Peripheral neuropathy

March 2008     View PDF     En español

How do you prevent it?

Ways to prevent PN include a healthy diet, making sure you’re taking the most effective HIV therapy, and being aware of which drugs cause PN. Since some vitamin deficiencies can cause PN, it’s important to get the proper daily amounts of minerals and vitamins, especially B12 and E. Refraining from taking mega-doses of some vitamins, like B6, as well as reducing high alcohol use will also help prevent PN.

Low CD4 counts and high viral load can increase the risk for PN, so getting the best possible therapy for your HIV disease can help prevent it. This means taking HIV meds that keep your viral load undetectable and increase and sustain your CD4 counts to as high as possible. The longer this happens, the better chance your body has to control other infections and conditions like PN.

Talk to your health provider about whether any of the drugs that you currently take as well as any new drugs that she or he prescribes for you are known to cause PN. Stopping those drugs or finding alternatives to them will help prevent PN. It’s also important to properly treat other medical conditions that are causing PN.