Hi doctor! Here is my current lab result:CD4 175,percetage 20 but VL not tested. I want to start treatment with Trizivir and norvir. What I want to know is that: 1,Should I start together at once or first with Trizivir for some months and then to add Norvir? 2, how many tablets each of it I need per day? Take care, Dav.

Thanks for your post, Dav--

I rarely, if ever, recommend that patients use a staggered approach (one drug, then another) to starting HIV medications. I would recommend starting on all of your medications simultaneously, since this generally reduces the likelihood of developing drug resistance.

If you're living in the US or Europe, I'd find it pretty unusual to find a doctor who is starting a patient on Norvir (ritonavir)as the only protease inhibitor. Ritonavir is frequently prescribed in small doses to boost other protease inhibitors, but rarely at full strength (6 capsules twice-daily) because of the side effects. Make sure that you're doctor intended for you to only be taking ritonavir, or if he or she meant for you to take ritonavir with a second protease inhibitor (like atazanavir or fosamprenavir).

Trizivir is dosed one tablet twice daily, and can be taken without regard to diet.

Hope this helps, BY