Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Hello , if a person thinks that they may be HIV positive is it better to start taking medication sooner rather than later? I think I may have been infected 5 years ago.
Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California
The decision of when to start medications is a complex one, but one which has been extensively studied. There are federally posted guidelines available on the Internet, see website below, which basically indicate that if the CD4 (T-cell) count is less than 350, treatment should be strongly considered, and definitely if they are below 200. Above 350, treatment may be considered if the viral load is elevated above 55,000, or if an infected person has significant symptoms. This is all a gross simplification of a complex issue, but you can discuss the pros and cons of treatment with any HIV-savvy provider.
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov//guidelines/adult/AA_032304.pdf
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