POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: David in Toronto on June 26, 2012, 05:50:54 pm
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Has anyone heard of / experienced extreme anger or rage while taking Intelence?
I have just started taking this to replace the kaletra I used to take and have noticed that I become angered very easily, almost to the point of rage. Its kind of embarrassing because I am usually very calm, cool and collective. I have it under control, however I can feel my anger boiling over at times and I am worried about it because I dont want these meds to change who I am. I stopped taking Kaletra because these pills have less of a chance for fat redistribution, but if this is the side effect of them I will switch back.
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It is perhaps a recorded, possible, if uncommon side effect of Intelence. The rate of these kind of side effects is about half (or less) that experienced on efavirenz, the mainstay alternative. All drugs like Intelence in the NNRTIs can cause central nervous system (CNS) side effects. Maybe 6-7% (or less) of people on this new drug get CNS side effects.
- matt
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Thank you for replying.
A quick question. Do you happen to know if these possible side effects are temporary, disappearing in a week or two, or are they permanent?
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David, most of the side effects gradually diminish over a few weeks to a month or so. If you continue having rage (or other emotional/mental type problems) after five or six weeks, you may want to look into changing to something else. Give it some time first, and good luck!
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What Ann said
- matt
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I figured as much, however its always good to hear it from someone else. It has faded a bit but I can still notice that I get irritated much easier. I do still have it under control, its just a little scary as thats not like me and I think I have gone through enough changes this year lol. Thanks for the reply's, I dont have anyone else I can talk to about this stuff, and dont want to bother my doctor with small questions. Im so glad that I can turn to you guys for advice and support.
Be well and good health,
David
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If it goes on beyond acceptable long term there are plenty of alternatives.
Good luck
-matt
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its just a little scary as thats not like me
I know exactly what you mean. One of the meds used in the treatment of hep C - Ribavirin - is notorious for causing anger issues, so much so that the phenomenon has its own nick-name... "riba-rage".
When I was on that med, I had riba-rage in spades. The smallest thing could set me off. It was only knowing that it was med-induced that saved my ass quite a few times.
For example, one time I was grocery shopping and two little old ladies were having a chat in the middle of an aisle, blocking the aisle. I politely asked one of them to move, but she didn't hear me. I became so enraged that I very nearly rammed (and I mean rammed) my cart into her. I realised what was happening in the nick of time, left my cart where it was and went over to the freezer section to literally chill out for a few minutes. Scary shit. I really could have hurt that woman.
The big difference is that when you're on the hep C treatment, you're stuck with ribavirin and you just have to tough it out. You have a lot of other options available to you, so if things don't get better shortly you can change your meds. Good luck!