Question
Will colonic irrigation aftect the effectiveness of my ARVs?
17 January 2012. Related: All topics.
Hi
Before I was diagnosed, I used to have colonic irrigation from time to time. I am now on ARVs. Am I allowed to have colonics now?
I have read somewhere that I can’t because that would deplete the ARVs from my stomach (ie totally clean them out and making it dangerous for the virus). But then elsewhere I have read that I can – because after one hour the ARVs are already in the bloodstream and any cleansing would be insignificant.
Please can you advise?
Thanks.
Answer
Unfortunately, there is no data on the safety or risk of colonic irrigation for HIV positive people, as compared to HIV negative people.
There is, however, some medical concern that colonic irrigation gets rid of good bacteria. There is therefore no medical reason to have it done.
If, however, you do choose to go ahead, it is better to wait a few hours after you have taken your medication. This is because although there should be no impact on your ARVs [antiretrovirals], they should have been absorbed by then.
Best wishes
Hello Nesther and thanks for getting in touch.
Your bowel doesn’t need to be cleaned.
The human body has it’s ways of keeping clean that don’t require our intervention.
Causing vomiting can affect the absorption of your ARVs so it might compromise your health.
Please avoid taking any medication that is not prescribed to you by a doctor.
Can I clean by vomiting while taking arv
Hi Cartilage, what medication do you want to take? and why do you need to clean your stomach?
Is this something that has been advised by a health professional?
Good morning
May you kindly advise me here,am on ARV so it safe to clean my stomach?
E.g to use any mean of a pill to clean
Kind regards
Hi Steve, why are you vomiting in the mornings? This does not ‘clean you’ and can put you more at risk for health complications. If you choose to vomit while taking ARVs, if you take them before it is possible you will vomit the ARVs and they will not have time to be absorbed by the body. I am sorry, I do not know what you mean by ‘habbs’.
Hi
Before i tested HIV positive i used drink a lot of water in the morning and vomit it for cleaning myself, and when i have flue symptoms i used to take some habbs, now that i am taking ARV’S is it still safe to do those. If not what are the implications.
Please advise
Regards