Some advice on taking a drug holiday

[mike88]

Could anyone give me some input about their personal experiences taking a drug holiday.

[leatherman]

in a word: don't!

The only thing that stops HIV from replicating, and potentially leading to AIDS, is the meds. Stopping meds can lead to resistance, increased viral load, and other issues.

On the other hand, if you're determined to do this at least tell your doctor so you can be properly monitored.

Perhaps explaining why you think a drug holiday would be appropriate might help receive a better response.

[mike88]

Thanks for your reply I appreciate it.

[jkinatl2]

I stopped taking my meds about six years ago. About three months in, I quit going to the gym because I was tired. About two months after that, I was pretty much confined to the futon, the bathroom, and the bedroom about tive days a week, as I didn't have energy to do much else.

A year after my holiday, I decided to start back up. IRIS kicked in, and within a week I was in the ER with  PCP, where I stayed for half a month. CD4 count of 12, VL upwards of two million. My friends rallied, but it took a toll on everyone concerned.

Near death experiences surprisingly gold far less appeal to me now.

[Anqueetas]

Do that and risk virologic failure, I don't think so. A few days of no pill and risk ruin my treatment, not a smart thing choice to make. I don't see that once a day pill is anything to bug about.

[Valmont]

Why do you want to do this, you have problem with side effects?

My advice is the same than the other, just don´t stop your meds by your own, and basically don´t stop, the ploblems you´re going to be exposed are just worst than medecine themselves...  If you have any problem with your actual combo, talk to you doc about them ; in my opinion, a drug holidays is not an option to considere once !!!

[weasel]

    Hello Mike ,
                    I went to a funeral  Monday afternoon for a guy that decided
 He was better off without the MEDS !

   He was so far gone when He decided he wanted to live 

    The best advice is to take your MEDS and  learn to live !!!

                                 I wish you the best ,
                                                                Weasel

[Jeff G]

I took a med holiday and got 2 huge Kaposi Sarcoma lesions , over two years of chemo therapy , radiation treatments ... and a partridge in a pear tree . 

[anniebc]

Not a good idea, I went from 700+ down to 180, then down to 130 in just under 3 months, I'm now back up to 180 again and still working on it.

As Jonathon said the fatigue can get beyond managing.

If you are having problems and can't tolerate your combo then talk to your Doc, there are other combos you can try, but please don't just stop taking them.

Jan

[OneTampa]

I agree DON'T STOP taking your meds!

In fact, I have a near OCO (obsessive compulsive order*) about it which is probably why I am still around after 28 years to tell the tale.


*rather than disorder as I see it as a good thing.

[JazJon]

I've only come across one good reason to stop ART.
(but it's a long shot, and small minority)

Topic: Early HIV drugs 'functionally cure about 1 in 10
http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=47816.0