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 Princess,
The medications which are used in South Africa by the government clinics are some of the most modern HIV drugs available. Although you may experience side effects with these these are likely to be mild and should improve after a few weeks on treatment. If you do experience difficult side effects you will be able to change to different drugs to avoid these. Although starting treatment can be frightening there is a lot of experience in South Africa with HIV treatment. Please take a look at our Introduction to Combination Therapy guide for more information about starting treatment.
Hi Rebecca i live in South Africa-Johannesburg.
Hi Princess,
It’s very normal to be scared but HIV treatment is much better than it used to be. The things you have described are some of the side effects of HIV treatment, but these are generally associated with the older drugs. Without knowing which country you live in it’s hard to know which drugs you might be given through the public healthcare system. It may be true that there are different drugs available privately, but the drugs in the public clinics might be just as good. Can you tell me where you live?
It’s important to speak to your doctor about these worries. Not everybody gets these side effects and if you do have them you should be able to change to another treatment. Without treatment you would eventually become ill and treatment is usually a much better option than no treatment.
When you’re worried about starting treatment it can help to speak to other HIV positive people who are already on treatment. Do you know anybody else with HIV? If you don’t your clinic should be able to suggest a support group or introduce you to other patients. Many people find this support very helpful in answering their worries about starting treatment.
Hi Rebecca,the thing is I’m scared I’ve seen so many people change,skins,body shapes in a way that you can even tell that the person is infected with the virus I don’t know if is it the treatment or something else.Is it true that u go mad when starting ARVs,and is it also true that the private treatment is much better than the public ARVs!
Hi Princess,
Canova is a herbal supplement which claims to be an immune booster. There is no proof that these supplements have any health benefits and they do not increase your CD4 count. They are a waste of money and you would be better off spending your money on healthy food.
Although it is not urgent it is important that you also think about starting treatment soon. More informaiton about starting treatment is available in our Introduction to combination therapy guide. Can you tell me why you don’t feel ready to start yet?
Many HIV positive women have healthy babies, and there is no reason to think you couldn’t do this. There is more information about this in our Pregnancy guide.
Hi im a 24 year old & nt on arvs yet ,my last cd4 was 298 & im nt ready to take treatment yet,can canova help to boost my immune systeem,i also want a child bt not mayb sumtym 3 or 4 years later,is it possible tht i can still hav a child?
Hi
I started ARV 6 mnths ago ATRIPLA when I went to go test for my cd4 count it was much lower than when I started, previously it was 256 now 58 the viral load is undetacable. Im worried why is my cd4 counting dropping drastically. I was put on bactrim today for 6 mnths. Will this combination help me?
P.S Ive never been sick before!
Hi
You are right that for most people the CD4 count starts to increase within the first few months of starting treatment. I am not sure why your results are different. What did your doctor say?
Usually, in the UK, if a results comes back that is unexpected, a second test is run to confirm the results. This is because sometimes lab errors are made.
If the second test comes back at the same level then your doctor should be looking to see what else may be causing this.
Your treatment though is working well, so this is unlikely to be related to the Atripla. Having an undetectable viral load is a very good result.
I do not know what ‘immuniser’ is, but if centrum is a multivitamin, it is fine to take this.
Although a multivitamin is unlikely to do you any harm, it is also unlikely to give you much benefit, unless you are not already eating a balanced diet or unless you have a deficiency. If you are paying for these then you might be better spending the money on nutritious food that you enjoy.
Vitamins sold to “boost your immune system” are not going to help your CD4 count.
When you need to start treatment, ARVs will do this – nothing else has been proven to be effective.
I am a lady of 22yrz who ws affected by HIV. My CD4 count is 484 now I am taking immuniser and centrum tablets. Is it safe for my healthy to use those tables? Please help