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Starting Treatment

When should you make the call?

HIV treatment has come a long way in recent years. Combinations are less toxic, require fewer pills and have more simple dosing. Side effects are less common and much less severe, and, in most cases, are comprable to the side effects of antibiotics. As we learn more about HIV and treatments, and as those treatments become easier to manage, guidelines as to when to commence treatment can change.

Signs to start

There are no hard and fast rules but in Australia current recommendations are that treatment should be commenced when:

Your CD4 cell count is 350 or below

and/or

You have symptoms of an AIDS defining illness

If you have less than 350 CD4 cells and/or a viral load above 100,000, it's time to seriously consider commencing treatment if you haven’t already begun. It's equally important for you to be 'ready' and in the right frame of mind to commence treatment. If you have concerns about starting, discuss all the pros and cons with your doctor, nurse or treatments oficer. Once you've taken your first few doses, the whole idea becomes far less worrying.

If your doctor recommends treatment but you decide not to commence just yet, it’s highly advisable to have regular check-ups, including blood tests, at least every month.

Staying alert for the signs

If you’re feeling well, with a CD4 cell count above 350 and CD4 percentage above 17%, you should have regular check-ups and blood tests to monitor your health every 1 to 3 months.