Question
How can I increase my CD4 count without ARVs?
8 January 2016. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Southern 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 Catherine,
I’m sorry to hear that you are so stressed. Finding out you have HIV is never easy but it is important to know that treatment is very effective and HIV positive people can live relatively normal lives and have a similar life expectancy to HIV negative people.
Are you on treatment yet? It’s normal for CD4 counts to go up and down, but if your CD4 count is 292 you should think about starting treatment soon. You can read about CD4 counts and starting treatment in our Introduction to combination therapy.
It can help to meet other HIV positive people or to access counseling. If you tell me which country you live in I can suggest some support services.
I am so shocked right now, My cd4 count was 392 in feb that when i found out that i am HIV+ and now its 292 the nurse said that stress is a killer. I’ve lived so healthy, stopped drinking and smoking. Eating much healthier aswell and it dropped by 100 OMG…. I dont belong to a group or talk about it. I’ve only told my partner and his negative. I’m confused, scared, sorry for making such a huge mistake, emmotional all the time, sad , Happy too… But scared mostly. My bf is amazing without him i prob would’ve of just given up om life. Please help me , get my head in the right place. I’m the most positive person that i know yet i cant motivate myself.
I found out I was HIV+ last November and my CD4 count is 270. I want to start treatment by January, is it normal? And what drug do I take before then to remain healthy and to maintain my CD4 count?
Hi John,
Because you CD4 count is under 350 it is important to start treatment soon. ARVs are the only medicine that maintain and increase CD4 counts. You can read more about HIV treatment in our introduction to combination therapy.
Hi Esther,
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. A CD4 count of 5 is very low. When people start treatment with a very low CD4 count there is a risk of developing something called immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).
It’s important that she is monitored closely and that any infections (like TB or pneumonia) are treated. Other than that it’s just important that she tries to eat well and take her meds everyday. For more information about starting treatment please see our introduction to combination therapy.
Hey, I have a friend, she has known for over 10 years that she was hiv + but due to denial, she didn’t start her medication, this year however, she became too sick and decided to start on ARVs, her CD4 count was 5, for some reason she’s getting worse and worse every day, the doctor says she will be better but its been weeks now… what are her chances of recovering?? Is there something else other than ARVs that she can do?? I’m really worried for her… please help, thanks.
Hi Phumla,
I’m sorry to hear about the recent stress you have been through. Do you have anybody to talk to about this? Sometimes stress can be relieved by talking through the things you are worried about. There are also some medicines to help relieve stress- you should talk to your doctor if you want to try these. Regular exercise can also help with stress, as well as with weight gain.
Your CD4 count is still very good though. This will naturally go down over time but for now your immune system is still strong without treatment.
Hi, I’m 27 years in South Africa.I was infected and diagnosed with HIV in 2004 I knew quictly cause I was a blood donor. I’ve been lucly all these years my CD4 count has been high and I’m not on any meds. But recently I lost my job and my 10 year realationship ended.due to that stress my recent CD4 is 450 its stil high for me to start treatment but would like to knw if there is any drug that can help reduce stress cause I can’t help it..
I take my vitamins and I eat well,, have gained a lot of weight though about 20 kgs in the last year.
Hi Thando,
How are you feeling? Do you have any TB symptoms?
If you do have TB it is important to get treatment for this. You can contact the Treatment Action Campaign for advice about how to access treatment in South Africa when you can’t afford transport to the clinic.
You CD4 count should gradually increase while you are on treatment. Because you started with a very low CD4 this might take several months but your CD4 should increase to safer levels. It is good that you are eating healthy food. When people have very low CD4 counts they are usually given an antibiotic called Bactrim or Septrin to help prevent infections like pneumonia (and stop them coming back). Have you been given either of these?
Skin darkening can be caused by low vitamin D. This might be linked to tenofovir- it’s important to ask your HIV doctor about this.
Hi rebbeca I got tested in august for the first time and was positive and my cd4 was 7, I am curently on treatmant that are (tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz). I was diagnosed with TB and pneumonia and pneumonia but the clinic for tb is far so I last took them in september since I don’t have money to go there but I take arv, how long will it take for my cd 4 count to increase? I eat healthy foods that I plant in the garden. And the other thing that wories me is that I’m getting dark in colour so I want to kno what could me making me this dark?