Efavirenz revenge

[LatinAlexander]

OK...So I started my combo a few weeks ago...But the sustiva I was getting were 3 pilss of 200 mgs (generic). My doctor switched me to Stocrin, just one pill... But that is kicking my ass: I am feeling very drunken 1 hour after taking it, and sometimes  through the day , the effect of brainfog is very tough....(Right now I feel very drunken)....

Any ideas, recomendations? I am taking it on an empt stomach

Alex

[blondbeauty]

Maybe Stocrin (Sustiva in Spain) is more efective. Sometimes, generic meds are not as good as the original or the formulation of other ingredients in the pill did not allow a 100% absortion of efavirenz in the generic medication.
You will probably need a few weeks to get adjusted to new levels of efavirenz in your bloodstream.

[Eldon]

Hey Alex,

I agree with Juan. Give your body time to adjust to the medication, and make sure you are getting your rest.



Make the BEST of each Day!

[MitchMiller]

Although it seems to go against proven science, I find that when I take Sustiva on an empty stomach there is HELL to pay!  I always try to take it with food in my stomach.  That way I don't get slammed about 1 hour after I take it... just as you seem to (and I've been taking it for 3.5 years!).  However, studies show more is absorbed over time if you take it with food.  However, I would bet that CMAX peaks much higher when Sustiva is taken on an empty stomach. I know epivir follows those trends.

[Gary]

After 3 years on sustiva I still have occasional evenings where I feel drunk and dizzy no matter what I do.  For me, I have my evening meal around 6.30-7 and if I'm gonna snack after that I avoid anything too fatty, I take my sustiva (and combivir) at 10pm.  The worst side effects passed within the first month or so, but like I say, some times it doesn't matter what I do, it still gets me when I least expect 

[randym431]

Yes I think diet within the last 12 hours has a big effect on how hard you get hit. If I eat something like mashed potatoes and gravy i can be assured I will get drunk-like from sustiva. If I just have something like a sandwich or hamburger I can get away with feeling little side effects hours later when I take the pills.
And I think your general health has some effect too, like if you've been getting too little sleep or pushing yourself doing too much, it can hit harder.

Then there are those phases where you feel no sides at all. Its really hard to guess or predict. If I feel drunk or brain fuzzy, I just drink some water and fight right thru it (the feeling), and within an hour or so its gone. Like if you take your mind off it, it passes faster.

I just would like to see meds that are very good, and with no sides to deal with. Then living with this would be much easier. Oh well...