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 Praveen,
It is very important that your mother goes back to the doctor as soon as possible and starts taking ART again. While she is off treatment there is a serious risk of developing infections like TB and pneumonia. If she does experience side effects then it’s important to speak to the doctor to get treatment for these, not to stop taking ART.
sir i am from karnataka india my mother whose age is 46 weight 45 now her cd4 count is 92 and viral load is 147400copies/ml and cd8 is 1010 cd3 is 1218
doctor advised art
DARUNAVIR 2-0-2
RITOVIR 1-0-1
INTEGRASE 1-0-1
LAMIVIR 1-0-1
WHEN she starts to take this medicine after three days she atarted suffering from heavy diarrhea gastric loss of apetite fevour not able to walk then we shown to doctor they gave treatment for those then no prblem after 20 days again same prblm then she stops taking art what should we do now
Hi Njey,
Both these CD4 counts are very good. It’s normal for CD4 counts to vary and the tests aren’t very accurate at high levels. Your doctor would probably see these two results as being the same. Smoking is generally bad for your health but is unlikely to affect your CD4 count.
I tested positive a year ago nd ma cd4 count waz 798 bt i then went back for another test this year on Feb ma cd4 count waz a bit low it is 758 m smoking dagga n cigarates, i wanna know iz ma smoking lowering ma cd4 count??
Hi Sarah,
It’s quite normal for your CD4 count to increase after pregnancy- although this is usually only by about 50. I’m not sure why your CD4 count would continue to increase, although it is normal to have CD4 count fluctuations which could be what you are experiencing.
i tested positive in 2011 while i was pregnant,and my cd4 count was 359,six months later it was 446,nw a year later my cd4 count is 510,and am not on arvs,i wanna know what increases my cd4 count ?
Hi Hle,
HIV tests are accurate when you take them 3 months after an exposure. If you had a negative test result 3 months or more after the last time you had unprotected sex with your ex-boyfriend then you had not been infected by him.
How are you coping with finding out that you are positive?
Hai 2008 I found out that my boyfrend is HIV+ so we were not using condom since the time he took my varginity in 2007 and later 2008 we broke up and his cd4 count was 200 at time den I went for hiv test and I did evry requred test but no hiv was found so every year I use to do some check maybe 3 or twice a year’and dis year february I went bcs I was pregnat den I was positive so as my recent partner.so my question is’is it possible dat I was wit dis virus al these years or it something new
Hi Tom,
I’m sorry but I don’t speak Affrikaans, and I haven’t been able to translate your question online. Please write back in English, or if you don’t speak English please try contacting the Treatment Action Campaign who are based in South Africa.
Ek is jammer, maar ek praat nie Affrikaans, en ek het nie in staat was om jou vraag aanlyn te vertaal. Skryf asseblief terug in Engels, of as jy praat nie Engels probeer kontak met die Treatment Action Campaign wat in Suid-Afrika gebaseer is.(Vertaal op Google Translate)
Goeie middag ek versorg tans my oom met Hiv en dit wil ek (asseblief) raad vra hy steek sy pille weg hy drink nie sy pille nie hy het toxo brein hy maar 39baie swak en maer sy cd4 telling was laas week 13 en sy maag loop sonder enige beheer hulle hom codein gegee omdat sy mond en keel vol wit blase is