Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - September 20, 2009
Dear Doctor,
I am HIV-positive but not yet on ARVs because my CD4 count is still high. I am on Septrin which I get from our company clinic. Recently, the company changed to another health service provider. At the former clinic, the doctor had told me to take a dose of two tablets once a day, but the doctor at the new clinic has told me to take one tablet once a day. The shape of the tablets is also different from what I have been taking. The ones I was using earlier were round, but the new ones are oval. What is the right dose of Septrin and do I have to take the drug daily?
T.K
Dear T.K
THE usual dose of Septrin for prevention of opportunistic infections and malaria among people living with HIV is 960mg once a day. This can be given as two tablets, each weighing 480mg or as a single tablet of double-strength Septrin which weighs 960mg.
The former are usually round and the double strength tablets are oval. It has also been found that if taken in the same dose on alternative days, Septrin is equally effective, but many people who are on ARVs and Septrin at the same time could get confused and swallow ARVs on alternate days instead; so we prefer to give it on a daily basis.
Getting used to taking Septrin daily will help you develop the much-needed adherence to drugs which is necessary when you start taking ARVs.
090920
NV090914
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