Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
This Forum is made possible in part by Gilead and GlaxoSmithKline.
Ask the Experts about Choosing Your Meds
low VL low T-cells, which meds to start
Sep 25, 2005
my viral load has been under ten thousand for two years now (since i was diagnosed) but my t cells were 224 back then...they went up to 340 and then slowly went back down to 193 within the last year...i feel great, but should i start meds? i dont want to start if i dont have to but i also dont want to be foolish and hurt myself. the doctor wants me on viramune, epzicom, but i thinnk sustiva, truvada might be better. what do you think? thanks for answering my previous questions...you guys have been very helpful to me...k
Response from Dr. Pierone
There are studies that show better outcomes when HAART is provided to people with under 200 CD4 cells. So based on the available evidence, it is time to start. There are no hard and fast rules on initial therapy, but the combination of Truvada and Sustiva is used much more often than Epzicom and Viramune. This preference is driven primarily by concern for toxicity potential liver toxicity from Viramune and hypersensitivity from Epzicom. Hope that this helps and best of luck to you.
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
