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Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

Ask the Experts about Women and HIV

 

MAY I LEAVE THE DRUGS
Aug 20, 2005

I am HIV+ Woman which infected at 1995. I started medication in 1996 with AZT,3TC and Norvir.When starting medication, my CD4 count was 150 and Viral Load was 1.000.000. After 6 months, I left Norvir and continued with AZT and 3TC. I just getting Combivir until that time and never change medications. So i have been using combivir for 9 years. I never get sick at that time. My CD4 count is 1.000 and viral load is undetectable. I would like to ask that may Ileave the drugs now. Is there any chance to be totaly clean from HIV viruse. Is it detectable? I am feeling so healthy and i want to get pregnant.

Response from Dr. Luzuriaga

It sounds as if you have had an excellent long-term response to therapy. Therapy suppresses the virus but is not a cure and it is very likely that your viral load would become detectable again if you stopped medication. If you are thinking of getting pregnant, I would advise you to continue the Combivir, since your best chance of having an uninfected baby is if you are healthy and your viral load is undetectable.



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