 2018…
I just started loosing weight in 2021 when i completely lost everything… Of which i thought it was due to stress..
but my weight was flactuating.. few months i would gain weight, another few months down the line i would loose weight…
In 2022 i started feeling sick by having fever/ coughing that lasted for almost 2 months… I went to my local clinic, got the treatment… they took me for TB
test and obviously the HIV test..
The TB results came back negative and HIV positive but unditactable..
I am 53 yrs old now.. should i consider taking the ARV? or should i just carry on living my life the way i have been doing..
Hi Max, I am sorry to hear this. Have you been able to talk with anyone?
It is great that you have started treatment so soon. CD4 count recovers slowly. It is not like viral load which becomes suppressed very quickly after starting treatment. for a rise of CD4 count from 60 to more than 200 this can take a couple of years. This is not to say it cannot happen faster, but it is an average rate of recovery. This is not AIDS. AIDS is a diagnosis that requires a CD4 count below 200 AND a specific illness/infection. If you are well with your only current symptom being a low CD4 count, you do not have AIDS.
Your appetite should return overtime as your health improves. This in turn will help recover your weight.
Hello, I’m Max. I was just diagnosed with HIV/AIDS about 4 days ago. Still in shock and coping with it. I started with cd4 60. How quickly can it get over 200 ? If it goes over 200 , is it still AIDS ? I’m currently taking Biktarvy and Bactrim. Also, what can I do to have more appetite and gain weight ? I’ve lost about 15 pounds.
Hi Tukahabwa, as your wife is given ARVs regularly why do you think she has not been taking them? and does she know what her viral load is?
It is really good to hear that her CD4 count is doing well and that yourself and your children have not tested positive. There are a number of factors that change the risk fo transmission and this is explained further here: https://i-base.info/guides/testing/risks-for-transmission
My wife is HIV+ Since i married her in 2010. We ‘ve 5children all negative. Whenever she goes for antinental,she’s given arvs which are not taken. Doctors say her cd4 count is doing well ,iam negative. Why has she not infected me? I’ve never used condoms at all! What is increasing her cd4 count? What are the risks?
Hi Maxwell, having a low CD4 count does not mean you will definitely have an opportunistic infection. But it does mean you are more at risk. A low CD4 count means that you have a weakened immune system. when weaker, there are some infections that your body could normally fight off but with a low CD4 count it will be harder for your body to do so. Being on treatment and allowing your CD4 count to naturally recover will prevent this risk. When low, you can use an antibiotic called co-trimoxazole to help prevent infection. For more information please see here: https://i-base.info/ttfa/section-1/12-cd4-count-cut-offs-and-the-risks-of-opportunistic-infections/
Hie,
Can one be HIV positive, CD4 count 11, and not be prone to these so called optimistic diseases? And also be without other issues like TB or Diabetes?