is it possible for HIV meds to increase BAC? I got charged with a DUI

[scottieman]

I recently got stopped for DUI, and although the BAC blood tests aren't back yet, I am wondering if HIV meds (I take Stribild) could increase the BAC level more than normal?

[Jeff G]

I wouldn't think it would matter from a legal standpoint . Im curious to know why you are asking this ... are you thinking about challenging the validity of your arrest ? 

[scottieman]

Jeff, was just looking for information.  Don't care if it would or wouldn't matter from a legal standpoint, and have no idea if I would challenge the arrest, not is it any of your business.  The only question I had was is it possible for ARV's to raise BAC, which you offered no insight into.

[Jeff G]

Jeff, was just looking for information.  Don't care if it would or wouldn't matter from a legal standpoint, and have no idea if I would challenge the arrest, not is it any of your business.  The only question I had was is it possible for ARV's to raise BAC, which you offered no insight into.

Are you drunk now because your acting kind of pissy for no reason .

[jkinatl2]

Jeff, was just looking for information.  Don't care if it would or wouldn't matter from a legal standpoint, and have no idea if I would challenge the arrest, not is it any of your business.  The only question I had was is it possible for ARV's to raise BAC, which you offered no insight into.

I was going to suggest that you google HIV and legal isssues to see if there was any precedent to challenge a DUI thusly, wvwn though there's not scientific validity that I know of.

Perhaps that a cursury look at the medication list does not contraindicate alcohol, therefore suggesting that they do not. If they did, there would be a fairly serious warning on the label as this could lead to alcohol poisoning.

Also, not sure if you understood that Jeff was trying to help and not judge. Perhaps a little less defensiveness will provide a better experience in the forums.

[Ann]

I have a feeling that the onus would still be on you. If you're on meds (any meds), it's your responsibility to know if they're going to help a small amount of alcohol put you over the legal drink-driving limit.

I know it's probably not the answer you want, but knowing what I know about drink-driving laws, if you were over the limit - whatever the reason - you're probably screwed.

For example, I know of a similar case, although the prescription drug involved wasn't an hiv med (it was an anti-inflammatory that didn't actually carry a "don't drink on this med" warning, and she'd only recently started taking it).

The woman tried to fight it, but the judge told her she had no business drinking on any med she was unfamiliar with and driving.

It may behove you to look into this matter further, preferably with an hiv pharmacologist or your regular pharmacist - for future reference.

Any meds that are processed through the liver would have the possibility of causing your liver to process alcohol more slowly, which could in theory help put you over the legal alcohol limit more quickly and with a smaller amount of alcohol.

I've got my fingers crossed for you that this episode doesn't end badly for you. Good luck!

[Jeff G]

The reason I asked the question I did was because I got a DUI once and prescription drugs were a part of it .

[scottieman]

Ann, as always thank you for your well thought out response.  I was curious to know the answer to this, to have a better understanding should the BAC come back higher than I anticipate.  As I've found out with my HIV diagnosis, knowledge is power.  I agree that regardless the impact on the BAC, it would be my responsibility to have understood that impact in advance.

[Larsen]

If your hæmatocrit levels are a little on the low side – even at the lower end of the 'normal' range - which isn't at all unusual for many of us living with HIV, that can theoretically invalidate the assumptions used in the calculations done by SOME breathalysers and therefore lead to an incorrectly high BAC reading.

If that is the case, the standard blood test will clear that up.

[Larsen]

Here is the explanation of the hæmatocrit problem: The Effect of Anemia on Breath Tests

[scottieman]

Thank you!