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Author Topic: CD4 Level and Side Effects  (Read 4843 times)

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Offline 0608

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  • Posts: 67
CD4 Level and Side Effects
« on: August 03, 2012, 01:10:53 pm »
Hi, guys.  This may be a really dumb question, but I wanted to be sure.  Is a person's CD4 level a big gauge in terms of the side effects he or she can expect when starting drug therapy?  In other words, is it reasonable to expect that a person with a CD4 level of 800 will have fewer and less serious side effects than a person with a level of 200?

Thank you in advance for any input!
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Offline Rockin

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Re: CD4 Level and Side Effects
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2012, 01:22:37 pm »
Quote from: 0608 on August 03, 2012, 01:10:53 pm
Hi, guys.  This may be a really dumb question, but I wanted to be sure.  Is a person's CD4 level a big gauge in terms of the side effects he or she can expect when starting drug therapy?  In other words, is it reasonable to expect that a person with a CD4 level of 800 will have fewer and less serious side effects than a person with a level of 200?

Thank you in advance for any input!

Hey there, welcome. I haven't been HIV+ that long but I don't think having a high CD4 count influences potential side effects at all. It's all a matter of genetics and how your body adjusts to the specific substances you are taking. Some people take Atripla and feel nothing and some people get depressed, but it doesn't have anything to do with CD4.

What combo are you on?
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Offline newt

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Re: CD4 Level and Side Effects
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2012, 01:25:56 pm »
In short, no.

Low CD4 counts (under 200) may increase the risk of other infections etc (re)activating, but as far as the drugs go, there is no real evidence that CD4 count affects these. There are some small studies that say low CD4 count = more side effects, but they are not good enough to distinguish between eg side effects of the drugs and other things like bugs in the gut.

- matt
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"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline 0608

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Re: CD4 Level and Side Effects
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2012, 01:34:57 pm »
Interesting!  I'm rather surprised by that.

Anyhow, I haven't started treatment yet (I'll be going in for my first lab tests in a few weeks).  But from everything I've read online, I'm hoping I can start on the Truvada/Isentress combo.  I found out I'm + in June, and physically, I feel pretty good, just general tiredness at times, and an occasional itch on my side and legs. 

I hope to start drug therapy as soon as possible, no matter what my CD4/virus levels are; I hope I can convince my doctor to do it.
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Offline Rockin

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Re: CD4 Level and Side Effects
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2012, 01:50:31 pm »
Quote from: 0608 on August 03, 2012, 01:34:57 pm
Interesting!  I'm rather surprised by that.

Anyhow, I haven't started treatment yet (I'll be going in for my first lab tests in a few weeks).  But from everything I've read online, I'm hoping I can start on the Truvada/Isentress combo.  I found out I'm + in June, and physically, I feel pretty good, just general tiredness at times, and an occasional itch on my side and legs. 

I hope to start drug therapy as soon as possible, no matter what my CD4/virus levels are; I hope I can convince my doctor to do it.

Great attitude! Good luck to you.
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Offline jimbalaya

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Re: CD4 Level and Side Effects
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2012, 03:12:45 pm »
Quote from: 0608 on August 03, 2012, 01:34:57 pm


I hope to start drug therapy as soon as possible, no matter what my CD4/virus levels are; I hope I can convince my doctor to do it.

Excellent!  I felt the exact same way...couldn't wait to get on meds....I hated the idea of this virus running rampant without me actively doing anything to stop it.  With my doctor it wasn't even a conversation about whether or not I would start (even though I was over 500 CD4's), it was which combo we both felt would be best for me.   I had no resistance so there were lots of options available....hopefully it's the same for you...best of luck!   :) 

  I'm 15 days into treatment today and the side effects that I did feel are all but gone now.....I'm excited to get my numbers in 3 weeks and see how the meds are working.   
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Offline 0608

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  • Posts: 67
Re: CD4 Level and Side Effects
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2012, 04:43:18 pm »
Awesome.  Best of luck to you guys, too.  As suck-y as it is to be positive, we really are so fortunate to be living in a time when the treatment has come such a long way, thank God!
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