Taking ARVs when HIV negative is one of the biggest blunder you should never make in life.
Normally, people living with HIV take this drug to suppress the mass proliferation of the virus in their body.
The drug is said to boost the immune system by enhancing the formation of lymphocytes.
According to Dr Niko Gichana, a pharmacist at Port Reiz District Hospital, when a HIV negative person takes the drug, it impairs the immune system which can in turn interfere with the normal functioning of some organs.
“When a HIV-positive person is given ARVs, it boosts their immunity, but when a HIV-negative person takes them, it just undermines their immunity and interferes with their body organs,” Dr Niko Gichana said during an interview with Nation.
According to him, ARVs can cause vomiting and nausea when taken by a HIV negative person.
“A drug can be a poison depending on the length and dosage used. If you do not have HIV and are taking ARVs, the symptoms could be as simple as nausea and vomiting or as complicated as reducing renal function," he opined.