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 Nhla, it is good to hear that the vomiting has stopped. How long after taking his Tb treatment does he vomit and has this always been the case?
Hi Josh
I do not know the cd4.
Vomiting stopped since he stopped taking xeroprim. How ever after taking his tb treatment he does vomit but not like b4 he vomit once and than his okay after
Hi Nhla, sorry to hear your partner has been having difficultly with xeroprim. Has he had a reaction like this before to other medication? and has the vomited now stopped since discontinuing xeroprim?
What is your partners CD4 count? Xeroprim is an antibiotic used to prevent other infections while their immune system is weakened, usually below 200.
In people known to be intolerant to xeroprim, a drug called pentamadine isetionate can be used instead if this is available.
How is your partner doing generally? and is he coping with the other medications he is on?
NY partner was given arvs, xeroprim, b6
But xeroprim makes him vomits so we stopped giving him because his also on tb treatment is it okay for him to stop xeroprim?
Hi Noku, ARVs are used to treat HIV. Xeroprim is an antibiotic that helps prevent other infections while your immune system recovers. Usually this is given to people with a CD4 count below 200.
Solonex is a medication used to prevent Tb. A side effect of this medication is numbness/tingling. To avoid this vitamin B6 is given alongside to prevent this side effect happening.
It is common to give people preventative medication for Tb when recently diagnosed with HIV in places where Tb is common.
Hi I tested HIV 2months ago and they gave me ARVS and the tablets called xeroprim , vitamin b6, solonex I need to know those tablets is for what
Hi Yvonne, medication used to treat HIV is called anti-retroviral therapy ART). The medication is a 3 drug regimen. There are many drugs that can be used as ART but they all work to suppress HIV and prevent it damaging your body.
There is no ART that works better than other ART. Each of the possible drugs used have their own risk of specific side effects but how they present in different people will always be different and you may not even notice them.
Are you on any ART now? and here is a guide about starting ART: https://i-base.info/guides/starting
Which is the best medication for HIV?
Hi Nasu, since restarting your treatment have you had any viral load testing? and are you also taking an antibiotic called co-trimoxazole? This is used to prevent other infections as your immune system recovers.
My CD4 is 67 because I stop to take my medicine and I have started to take my medicine