It sounds like you've been managing HIV for a few years — that's not easy, and stopping medication is something that happens for many different reasons. The most important thing right now is getting back on track.
When antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped, HIV can quickly rebound in the body. This means the viral load Show Full Answer
It sounds like you've been managing HIV for a few years — that's not easy, and stopping medication is something that happens for many different reasons. The most important thing right now is getting back on track.
When antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped, HIV can quickly rebound in the body. This means the viral load (the amount of HIV in the blood) rises again, which can weaken the immune system over time and increase the risk of passing HIV to others. Here's what's worth knowing about restarting treatment:
- Viral load rises fairly quickly after stopping ART — sometimes within weeks
- CD4 count can drop, meaning the immune system becomes more vulnerable
- Restarting ART can bring the viral load back down to undetectable levels again
- An undetectable viral load means HIV cannot be transmitted to others sexually
The good news is that restarting treatment can get things back under control. Reaching out to an HIV doctor or clinic as soon as possible is the best next step — there's no judgment, just support.
August 28
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