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 Boipelo, it’s good to hear that you’re doing well. I am sorry to say that testing positive is for life, no number of tests is going to change this. It’s also possible that continually testing is not going to help with your mental health.
Having a child is definitely possible. Though doing this safely as to prevent transmission to your child and parter will require medication. Where are you based? Some areas offer community point-collections so you do not need to attend clinics which can help with stigma. Do you know what your viral load is? Medication for HIV can help to make your viral load undetectable. This means you would not need to use a condom during sex and baby is then at a very low risk of transmission – this is further reduced by having their own medication after birth. Many HIV positive all over the world give birth to healthy HIV negative children.
Have you heard of U=U? It means that when you are undetectable (viral load) you are untransmissable. This link will explain this more: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/ I understand what you have mentioned about gossiping and people talking but like you have said, this is about you. Starting medication will help keep you healthy and even though you feel well now, this may not always be the case. Have you been able to speak to anyone about your diagnosis and how you feel?
I was diagnosed with HIV 2019, after my DR did Biopsy on my neck because of the lumps behind ears and the one on the neck.. I have not started with ARVs yet.. But I’m doing just fine. Even gained weight, honestly I’m not ready to take medication. I’m so denial about this i keep on testing and hoping to see negative results, but no.. And now i want to have a second child.. Have no clue on how to get pregnant without infecting your partner and bringing a healthy child to this world cos it will be unfair to bring a sick child because of me. Please assist, the thing is the people in my community gossips a lot i won’t be abke to go collect my treatment without them talking. I know its not about them but they make things so difficult to us to go through this process.
Hi Zee, I am sorry to hear about your husbands diagnosis. HIV does increase the risk of nasopharyngeal tumour but it is not the cause. The cause of this cancer is not known.
Unfortunately selenium and zinc will not increase his CD4 count. ARVs are the only known way of increasing CD4 levels. Has your doctor suggested any forms of management for this tumour?
My husband has hiv for over 22 years now and just recently he has a swelling on the neck. Doc said it’s a nasopharyngeal tumour. His cd4 has dropped from 242 to 163. But his viral load is undectable
Why is this tumour happening. Can selenium and zinc increase his cd4. What else can we do. He is in pain and the swelling is growing bigger. Pls advice
Hi Mark, how are you doing? I am sorry that you are feeling depressed about your status but over time this will dwindle. You need to remember that HIV does not define who you are. You are still the same person before you tested positive. A CD4 count of 54 is low, have you been given any antibiotics? While 54 is low, when you start treatment this will slowly go up and your immune system can recover.
How you will feel when you take your ARVs will depend on what medication you have been given. In general people often feel side effects more so for the first few weeks they are on them. After this the side effects lessen and become very manageable. It can also be affected by the time you take them. If your medication contains efavirenz, it would be best to take them in the evening to avoid the mental side effects while you sleep. If the combination contains dolutegravir it would be best to take the medication in the morning. This would help avoid possible insomnia.
Hi good day!
I’m mark and i just want to know how you feeling at first taking the arv? I’m tested positive this week with the cd4 count 58,is it very bad?? I’m still preparing myself to take the medicine because im still depress about my status!
Sorry for bad english!
The first day, week after week of taking ARVs 5 years ago, I had the scariest time, I started hallucinations, my vision too blurry likethe way i see drunk people act. The earth seemed to be moving, I’d spend the whole in bed or sitting on floor because then I could hold on to the floor.
I tried until I decided to stop out of confusion of my experiences and night hallucinations. Scary stuff I tell you,
Why these happenings?
Hi Cathy, do you know the combination of medication you were taking? Some older combinations are known to have these side effects, namely combinations with efavirenz. If this was the case it may be possible to get a new combination without this drug to avoid these effects coming back.
Hi Dustin, I understand why you are anxious but being on medication and antibiotics is a great start. Unlike viral load which goes down quickly after starting medication, CD4 will take some time to improve. Especially when starting low, increasing CD4 count is a slow process. In the early stages it is more important that your viral load is going down. It is good that you have been started on antibiotics. While your CD4 count is low, there is an increased risk of infection as your immune system isn’t as healthy as it can be. Being on antibiotics will help make up for this and keep you healthy. How are you feeling in yourself? Are you adjusting well to taking your medication?
Hi. Im a newly diagnosed HIV+ last December 2020. The HIV screening came as part of the requirement from a surgery ill be undergoing, specifically skin tags in groin area. After knowing my status, I postponed the surgery. The doctor referred me on a HIV hub in the same hospital. The hub immediately enrolled me on ARV treatment, my Labs and Xray were all normal by then, but no CD4 or viral load count was conducted due to limitations of their services at that time. Alongside with ARV, the physician prescribed Nyastatin for my Oral Thrash – which I honestly didn’t notice until that day. I’ve been taking the oral treatment and ARV for a month now, labs was reconducted and everything was normal. Oral thrash also improved. After a month on ARV, I decided to have a CD4 count on a different medical facility, results were out the next day and it was only 73 – I didnt know if this is an improvement from ARV. I informed my hub about it, and they prescribed me addtl meds for opportunistic infection: azithromycin 500mg for 30 days daily and cotrimoxazole 800/160 for 30 days daily. Pls help im anxious now after knowing my CD4 count. My ARV is CIPLA. Thank you!