Question
Am I doing OK or chall I change my medications?
19 December 2008. Related: All topics, Changing treatment, Opportunistic infections.
Hi,
I have been dignoised with HIV in September 2007 with a vral load of over a million and CD4 count less than 4. I have been admitted to hospital for pneumonia and have been on treatment for it for a year. My recent test tells me that I am clear of that, but my doctor advised me to carry on as it might come back due to the virus. After a year on Stocrin and Combivir together with the treatment, my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is up 300. I have had a few complications like warts (anal and other), anal fissure which is now cleared. What does this mean? Am I doing well with the meds that I am taking or shall I change? I have put on weight to my normal self compared to what I was.
Answer
Your results are great at the moment, keeping in mind with what a vow CD4 count you started. Apparently the combination works very well for you. Congratulations!
If you are feeling comfortable with it and you do not have any side effects that worry you, then you may decide to stay on it. The only possible problem that may arise in the future comes from the fact that you are on Combivir, one of the compound of which is AZT. This medication may lead in the long run to conditions like lipodystrophy and anaemia. That is way the medication of choice nowadays in the UK is Truvada. There is more on the different options here.
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