Question

I'm HIV+, can I still drink beer?

26 March 2012. Related: All topics.

Hi

Thanks for all the help and support you provide.

I have been positive for 2 years i belive, but i was diagnosed last November 2011, now my CD4 Count is 670.

I would like to ask you if there will be any problem if I drink 2 beers once in a week, because i have been doing it i hope it wont affect me?

Answer

Answer: Rebecca McDowall

Thank-you for your question. I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis- how are you coping with this? Can I ask if you are currently on any treatment? Also are you getting support from anybody to deal with finding out you are HIV positive?

There is no reason why being HIV positive should stop you having the occasional beer. Alcohol doesn’t affect HIV treatment and doesn’t make HIV worse. The only problem would be if you were drinking a lot of alcohol and forgetting to take your treatment. Drinking alcohol in moderation should not be a problem.

23 comments

  1. remar •

    its okay to take vitamin c while i am on ARVs treatment?
    and i have an asthma and i am using salbutamol inhaler is it okay to take other meds while im on HIV meds?

  2. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Anonio.

    TB meds and meds for HIV are two very different things. You stopping TB meds won’t have any impact on the ARVs. However, if you need to take TB meds then you may need to continue taking them. Are you able to talk to your doctor about this?

  3. Antonio •

    What happened if the patient stopped taking medicine for tb, but continuesly taking med for hiv?

  4. Roy Trevelion •

    Hi Twin,

    Are you taking treatment for HIV and TB?

    What does your doctor say about it? What HIV meds and what TB meds are you taking. It can be complex treating HIV and TB together. So it’s important you discuss this with your doctor.

    Please can you let us know what meds you are on, and what your results are. Do you have access to this treatment?

  5. Twin •

    What hapens if u stop treatments 4 TB and AIDS-?

  6. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Prince,

    Yes its very possible that your CD4 count will have increased, though by how much I cannot say. Yes you can drink alcohol and yes you can masturbate.

  7. Prince •

    Am hiv positive, was diagnosed 3months ago with a cd4 can of 258…but since then I have been on treatment. Is there any way my cd4 can might increase since d last 3months? …. And can I take alcohol or masturbate?

  8. Roy Trevelion •

    Hi Manuel,
    There is a modified antibody test called RITA (Recent Infection Testing Algorithm).

    This can indicate whether the infection is likely to have been in the previous six months. You can read more about RITA on this question here.

    How are you getting on Manuel? Testing positive can be a tough time for many people. Have you got support from family and friends, as well as at the clinic?

  9. Manuel •

    Hi im HIV positive, I was diagnostic a week ago, is there a way to find out when did I get it or how long iam HIV Positive

  10. Robert •

    Thanks very much because I’m HIV positive.

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