When Do You Start Antiretrovial Meds

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Long term Diazipan use and Antiretrovials

HiA good friend of mine has been on Diazepam (Valium) for 26 years (12mg/day) for anxiety and stress. Could this long term use have some sort of effect on the drugs he has been taking for HIV? He was diagnosed 13 years ago and has been taking...

Response from Brian Conway, M.D.

University of British Columbia

The side effects of antiretroviral drugs are often more severe in patients with lower CD4 counts. Thus, it could be that the neuropsychological side effects of AZT would be quite pronounced in your friend. The same could be true of DDI, although... Read more »

To start meds or not to start meds, THAT is the question.

Hi Doc, I am recently diagnosed. My numbers have been very good my last two blood tests. CD4 of 955... Read more »

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D. »

starting meds soon what are the once a day meds ???

Hi Dr Keith, you are a very special man, thank you so much for your views on hiv,my cd4 is 300 at... Read more »

Response from Keith Henry, M.D. »

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Articles

Your Ability to Start and Maintain

Keeping Up With Taking Meds All HIV meds go through extensive research to find the optimal dose to keep HIV under control, without causing unnecessary side effects for most people. They're usually taken once or twice a day, with or without food,... Read more »

What You Should Know About When to Start and What Meds to Use

Table of Contents Using This Booklet How Is Today Different From Earlier in the Epidemic? Understanding the Details of HIV Treatment When to Start: Some General Issues HIV Treatment Guidelines When to Start: CD4 Count Ranges The... Read more »

Starting Meds!

Autumn Preusser "I'm a 31-year-old transsexual woman living in rural Arkansas with my boyfriend of five years. I enjoy dancing and music, and I really like photography. I am disabled and on SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Right now I'm just... Read more »

Expert Panel Revises U.S. HIV/AIDS Treatment Guidelines; Recommends Starting HIV Meds Earlier

Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents (PDF) On Dec. 1, the U.S. health department released an updated set of HIV treatment guidelines. Although these guidelines aren't official U.S. policy,... Read more »

Connect With Others

Starting meds soon, can he start now?

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

My partner has an appointment for the middle of next week to get set up for meds. He was diagnosed this past summer and had a CD4 count of 199 at that time and PCP (that's how we found out). He had previously been misdiagnosed as having Crohn's... Read more »

Starting meds soon!

Posted by Pos_in_Thailand, 1 Reply

Hello to everyone who has been following my story! Thanks again for all the help and support! It has helped a lot.

Update: My doc finally contacted me that she got a secure source for my meds that will allow me to stay anonymous. I will be taking... Read more »

Starting meds tonight

Posted by ai77, 2 Replies

Hola people! Even though I'm not a "regular" and only check in on these boards on occasion, I find it extremely comforting and therapeutic to log on every now and then...so I just want to say that I'm starting meds tonight! Am going with the... Read more »

When to start meds?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hello! I have been positive for about 1 and a half years now. I am healthy and I feel good, and I want to start meds. I know it may sound crazy, but I don't want to wait, I want to stop the virus as soon as possible. My doctor is stongly advising me... Read more »

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