Can I continue taking Canova while on ARVs?
Apr 13, 2008
THE manufacturers of Canova describe it as an immunomodulator. To modulate, means to affect something so that it becomes slower or regular. Therefore, Canova improves the quality of your immune system and may slow HIV infection from progressing to AIDS, though I cannot say how it does this.
Dear doctor,
I tested HIV-positive about two years ago. Since then, I have been using nutritional supplements and Canova and my CD4 count, which was 250 cells/ml, rose to 300 cells/ml in the first year. However, when I went for another CD4 count recently, it had dropped to 150 cells/ml. I have no problem and feel okay, but have been advised to start taking ARVs. Can I continue using Canova while I am on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs?)
Dick
Dear Dick,
THE manufacturers of Canova describe it as an immunomodulator. To modulate, means to affect something so that it becomes slower or regular. Therefore, Canova improves the quality of your immune system and may slow HIV infection from progressing to AIDS, though I cannot say how it does this.
This, together with your improved nutritional status due to the use of nutritional supplements, could have led to the rise in your CD4 count.
It is, however, important to know that even with good nutrition and the use of the Basic Care Package; Septrin prophylaxis, sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net and improved hygiene, all people infected with HIV eventually need to start taking ARVs to halt and even reverse the damage done to the immune system by the virus.
As the virus increases in the body and the CD4 cells are depleted, the immune system deteriorates and one develops AIDS.
The use of ARVs improves your immune system and reduces the amount of HIV in your body, which raises your CD4 count. I am sure you now know the reason why you should start using ARVs and discontinue Canova.
Canova is not only costly, but may even have unknown interactions with ARVs. You should also continue using all the components of The Basic Care Package.
Send your question on HIV to Health Editor, The New Vision. P. O. Box 9815, Kampala
health&beauty@ newvision.co.ug
I tested HIV-positive about two years ago. Since then, I have been using nutritional supplements and Canova and my CD4 count, which was 250 cells/ml, rose to 300 cells/ml in the first year. However, when I went for another CD4 count recently, it had dropped to 150 cells/ml. I have no problem and feel okay, but have been advised to start taking ARVs. Can I continue using Canova while I am on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs?)
Dick
Dear Dick,
THE manufacturers of Canova describe it as an immunomodulator. To modulate, means to affect something so that it becomes slower or regular. Therefore, Canova improves the quality of your immune system and may slow HIV infection from progressing to AIDS, though I cannot say how it does this.
This, together with your improved nutritional status due to the use of nutritional supplements, could have led to the rise in your CD4 count.
It is, however, important to know that even with good nutrition and the use of the Basic Care Package; Septrin prophylaxis, sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net and improved hygiene, all people infected with HIV eventually need to start taking ARVs to halt and even reverse the damage done to the immune system by the virus.
As the virus increases in the body and the CD4 cells are depleted, the immune system deteriorates and one develops AIDS.
The use of ARVs improves your immune system and reduces the amount of HIV in your body, which raises your CD4 count. I am sure you now know the reason why you should start using ARVs and discontinue Canova.
Canova is not only costly, but may even have unknown interactions with ARVs. You should also continue using all the components of The Basic Care Package.
Send your question on HIV to Health Editor, The New Vision. P. O. Box 9815, Kampala
health&beauty@ newvision.co.ug