Question
I stopped meds, can I begin taking them again?
14 December 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.
I found out about my HIV status this year September I was then given arvs on the 18 of October I only used them for three weeks I then stop….. It has been a month not taking them, will I become resistance to the treatment if I start using them next month? my cd4count is 327. Im scared if I start using them again I will get sick so I wanna know if I can start using them again or I should take immune boosters
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
Firstly, HIV meds are very good and very safe. They work really well. Even if you have trouble with side effects with one combination, it should be easy to use a different one.
“Immune boosters” are just an advertising scan. Although companies might claim this, there is no evidence that any of them work for HIV – or anything else.
These products will not help your CD4 count, nor your HIV. The only thing that will is ARVs.
Having a month of meds isn’t ideal, but please talk to your doctor about this if you are worried.
It is great that you are thinking about restarting as the combination is likely to still work very well. For more info on restarting, please see this earlier answer:
https://i-base.info/qa/12271
Hi Nakimbugwe, it is safe to restart meds. How is your health in general?
In the last 3 years you have been off meds have you had any CD4 count/viral load tests?
Do you want to restart the same meds you were on previously? and are you intending on going back to the same clinic?
In most cases people do not have a problem restarting meds and are able to continue with treatment. In some cases there is a risk of resistance in which treatment will not work as well and a different combination will need to be tried. To check for this a second viral load test is offered soon after restarting treatment to check that the viral load is being suppressed. Do you have any concerns about restarting treatment?
I stop taking arvs 3yrs ago,what will happen if I restart