Question
My viral load is now 125 after being undetectable for a year…
9 May 2022. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, PEP/PEPSE, South Africa.
I’ve been HIV positive for about a year now and ive also been on treatment for about a year and tested undetectable in my last viral load test (below 40).
Now i tested again and viral load came back 125 – my doctor explained that a viral blib occurred.
I had unprotected vaginal sex with my negative girlfriend and i’m worried that i may have put her at risk. Although we went on pep immediately.
Answer
Thanks – your doctor is giving you good advice.
So long as you have been taking your meds carefully, viral load usually stays undetectable.
Low level blips are common and usually become undetectable again without need to change treatment.
Your partner will still be protected, as this is okay when viral load is less than 200. (It is probably also okay when less than 1000 for straight couples, though guidelines don’t say this).
Using PEP is still probably a good idea if you were worried. This will also reduce the risk of HIV in case this is not a blip.
Please check your viral load again after four weeks though. Don’t let this go fro months in case it is not a blip.
Hi Lindi, what is the name of the ARVs you are taking? and has anything changed in your treatment when your doctor suggested this?
If everything is still the same and the medication is still working for you, there is no need to change how you take your treatment. As it is working for you and you have an undetectable viral load, there is no reason to suggest that you need to alter how you take the medication.
It is important that you continue to take HIV medication in a manner that works best for you.
Changing the time/how you take it, will not lead to any new/different side effects. The pain you are experiencing under your ribs is not a side effect of treatment. If the pain continues/you remain concerned, please speak with your doctor about other possible causes.
Hie am taking arv at 21:00 since 2016 my viral load is doing well but last month my Dr said I must change time and take arv on empty stomach 2hrs before breakfast but since I started I have I pain under my rib on the left and sometimes a lil on the ryt side, is it a side effects?
Hi Mbalentle, I am sorry to hear about your weight gain. How much have you gained and over how long?
What is the name of the ‘Fat Burn for Women’?
I am using acriptega my problem now m gaining weight and want to take Fat Burn for Women, will that be safe to use it to maintain my weight. i don’t want to use it and then the acriptega does not do it’s good work?
Hi Eunice, yes you can change the time of your meds. You can just start taking your meds at 1900h instead of 2000h.
There is nothing additional you need to do. It is safe to move your medication backwards by an hour without any risk to your treatment/health.
I need to know if ever I may change my time of taking Arvs from 20h00 to 19h00
Hi Abass, yes you can do this. What is the name of the ARVs you are taking? and what time do you currently take them and what time do you want to move them to?
I have switch my time off taking my ARV
Hi Duduzile, yes you can change the time of your medication. What is the name of the medication you are taking? and what is the current time you take it and the time you want to move to?
I have been HIV …this is my second month since I found out I started my medication not so long ago this is a week since I started …know I want to change the time.of my madication …it gonner affect my viral load