Question

How can I lower viral load without HIV treatment?

23 June 2015. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.

My CD4 is 545 but my viral load is 26,645. What can I do to lower it without taking treatment?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

The only proven way to significantly lower viral load is to use HIV treatment.

This will also increase your CD4 count.

Other healthy lifestyle changes are good for other reasons but they are not able to reduce viral load.

28 comments

  1. Simon Collins •

    Hi Nathan, thanks. It is good that you are finding out about HIV and good that you know about this now. The meds are very good and mean you can lead a long and normal life. Please go to the test centre and ask for details of your local HIV clinic. The meds here should be free. You can take time to learn about HIV before deciding on when and how to tell your parents, but this is your choice.

    If you have other questions, please email me in confidence at:
    questions@i-base.org.uk

  2. Nathan •

    Hello everyone I really need help from you guys I am just 16 and I already got hiv but I am scared to tell my parents and I need medication I am scared to die
    Please help me

  3. Simon Collins •

    Hi Lucky, when did you start ARVs? If you have been taking meds for a while then yor viral load should be undetectable. If it is 40,000 on meds, please talk to your doctor about changing to a new combination. Without more information I worry that your HIV meds might not be working and this could be the casue of your other problems.

  4. Lucky •

    My viral load is 40 000 , I’m drinking Arv, after eating my stomach flush lot of water an food , like diarrhea. I’m loosing weight.

    What should I do. What medication can help me to recover an the diarrhea to stop

  5. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Thandeka, how often do you have your viral load tested? and what was your last viral load test?

  6. Thandeka •

    Hi I’ve been on ARV from 2012 and now my viral load is very high 460 what boost can I take that will lower my vl

  7. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Thaneka,

    If your viral load was 20 copies ml when you gave birth, this is good news. It means that your HIV is under control and the risk to your baby is drastically reduced, please see here: https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  8. Thaneka •

    If the viral is 180 during pregnancy and during labor is 20 does that mean you’v already pass on the virus to the little one?

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