Why Charlie Sheen Went Off His HIV Meds

He thought he'd try an alternative treatment
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 13, 2016 4:49 PM CST
Why Charlie Sheen Went Off His HIV Meds
Actor Charlie Sheen appears during an interview, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 on NBC's "Today" in New York.   (Peter Kramer/NBC via AP)

On The Dr. Oz Show Tuesday, Charlie Sheen revealed that he was off his HIV medications and was instead trying alternative treatment. But that show was taped Dec. 8, and Sheen "is back on his meds," his manager tells People. "He tried a cure from a doctor in Mexico but the minute the numbers went up, he started taking his medicine." At the time, Sheen had been off the medication for a week, he said, but just before the show was taped, he found out his "numbers" were back up after the virus had previously been "non-detectable" in his blood, he said.

Sheen told Dr. Oz the alternative treatment was from Dr. Sam Chachoua, who, Oz noted, is not licensed to practice medicine in the US. Sheen didn't go into detail about the treatment, but Dr. Oz shared that he spoke to Chachoua on the phone and Chachoua told him he was so sure the treatment would work, he injected some of Sheen's blood into himself. After revealing his numbers were back up, Sheen told Dr. Oz he would go back on his meds. "He said he would start on the plane on the way home" from New York to LA, "and that is exactly what he did," his manager says. (More Charlie Sheen stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X