Hello,
I'm going to start my ARV's on January. I'm scared about the effects specially about Nevirapine. Can I suggest it to my doctor to change it? She told me that if rashes will appear she has to take me in. Does she need to change my medicine first before taking me in the hospital?
My CD4 is 303 and all my tests are good. Both xray and sputum are good. What will I do to prevent it? Can you give some tips on how to prevent it? I'm scared and it afffects my work. I have a list of foods to take. Can you help me with some helpful tips on how to manage my first 2 months...please...thanks and God bless....
XXX
CONTRIBUTOR'S RESPONSE
Hi XXX,
Thanks for your email and reading this blog.
To begin with it's great to hear that you're still pretty healthy even though your CD4 count is in the range which indicates that ARV's are required. This is a good point at which to start.
All ARV's can potentially cause unwanted side effects. The word to note here is potentially. Some HIV+ people experience no unwanted side effects with any ARV's. For most people the unwanted side effects are mild and pass within a few weeks of commencement of the medication. Occasionally they are severe enough to warrant a change in ARV's. Your HIV Medical Specialist is the best person to discuss any change in your ARV regimen with.
Regarding skin rashes, most ARV's have the potential to cause skin rashes. While they do occur more frequently with Nevirapine, they don't necessarily have to occur. If they do, they may not be severe and will will often pass withing the first few weeks or months. My partner is on Nevirapine and has never had a rash of any kind. I am also on Nevirapine. The rashes I experienced were extremely mild and passed within the first few months of using it. I was never required to use any sort of topical ointment or cream etc. Your HIV Medical Specialist is the best person to ask regarding any recommendations concerning these sorts products.
As far as any tips go, your HIV Medical Specialist has already suggested an appropriate diet for you to follow. All I can add to this is to suggest you drink plenty of water and relax. One of the results of increasing stress levels can be rashes so make sure you give yourself plenty of rest. Nevirapine is, like most ARV's metabolized by the liver. Thus it can interact with many other medications, herbal remedies and supplements. For this reason, if any rashes to occur, do not attempt to self medicate but report them immediately to your HIV Medical Specialist.
I hope you have found this answer helpful.
Stay healthy and compliant with your ARV regimen,
Malcolm Brown
International Contributor
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