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Is Tina an immune booster?

I’ve heard that crystal meth slows down the progression of HIV. I have been HIV positive for three years… If I started using crystal meth occasionally, could it help my HIV?
-Jim

Response from: BRIAN

It is a myth that crystal meth is an immune booster or slows down immune systems. Studies have actually shown the opposite. Research shows that using crystal meth often leads to higher viral loads, faster HIV progression, worsened immune function, and increased neurological damage.

There is more of a probability of engaging in behaviours that will not help your HIV infection, like getting other infections, the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) or other STIs, illness resulting from lack of sleep and proper nutrition, and increased chance of being non-compliant with your meds (skipping doses) potentially resulting in drug-resistant strains of HIV.

My personal experience (short of HCV co-infection) has been as I have listed above. Missed doses of HIV meds has lead me to being resistant to many of the available medications with serious long term implications.

I have also found that I had a huge increase in my viral load during my crystal using time, as well as many non-HIV specific infections occurring. Once I stopped using crystal and began maintaining a healthy lifestyle, along with taking a drug regimen to which I am resistant, my viral load went from over 500,000 to just 7000 copies per ml.

For some people who are drug resistant, taking a combination of medications, even with resistance, can have a beneficial effect of keeping the immune system in check and considerably reducing viral load, but not making it undetectable (less than 50 copies per ml.) This is called a ‘disconnect treatment.’ I was lucky. You don't want to find yourself in this situation because you can’t know ahead of time if you are one of those individuals who may respond to medications where resistance is found.

TIPTIP: You might want to refer to our HIV pages for lots more related information.