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 Nthabi, we get a lot of questions from people thinking about starting a family so we have created an FAQs page on this topic. Please have a look there, and then let me know if you need any further information.
Hi Lindokuhle
The only way to know your current CD4 count is to have this tested. This should happen at least once a year at your clinic. It is important to go back for this monitoring.
Your CD4 count was high last year, but you need to know whether this has changed and by how much.
Although the average CD4 drop might be 50-100 cells a year, some people progress more quickly, so annual testing is essential.
I checked my CD4 count in late 2012 and they told m that it was 785 but that was my last time i checked and it been a year. I’m a party person, so what i want to know is my CD4 still ok?
Hi Tembakazi
You have a very strong CD4 count. This makes it very unlikely that HIV is related to why you are loosing weight. It is also makes it very unlikely that HIV will cause any health problems while your CD4 count is still higher than 350.
Your doctor should be able to discuss other reasons for your weight loss. Sometimes people start HIV treatment at higher CD4 counts, but this is usually because of either other health complications or to reduce the risk of passing HIV to their partners.
You didn’t say how much weight you have lost, and whether this is significant for your height. Please ask your doctor or clinic about this.
I am 35 yrs @hiv positive at the cliinic thesaid i cant start arv my cdf count is 579 but im scared coz im loosing weight so what must i do
Hi
I’m sorry to hear about your HIV diagnosis. I hope you are getting the support you need to make this easier.
It is good that your found out early in your pregnancy though as starting treatment will reduce the risk of your baby catching HIV.
Most people see their CD4 count increase after starting treatment. This means it is very likely that your CD4 count will increase over 350, and may even go above 500.
During pregnancy, the CD4 count is sometimes a bit lower, so after your baby is born, your CD4 count may increase a bit more too.
Good luck with everything.
See the guide to HIV and pregnancy for more information.
l just found out recently that lm HIV positive and l’m pregnant. My CD4 count was 349 and l have started treatment. What are there chances of increasing my CD4 count to more than 350?
A CD4 count of 350 is still good, but this is usually the time that most guidelines recommend starting HIV treatment. This also depends on the history of your CD4 count over the last few years, if you have been diagnosed this long.
It would be better to talk to your doctor about starting treatment rather than hoping to wait for a year. This is because in a year your CD4 count might drop much lower.
My CD4 count is 350, can i at least wait for another year to test?
Hi Shankar
HIV is a very serious infection. So it is worth taking seriously and is much better to stay HIV negative.
However, so long as there is access to good monitoring and treatment, HIV can usually be managed well in most people. This means that doctors say that life expectancy for HIV positive people is now similar to HIV negative people.