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 Zee and thanks for getting in touch.
How are you coping with your diagnosis?
HIV is a manageable, chronic disease nowadays with which you can still have a very active and full life.
Please see here for more information:
https://i-base.info/just-found-out
Please talk to your clinic as they might want to make adjustments to your medication
I am sure they will be happy to hear you want to start taking them again and they can advise if you need more frequent monitoring.
Please feel free to stay in touch if you feel we can help.
Hi doctor my name is Zee, I found out I am Hiv positive this year on February, I took my medication but ever since I started my medication I never took them everyday because I was staying with friends at school never wanted them to find out about this, so now what should I do? Should I restart from the very first drug?
Hi Melody, please contact your clinic again. It is very safe to restart meds again. The time off HIV meds will not be good for you. You can go to a new clinic if you prefer, but please tell them about your HIV history. This is important when deciding your meds. Please also note that I am not a doctor.
Hello doc it’s been two years now since I stoped ARVS how safe is it for me to restart the med and is it ok to go and start to a new clinic
Hi Sphelele, thanks for your comment. For the first Q, it is good that you want to restart treatment. Unless there is a reason why you can’t use the old clinic, it is better to go there first becasue they will have your notes. They will also want to know you are okay.
Hi I started my treatment last year July but stop taking them this year January can I restart my treatment at different clinic or without transfer letters or should I go back to my old clinic
Hi Princess, when you are not taking ARVs HIV can progress and damage your health without you being aware of this. So even though you don’t feel sicj, your immune system will be slowly getting weaker. Your risk of becoming ill will keep becoming higher when you are not taking meds. Please talk to your doctor about this and hopefully you might think about restarting again.
Hi doc my name princess I stop taking arvs since October 2023 until today – my question is why I never get sick even once