Question
What can I use apart from ARVs?
25 November 2008. Related: All topics, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
My CD4 is 236. I’ve been using Centrum and Moducare. They don’t seem to have worked for me as my count had declined. What can I use to increase my CD4 count without resorting to ARVs, cause I don’t think I’m ready for them?
Answer
With a CD4 count of 236 is a good idea to start preparing yourself for ARVs. In fact, if you were in the UK, you would have been suggested to start by now.
There are scientific data that clearly show benefits in the long run from starting when your CD4 is about 250. Avoiding that may put you in a situation where you will not do as well as if you have stated earlier. So, it is a risk-benefit calculation that you need to do for yourself.
Otherwise, for some people selenium and alpha lipoic acid have been beneficial in terms of increasing the CD4 count, but not always. Both of those, however, will not protect you from the virus in the long run. The only means that we know of so far is the ARVs.
Hi Palesa,
It’s great that you don’t get sick. But selenium doesn’t work against HIV.
Please see questions 1 and 3 on this Q&A about starting treatment
http://i-base.info/qa/starting-faqs
I have 3 years now using selenium only in my positive life but I don’t get sick,so is that not good?