How To Tell If HIV Meds Stop Working

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Ask the Experts

Should I have stopped meds that were working for me?

I developed side effects of high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high glucose for the second time in my treatment for HIV. This time my doctor tried to regulate the high chlorestrol with lipitor which didn't help much and when my sugar...

Response from Susan Little, M.D.

University of California San Diego

Although your resistance test does sound a bit confusing, there is clearly data to show that people who remain on therapy (despite the lack of complete viral suppression) have a reduced risk of disease progression compared to those who stop therapy... Read more »

SWITCHING HIV MEDS THEN STOPPING TO TAKE NEW MEDS

HI , I HAVE BEEN HIV + SINCE 1998 AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO BE PUT ON KALETRA , I HAVE BEEN... Read more »

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D. »

I stopped my HIV meds 3 months ago & I'm still undetectable and CD4 counts in 600

I have been very depressed. I am on antidepressants (20mg Cytalopram daily) and .5 Lorazapam as... Read more »

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C. »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Articles

STEP 7: Dealing With HIV Treatment

You've made the commitment to begin treatment and settled on your first HIV medication regimen. To ensure that your meds keep working, you'll need to take your doses on time, every time. But there may be challenges waiting to trip you up, including:... Read more »

Stopping HIV Meds May Double the Rate of Liver Fibrosis in Co-Infected

From a study reported in the April 24, 2011 issue of AIDS , people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C who stop taking their HIV meds run about a 2.5 times higher risk of liver fibrosis compared to those who don't interrupt their HIV regimens.... Read more »

How Isentress Works: An Interview With David Wohl, M.D.

This is Part II of an update on Isentress. For a general overview, please click here . Could you briefly describe how Isentress differs from other meds? Isentress, also called raltegravir [called MK-0518 during its early development], is a drug... Read more »

This Month in HIV: Stopping HIV/AIDS in the Black Community

This is Bonnie Goldman, and I'm here with Phill Wilson, executive director and founder of the Black AIDS Institute. Even though African Americans have been disproportionately affected by HIV for many years, much of the black community seems not to... Read more »

Connect With Others

stopping hiv meds

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

My doctor yesterday threw me for a loop when he asked me about stopping my meds. I have been HIV+ since 1989 with a viral load of 200 or under and a T cell count of over 1100. These numbers have remained relatively consistent for years. Does anyone... Read more »

22 poz..stopped taking meds/not disclosing status

Posted by Anonymous, 16 Replies

i was diagnosed hiv+ december 2003. i had an insane viral load of over a million. my initial cd4 was 280. i began taking medication and within 2 months i gained back the 50 pounds of weight i lost and became healthier than ive ever been before. i... Read more »

Am I the only one wha has decided to stop MEDS?

Posted by crizrink, 5 Replies

I have taken control of my life and stopped all medications 1.5 years ago. I can not get ANY medical proffesional to support my decision!! When is mention that I want "PALLATIVE" care they get this grimace look on the faces (it is kind of funny... Read more »

Stopping Med

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

been HIV + since '94. Had some tough times with meds at the beginning (kidney stones, etc), but since switching to Sustiva/Combivir it's been heaven. no problems, easy, easy schedule. Today (09APR02) My droc advised that I should consider taking a... Read more »

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