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
Thanks for your comment. I hope that you are finding it easier to come to terms with HIV.
Although it is good that your count is now over 300 there are two things that could explain this.
One is if you were recently infected (within the last 6 months). This is because in early infection your CD4 count drops during the first few months and then slowly recovers a little in most people without treatment.
The second is that the two figures you have had are only about 50 cells different. This type of variation is normal – it would be very unusual to get two results that were exactly the same, even if you took them on the same day.
This is also the same for the viral load when you get it.
Try not to be too worried about these results because if your next CD4 count is 300 again it might not mean that there is any difference in the immune system. The general trend over time is more important often that the actual number.
Good luck with your next results.
Hi, I am 28 years old and I found out I am hiv + last june 2012. My cd4 count was 299 and after 1 month my cd4 count 354. im lucky with out taking arv my cd4 getting higher. Now im waiting for my viral load result
As a treatment information service, it is important that you keep attending the clinic for your monitoring. Although 272 is still quite good, at some point you will need to decide about treatment. Without treatment you are likely to become very ill.
You also raising issues that are too complicated for me to help with online. You life sounds difficult and it would be easier if you can get some support. Does the clinic have a health advisor or counsellor who can help.
Your health and your life are important. I know nothing about your partner and your circumstances but at some point there are choices and decisions that you need to make for yourself. Some partners change for the better when faced with HIV and become supportive if they love their partner. Others can react very badly and these are not good relationships to be in.
It would help if you can find someone to talk to. Your HIV is not going to go away. Your life is more important than a marriage to someone who has so little understanding. However your partner may also have to recognise he is talking nonsense if he wants you to stay in his life.
I tested hiv+ i had a cd of 272 then and went for another checkup but afraid to go and look for the results. Am scared to tell husband since he hates peolple who are positive saying its because they sleep around. he tested – and i found out after we got married that i am +
There is a lot of variation in CD4 counts between people, but anything over 350 is still pretty good. In the UK this is used as a time to start treatment, but some countries start at higher levels (when less than 500) and some at any CD4 count.
IF you are HIV positive now, you will be HIV positive from now on. The test looks for an immune response to the virus, and this immune response stays with you for life. A few people who took part in HIV vaccine trials now test positive, even though they do not have HIV.
If you ever test HIV negative, there is a fault with the test.
When you come to start treatment, it is very likely to work well, and give you the chance to lead a healthy and active live for many years into the future.
Hi i was tested positive around 5 months back, checked my cd4 count which was 456, please tell me how is this cd 4 count, also to let u know that i met with an accident and got recovered but it took a month to get back to normal. so i am just thinking will this drop my cd4 count and what should i do to increase my cd4 count. One more thing if i will do a hiv test after few months is there any chance that i will get hiv negative result.
please help me out..
Hi,
I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s recent diagnosis. How has he been since starting treatment?
Do you know the name of the neurology problem or the medications he is taking?
HIV treatment is very effective, even at low CD4 counts. If your friend is taking his medication as prescribed then it is likely that his CD4 will increase. Whether this will improve his neurology problem depends on what this is, and whether it is related to HIV.
my friend came to know about positive on 6th july and counts cd4 68 from 12 th july he started ART as he also has infected of neurology problem. the next count due is on 10th oct 2012. do you think he can improve and please also let me know about how his neurology will treat. however 2 tablets related to neurology has been giving but his family confused whether would he be recovered of both? thanx..!!
Hi Lollypop,
I’m very sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis and this assault. It’s good that you know your status though, and that you haven’t been feeling ill. It’s very difficult to predict CD4 count results because these are individual to each person. Generally CD4 counts drop in the first few weeks after infection, then recover a bit. They then drop gradually over time. But everybody has a different ‘normal’ CD4 count from before they were infected, and everybody progresses at different rates. Our treatment training guide has more information about CD4 counts in early infection.
Do you have any support to deal with your diagnosis and the assault that you’ve been through? If you let me know where you live I can put you in touch with a local support organisation.
i was raped early this year i went for testing last week and i was positive. i have never felt sick. i am now waiting for my cd4 count results do you think they will be high or low looking at the period of infection