Hello,

[bleueyes]

I just wanted to ask if anyone on here has dealt with the temporary dizzyness, the kind that makes you want to stop in place and take a second to get to normal? I have been getting these dizzy spells ever since my meds. And my hands and feet fall asleep. I don't have pain, but the weird thing is I had gradually become use to these things that I did not notice until I started taking meds again. 
I tell myself they're just side effects.
The scarey part is when I was off meds, I felt healthy, ON my meds I feel the limitations. Well off meds, my viral load was soaring and ON meds it is under control. So I take my meds.
I actually stopped taking meds because of insurance changes. I had to wait, but now I have meds.
I have this weird thing when I am going through the mess, I clean it up then tell about it.

[weasel]

hullo bleueyes ,
                      i had awful dizzyness ,could not bend over ,could barely  do anything !
                      I did some snooping and found out it was my bloodpresure  medication

                     I was taking  " lisinopril "  it made me feel llike crap for more than three

                     years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                     My doctor would NOT believe that it would cause any problems .
                     I just had to tell them change it , cause i was not taking it anymore .

                    If you take high blood pressure meds , check into switching for a while to see if
                    your  symtoms get better !

                    I feel wonderful   .today    112/87  a good number .

                                        hopes this helps , and i would check  all other meds you take
                                         besides your HIV cocktail

                                                 the best to you 

                                                                              karl

[leatherman]

The scarey part is when I was off meds, I felt healthy, ON my meds I feel the limitations. Well off meds, my viral load was soaring and ON meds it is under control. So I take my meds.

over the yrs, a lot of meds have made me quite nauseous, so I would stop the meds. This bad action was only positively reinforced by the fact that I always felt GREAT off the meds. No puking, no headaches, no rashes, lots of energy. It was awesome.... but only for about 6 or 7 months; then I'd have an outbreak of something or another, or worse yet end up in the hospital, with a sky-rocketing VL and back onto the meds (usually something new) I'd go. I went though this pattern 4 or 5 times over the last 16 yrs. Luckily the doctor, I switched to a few yrs ago, knew about this issue with me and has me in for an appt every 6-8 wks to "keep me on the straight and narrow" so to speak.

[AndyArrow]

It might be a reaction to a particular medication. 

First, I would look to see if any of ones you are on list dizziness as a possible side effect.  If there are check with your doctor and she what other options you have.  It maybe a certain ingredient that is giving you trouble.

You really have to work with your doctors ... the first thing the prescribe may not work for you ... but don't just stop the meds either as this can have long term problems.

Good Luck!
AA  <--- who was born dizzy but doesn't suffer from dizziness 

[kajnjewel]

I have been on most of the meds for HIV/AIDS - there are so many different side effects for each one.  Like others have said, work with your doctor.  You and him/her should be partners.  It took me awhile to finally find the right combo for me and it may for you as well.

Some herbs and over the counter meds will mess with your HIV meds, tis why it is VERY important to inform your HIV/AIDS specialist of all meds you are on.  Your symtoms could be side effects or they could be something else. 

The numbness sounds like neuropathy which is very common with alot of the meds.  You dizziness could be or not be HIV/AIDS meds related.  Talk to a pharmacist or your doctor.  What has helped me to read about the various meds I am on is a little pill book that is easy to read and understand and can be found at most pharmacies.  The only problem is we can get caught in the side effects and stop the meds and that is the worst one can do.  Once one starts on antivirals it requires a committment to taking them as prescribed.  Because I stopped and started a few myself - I am not, after 19 years, just found out I am resistant to most of the meds. 

So by all means, work with your doctor, be consistent in taking your meds and live a long and productive life in spite of this disease.