POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: a2z on December 01, 2008, 08:08:30 am
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I was wondering if anyone had any issues with anger taking Truvada. I can be a short-fused guy anyway, but generally my responses to anger are somewhat measured. Last Saturday when I realized I was late for my meds, I made my way back to the car where my meds were -- I was on the Las Vegas strip -- and after having two or three roadblocks and no clear signs to the way back, I started ranting and raving out loud and dropping F-bombs right and left.
And that for me, even when I am angry, is unusual behavior. When returning the rental car and getting lost 3 times, I nearly thought I was going to stroke I was so mad. Fortunately I made my flight and calmed down quickly, which is also unusual too -- I tend to hold on to anger for a while.
Crap, it would suck if I needed anger management, but maybe a little extra assertiveness may do me good sometimes.
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I take Norvir and Reyataz.... but I take vicriviroc instead of Truvada.... no anger issues here.
However...... I did give up caffeine early this year. It was that or blood pressure pills, and I'm game to try exercise and diet over more pills. I noticed an amazing difference in my mood. I've relapsed a few times and taken caffeine here and there in the form of Coca-Cola usually. It doesn't take much to make me bitchy and irritable when I'm consuming caffeine.
As for where you were Vegas is sort of a cess pit to begin with. It's not pedestrian friendly, it's sleazy, it's dirty, and everyone is out to scam a dollar out of you. Not exactly my idea of a nice place to be. I make a point not to gamble when I'm there, to stay off the strip, and use the hotel shuttle if I can.
The only sure way to win in Vegas is not to sit down to gamble. I stayed at Terrible's casino last year for $39/nite with free hotel shuttle and a wonderful restaurant. It was a 5 minute cab ride to where my convention was.....
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I am on the same meds as you ... I have anger issues a lot as well ... though i just assumed it was my mental state LOL ... never considered it the meds... good question
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I take some of what you're on: Norvir, Reyataz and the Viread part of Truvada along with Isentress. I haven't been feeling angry per se, but I've noticed that I'm losing my patience a lot (mainly with friends and family, which is never a good thing :(). I've also noticed that I'm dropping things on a regular basis; does that happen with you?
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I don't think it's the meds. However, considering the high levels of depression found in HIV patients, from studies, that goes undiagnosed (because people insist that they're fine) would give me pause in this situation, and I'd at the very least get screened by a mental health professional before this becomes worse.
Get the name of someone from your HIV specialist.
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I take some of what you're on: Norvir, Reyataz and the Viread part of Truvada along with Isentress. I haven't been feeling angry per se, but I've noticed that I'm losing my patience a lot (mainly with friends and family, which is never a good thing :(). I've also noticed that I'm dropping things on a regular basis; does that happen with you?
Oddly I've been dropping things less. I've always been a klutz though. Pre-HIV, pre-pubescene even :)
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I don't think it's the meds. However, considering the high levels of depression found in HIV patients, from studies, that goes undiagnosed (because people insist that they're fine) would give me pause in this situation, and I'd at the very least get screened by a mental health professional before this becomes worse.
Get the name of someone from your HIV specialist.
While this is valid to a point, I *do* suffer from clinical depression and was diagnosed with it many years ago. Taking Zoloft just made me angry and violent (worse than now.) I guess what I'm saying is I tend to externalize things much more and instead of saying the word "jerk" in my head to someone, I'll verbalize it.
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I just started on this combo. I feel less anger than I felt on Sustiva Truvada.
I am angry about becoming HIV+ this year, and going on treatment so fast, and lots of crap, basically. Will have to deal with the anger....
I started to talking outloud to myself at about 40. My grandma said it happened to her, too. Maybe thats just genetic.
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I had serious anger issues when I was taking Sustiva. So far so good with Reyetaz/Norvir/Truvada. Although with the Sustiva it took about a year until I really started to notice the downward spiral of my mental state. Then, three years later I couldn't stand it anymore and I switched regimens. It was to the point where I didn't even want to leave my house or talk to anyone. I'm now able to socialize and feel like myself again. And as for fatigue....well it comes and goes, that has not changed ::)