Interrupting HIV Regimen For Two Weeks

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Treatment Interruptions

What Are Treatment Interruptions? Researchers have studied interruptions of antiretroviral therapy for various reasons. These treatment interruptions are usually called structured or strategic treatment interruptions (STIs), or structured intermittent therapy (SIT). During most treatment breaks, the viral load climbs very quickly and CD4 cell counts drop. Some people get the same symptoms as if they were newly infected with HIV. Fact Sheet 103 ...

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Brief treatment interruption with Atripla OK? (STRUCTURED TREATMENT INTERUPRTIONS) (STRATEGIC TREATMENT INTERUPRTIONS)

Hi,First I want to say what a valuable and informative resource this website is. My question is this: I would like to take a brief, supervised treatment interruption of approx. 6 weeks in order to travel without having to bring my HAART meds with...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,I would very strongly advise against a supervised (or unsupervised) treatment interruption (STI). We now have several well-designed long-term clinical trials that have consistently found that STIs, particularly in situations like yours (previous... Read more »

structured interruption regimen(SIR)

dear carol, i thought about a kind of SIR which may b realistic. if we consider a PATIENT HAVING 50 CD4 COUNT and after suppose 3 yr treatment with HAART CD4 CLIMBS UP TO 400 and then he gets resistant to that regimen we can stop it. now, if...

Response from Carol Salisbury, APRN-BC, MSN

Michigan State University College of Nursing

Hi India,Unfortunately a person with HIV has an altered immune system, so their Tcells drop quickly when off HAART (HIV meds). A Tcell of 50 puts a person in a AIDS defining situation (<200 cells = AIDS). The new Tcells a person recovers from... Read more »

Do I still need to take my meds with my condition? (TREATMENT INTERRUPTIONS, 2010) (DRUG HOLIDAYS, 2010)

In May of 2003 I was determined to have full blown AIDS. I was infected just 4-5 months prior to that. My Infectious disease specialists determined I had a very powerful super strain of the virus that took over my immune system very rapidly. Due to...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,First a few comments and then answer your question:1. We do not use the term "full blown AIDS," because there is no such thing as "partially blown AIDS." AIDS is AIDS.2. How was it determined in 2003 that you were infected... Read more »

Interrupting My Treatment While Overseas...How Best to Do It?

I was diagnosed in 2003, currently taking Norvir/Truvada/Reyataz, 100% adherent, with long term undetectable viral load and last CD4 count in the 600s... Because of ADAP regulations, I can only get a "vacation" waiver of the 30-day refill...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

That is a fairly common and difficult issue. If you stop the meds the good news is that resistance rarely develops with that regimen though HIV would be expected to rebound with loss of CD4 cells after typically 2 weeks off treatment. There is no... Read more »

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STI (strat. treatment interruption)

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Is there anyone out there considering a STI (strategic treatment interruption)? Specifically, I am looking for someone who has similar medical history. In a nutshell, I was infected in June 1997. Finally detectable in Nov 1997. My viral load at... Read more »

CROI: Treatment Interruption Appear Safe for Selec

Posted by BabyPeanut, 1 Reply

CROI: Treatment Interruption Appear Safe for Selected Patients

By Charlene Laino

BOSTON, MA -- February 17, 2003 -- Many HIV-infected patients with well controlled viral loads and CD4 counts on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can... Read more »

I found out two weeks ago I have HIV

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I found out about 2 weeks ago, just before Thanksgiving that I am HIV+, I took one of those home tests and really thought when I called it would be negative. The only reason I took it is because I was in the store and it caught my eye, I didn't... Read more »

The correct med regimen

Posted by Jim327040, 2 Replies

I was diagnosed in December of 08. Viral load 10,000, CD4 93. I had no idea I had the virus and was not sick. A public health center started me on Atripla. After 2 months, my creatinine levels were moving up (not good). The doctor recommended... Read more »

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