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 Tunde,
It is a good idea to go for another check. In the UK people have their CD4 count monitored every 3-6 months while they are not on treatment. This is a good idea as it means you know how you are progressing and you will be able to start treatment when you need to.
ii was tested hiv positive since 2004 and till date, i have not taken any drugs and i have not been sick. Though, my last CD4 was close to 750 in 2010. I want to go for another check soon. Hope i have not been taking risk since then?
Hi
As your CD4 count is so high, you can take time to come to terms with learning that you are HIV positive. This will take a while but things will get easier.
If you have no other symptoms there is no urgency about starting HIV treatment. Without treatment though your CD4 count is likely to slowly go down, but this may take several years. So long as your count stays above 500, current WHO guidelines do not recommend routine treatment.
So far no studies have shown that there are health risks from letting your CD4 count go down to 500 before starting treatment. This varies by country and by doctor though.
Some guideline recommend treatment at higher CD4 counts to reduce the risk of transmission to sexual partners.
I js discovered tht am hiv positive n I have CD4 count of 870… Wat do I do to maintain it nt to go down?
Hi Kudah,
Until you have the results of your CD4 count it is difficult to know if this weight loss is due to HIV or not. If your CD4 count is low (under 350, or under 200) this weight loss could be related to HIV and may improve just from starting ARVs. People usually gain weight when they start treatment.
You can read about healthy eating at this link.
I tested HIV positive and currently waiting for my cd4 count results, I lost wait from 72 to 65, what food or pills do you recommend me to take so that I can gain my weight back
Hi Wilson,
It’s important to talk to your doctor and tell him/her that you have stopped taking your ARVs. You might be able to just restart treatment with the same drugs, or you might need to take a different combination if you have developed any drug resistance. But please do not worry, there are lots of different ARVs available and even if you do have some resistance this doesn’t mean that you will die. It is important to restart treatment though, the longer you are not on treatment the more likely it is that you will get ill.
If you are having difficulties because of the distance to the ARV centre explain this to your doctor. There may be another centre that is closer or they may be able to give you enough drugs to last for a few months so that you don’t need to go in so often.
I worry so much about my health because i am far from my arv centre due to work. So i have spent 3 months without getting them,if i start to get them shall i die of drug resistence?
Hi Masechaba,
If you are on treatment and your viral load is 45000 this suggests that you have developed some resistance to your treatment. This doesn’t mean you are going to die. It does mean though that you will probably need to change to a different combination of ARVs. It is important that you do this soon so that you can get your viral load to undetectable (<50) before giving birth. Have you discussed this with your doctor?
Hi
Its been 5years now in treatment of hiv.I’m pregnent with third child in this status of HIV,I’m warried about my viral load which is more than 45000 now.my question is how am I going to decrease this viral load to be at the level of < 40? Am I going to die verysoon?pls help.