When you initially go off meds you might feel better and have more energy but meanwhile the virus has the ability to multiply. This will lead to lower tcell counts and higher viral load counts. When you have a viral load you can infect another person. If the HIV drug regimen is taken sporadically, your virus can develop a resistance so eventually you will run out of drug options and so will the people you give it to. I have had this disease a long time also and I have seen people mess around with their HIV medicine taking a pill here and there and taking drug holidays. My advice is don't do it, its not pretty and not worth the risk. I also totally understand how difficult it is in this country/state to get or keep insurance or to even get the HIV meds in the first place. Don't let the system sweep you under the rug because it will if you let it. Fight and do what you have to so you can stay healthy and alive.

The danger of not being on treatment is that the HIV in the blood can cross the blood brain barrier and cause serious brain problems which can be very hard to resolve. I found this out in 1996 when HIV combinations had not yet been invented. In my case the HIV pretty much paralysed me having entered the Brain and replicating there. It took 2 years before a suitable combination became available to finally resolve the HIV in my Brain.. Therefore its very important to stay on treatment to prevent HIV from getting a chance to enter the Brain. Im reallly shocked that in modern day America people still have problems accessing treatment. Here in the UK all medical treatment is free.

I stopped taking mine due to having breast cancer and depression, hoping I would ___. My viral load increased tremendously but I'm back on medication and undetectable. Never stop taking your meds no matter what.

I went off for two months for similar reasons and I went from undetectable to over a 50000 viral count and a much lower cd4. It recovered quickly

Wow, I posted this 6 years ago Lol. Happy to announce I'm undetectable in 2024!