Question
Why am I on ilvitrim? (co-trimoxazole)
29 July 2013. Related: All topics, Opportunistic infections.
I am worried why my CD4 count is dropping so fast,what can i do to keep it above 500? I am currently put on ilvitrim, why ilvitrim?
Answer
Hello,
Thank you for your email. Can you give me a bit more information?
It would be useful if you could tell me what your most recent CD4 count is, and the last few results so that I can understand how quickly this is decreasing.
If your CD4 count is above 500, then your immune system is still very strong. This is likely to slowly go down over time until you start ARVs. This is the only proven way to increase your CD4 count.
The CD4 count guideline for starting treatment will depend on where you live. Can you tell me which country you live in? For example, in the UK, the current recommendation is to start when the CD4 count is about 350.
Ilvitrim is a brand name for two antibiotics in one pill. The generic name for this is co-trimoxazole. Other common brand names are Purbac, Septrin and Bactrim.
The two drugs in co-trimoxazole are trimethoprim (TMP) and sulphamethoxazole (SMX). It is mainly used to either prevent or treat infections, including PCP which is a type of pneumonia and toxoplasmosis which can affect your brian.
In the UK, this med is given to everybody who has a CD4 count under 200. In some other countries, especially in Africa, this is used at higher CD4 counts (under 350) because it also protects against a broad range of other infections.
As with any medicine, it is important to ask your doctor or nurse these questions so you understand this part of your life.
Hi Yolanda,
Its good to hear that your child tested negative when he was born, this is a good sign that he’ll be OK. ilvitrim suspension is an antibiotic, its not a ARV. Therefore, I’m not sure why your child has been given this, especially as you aren’t breastfeeding. In the UK its very unlikely that your child would be given ilvitrim suspension. If the nurses are unsure why your child has been given ilvitrim suspension, please ask to speak to a doctor.
Hi. I’m HIV+ and my son is 7 weeks old. He was given nevirapine but now they have changed it to ilvitrim suspension and he was born negative and on formula only. For how long should he take ilvitrim suspension because at the clinic they said they don’t know because I am not breast feeding
Hi Broux,
Please see your doctor about your rash. There can be many causes so it’s a good idea to have the doctor look at it.
Hi what causes flesh burn and sometimes rush show on my body.what some day this are signs that am hiv positive.thank I.
Hi Linda,
It’s great that your daughter was born negative. All babies born to HIV positive mothers are given a short course of HIV treatment such as nevirapine.
Ilvitrim is an antibiotic. It’s used to prevent, or to treat, other infections.
You are doing what you can by breastfeeding exclusively. But what does your doctor say about this?
You can talk to the doctor about being concerned. You can ask for details about Ilvitrim and why your daughter is taking it. You can also check when the clinic will test your daughter for HIV again.
There’s a lot more info in this guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health.
Good morning
I’m HIV positive mother, and my daughter she was born negative then they gave her nevirapine. I was giving her 1.5 ml daily since she was born now she is 6 weeks old and they gave me ilvitrim suspension they say I must give her 2.5 ml daily and they didn’t give me nevirapine this time and is almost finished and I’m exclusively breastfeeding her. I just want to know will my innocent child be safe from this virus, I’m just so concerned. Thank you
Hi Mahama,
Our website is a treatment information resource for people who are HIV positive. Please talk to your doctor about your treatment for chest pains.
I am not HIV positive but I was given Nucotrim tabs for my chest pains. what could be the reason?
Hi Precious,
ilvitrim suspension is an antibiotic its not a ARV. Therefore it work like ARVs. If you’re breastfeeding then your baby should be using nevirapine. This is a precautionary measure. Are you able to go back to your clinic and talk to the nurse about this?
Hi, I’m an HIV+ mother who’s breastfeeding. My is 2 months old now and tasted negative. He has been on Nevirapine for the first 6 weeks then they gave him Ilvitrim suspension.
I want to know is it safe for him to use Ilvitrim only not Nevirapine? Does Ilvitrim works like Nevirapine?