Question
How can I increase my CD4 count without ARVs?
8 January 2016. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, South 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.
I’ve been taking arvs since 2010…my partner was in denial he refused to go and test until he fell sick now he started treatment BT he became worse…headaches,body pain and dizziness..and his whole body will get hot then he will feel cold how long will his sickness last?
Hi Ryan
Even though your CD4 count is under 100 now, it will steadily get higher once you start treatment. The treatment will start working from the first day and your CD4 count will steadily get stronger.
How quickly the CD4 count increases varies a lot between different people. Generally it is better to have a slow and steady CD4 increase – even if this takes a year or two.
Also, your doctor should give you a dual antibiotic call co-trimoxazole to give extra protection over this time.
Hi, recently I have been diagnosed HIV positive and my cd4 count is only 59… I will get my meds on 16th of this month…
I am scared because my cd4 is only 59 now… How much time it will take to become more than 300?
Hi Robert,
Its very possible that your CD4 drop was simply a blip. This can and does happen. Has their been any change in your viral load? And what was your CD4 count before?
Its very unlikely that you having sex with someone who is positive and not on meds has caused a drop in your CD4.
I am HIV positive. After taking ART I was very healthy but later my CD4 cell dropped to 400 and I started feeling fever. If a woman is HIV positive and is not on ART treatment and I had sex with her continuously. Can that affect my CD4 cells to drop?
Hi Maletsatsi,
If you want to control your HIV you’ll need to be on meds. For what will happen if you don’t take meds, please see Q7 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Good day my name is katlego and I’m 28 years old I’m in a relationship both me and my partner are HIV positive. At first we’ve been taking ARS but we had problems with them so we stopped and now we are taking promune capsule. Is it ok in our condition or we must stick on the HIV treatment?
Hi Tau,
If you’ve been having sex without a condom before you were diagnosed, your wife may also have HIV. Therefore, for the sake of her own health she will need to test. Yes this might be a hard thing to talk to her about. However, if she is also positive she’ll need to be on meds.
I found that I’m HIV positive 3weeks ago so I don’t want to tell my wife, and we never use condom since we meet, but I never sleep with her since I found that Im positive, how can I have sex with her without passing this virus
Hi Nonkululeko,
The guidelines from the World Health Organisation are that everyone should be on ARVs. This is even people who have high CD4s. Therefore, if you’re ready then you should start. Being on meds also helps prevent transmission.