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.
Hi Rohith,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.
Many people get mild side effects when they first start HIV treatment (ART). But these are usually mild and go away within the first week or two.
It’s good to hear that you had a routine of going to the gym and are healthy and athletic. And starting ART can help you keep this up. Many people on ART go to the gym regularly and remain very healthy.
However, we are not doctors at i-Base. And if you have a rash when you start treatment you should ask the doctor to look at it. That’s in case it’s a serious reaction. Up to 20% of people using efavirenz or other NNRTI can experience a mild to moderate rash in the first weeks of treatment.
For most people this disappears over the next few weeks and they experience no further side effects. Less than 5% of people stop drugs such as efavirenz because of rash, and less than 1% people (0.1–0.5%) get a severe (grade 4) rash.
It’s unfortunate that you can’t see a doctor where you’re living at the moment. Can you try to call your doctor for their advice?
How long will you be away? If you stop your ART because of serious side effects you might need to switch to different meds when you next see the doctor. If you can call your doctor, can you try to find out about this too?
Here is the guide to efavirenz.
And here’s the guide to skin rash.
hi. im rohith, 36 years, Indian. I am most towards gay sex and I had few times anal sex with few guys without condom unfortunately. I went for a causal HIV checkup and it was found HIV 1 positive in April last week of 2019. I do not know when I got affected and how long I am carrying HIV. Now my CD4 count is 370. Till my HIV checkup test I was active, regular to gym gym, talk with friends and kind of jovial person. for the last 5 years i maintain same weight with normal athletic toned body. So I never think that I got affected with HIV. Sadly now I am affected. My doctor gave the medicine combination of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, Lamivududine and Efavirenz Tablet IP 300 mg/ 300 mg/600mg. For the last one week I am taking one tablet at night time. For the first four days I felt sleepy and tiredness. Fifth day heavy diarrhea. and still i have diarrhea felling but not much. now seventh day I found small rashes in my shoulder and hand with little itching. Now I lost 2.5 kg and not getting proper sleep and my mind feels that i may die soon. After getting these side affects in a week, Should I continue the same medicine or not?. I am working out of India.( after doctor checkup I came back to my work place). So, immediately I cannot meet my doctor and also I can’t reveal my status to anyone at my present situation. Kindly guide me.
Hi Thenba,
If you’re having weight issues, this will need to be discussed with a doctor.
How can I gain more wait am HIV positive.
Hi D,
Thanks for your question as this is something lots of people are interested in. Simon has answered this in detail here.
But what does your doctor say about your struggle to swallow? You can ask them about switching to smaller tablets that might be available to you.
Can I get injections for hiv instead of tablets . Because I struggle to swallow medicine
Hi Kyzo,
Starting HIV treatment (ART) sooner rather than later is recommended in many countries. If exactly the same HIV meds (ARVs) are not available in South Africa you might be able to switch to other meds that can be as safe and effective.
But please discuss with the doctors in Manila first. Do you have access to your CD4 count and viral load results?
Hi, I am in Manila now and I tested positive but I am South African on the 06/04/19 I mind go home in December I wanted to start the medication right away but I was told that medication might differ what must I do?
Hi Kelechi,
HIV is no longer the health condition is used to be. As long as your sister takes her meds,so ARVs, she’ll be fine. There’s more info here about being on medication: http://i-base.info/guides/starting
My sister was diagnosed with hiv1 on the 6 April 2019, what is her chances if she takes her drugs very well?