DO HIV Meds...

Depress your immune system? Or do they promote a healthier immune system. I know that it might be stupid for someone who has a depressed immune system takes meds that depress the immune system further but I don't know exactly what effects medication like Kaletra and Combuvir has on the immune system.

Please help!

[troggs]

Do you have hiv?

[Teak]

They sure don't suppress your immune system. They help increase you CD4 cells  by slowing down the replication of HIV which in turn helps make your immune system stronger.

[STDworries7]

chapeau: No I do not. But I know someone who does and I'm trying to get a better understand of what that person is going through. I had originally signed up for medhelp to ask the good doctor about HPV (hence my screen name) but figured I'd get knowledgable on HIV.

Thank you  Teak, by all acounts you are the most helpful on this board.

Happy Holidays.

[meworried]

Teak's explanation was short, yet comprehensive. I would like to add, " No doubt that development of ARV drugs gave opportunity  to the infected people to live longer, with relatively better quality of life and hope to live until such time the dream of perfect cure comes true".

But people without infection should not become lenient towards the infection, keeping in mind that "medication" is available. This is not a "treatment" but a survival aid, and even the current generation of branded medicines are far from perfection. Religiously followed punctuality in taking medicines, regular visits to clinics for follow up and monitoring are the norms for the people living with the infection. Drug resistance, mild to sever side effects are the potential risks, the person has to live with.

Bottom line, "Prevention is the only cure as of today".