Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 08:44:51 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772945
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 377
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 1
Guests: 356
Total: 357

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Viramune Not Digesting  (Read 5590 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Viramune Not Digesting
« on: November 12, 2012, 12:45:22 pm »
I was switched off Atripla in April and started on Truvada and Viramune. I was doing really well on it. My Ts were up higher than they have ever been and I'm still undetectable.
All was going well until Saturday. I take Truvada at 8:30 am - then Viramune at 12:30 pm. I accidentally took my Viramune at 8:30. I realized it at 11 when I saw my morning pill still sitting there. I took it right then and hoped that would make no big difference.

All day I felt something sitting in my stomach and didn't feel well. at 7:30 pm I vomited up the Viramune. Not much food or anything else. It was the same shape and color - and not to be graphic but I grabbed it to make sure what pill it was and though the pill was still fully formed, it was not hard like a pill, it was now mushy like a piece of clay.

The next day I took my medicines at my correct times - and felt fine all day. At 10:30 pm I vomited up that days Viramune. Same clay-like consistency instead of being a hard pill. I've put in a call to my Dr and am waiting, but have no idea what is happening to me now. The Viramune is an extended release pill so I don't know if it is supposed to stay sort of intact like that - but I've never vomited it up in full like that ever.

My concern is that, is it like I've missed two doses of Viramune now?
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

Offline eric48

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,361
Re: Viramune Not Digesting
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2012, 06:54:24 pm »
you are taking  viramune XR.

Viramune XR is some sort of solidified foamed that diffuses slowly.

After 6 month into treatment, there is nothing real bad with missing one dose of viramune, but there is nothing bad in taking one extra, in case you fear you did not have your entire daily dose. If you still have the standard 200 mg pill, you can take one on top of the undisgested 400mg XR.

To be efficient the XR version has to stay in you body. You could have swallowed it back...

the foam itself may be hard to digest and may show up in your stool, it does not means it has not diffused.

With the 200 mg Standard version, I have a feeling it disperses quite easily in water, therefore, many people here tend to dring a full glass of water with it.

I have a few spare 200mg standard and intend to make the experiment in a beaker of water (or water + acid) in order to provide graphic evidence

If you ar taking Viramune XR, the foam like version, is is intended to leave your stomach after ca 2 hours and enter the upper gastric track (duodenum, if I am correct).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenum

There are some restrictions there, pretty much like you have at the other end, see what I mean...

For some reason, it may not go through that restictions because of its size.

This may have some anatonical cause...

If not, please kindly bear in mind that many people (such as myself) take standard Viramune ( 2 times 200 mg ) at the same time. Which makes it a one daily. It is not an 'approved' method but this usage has been validated in treatment experienced patients in clinical trial (2NR or N2R kind of name). After 6 months, you are nomore treatment naive, you are treatment experienced,and therefore eligible for the off-label once a day dosing of the standard version if your doctor approves of it (I would think that peope who are really overweight should bear in mind the pharmacokinetics, which are not favorable in this case, and avoid the off label dosing)

Taking your NRTI and NNRTIs some time apart is something I did also at begining of treatment. After a while your body gets adjusted and you can consider taking all pills together. There is a bit of trial and error there, but you should give it some thoughts.

Once daily is much more convinient on the long run.

After six months, you are on the safer side, so no need to overreact. See with your doctor and see what the doc thinks about the once daily off-label dosing of 2 x 200mg standard Viramune.

Hope this helps

eric
 

NVP/ABC/3TC/... UD ; CD4 > 900; CD4/CD8 ~ 1.5   stock : 6 months (2013: FOTO= 5d. ON 2d. OFF ; 2014: Clin. Trial NCT02157311 = 4days ON, 3days OFF ; 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157311 ; 2016: use of granted patent US9101633, 3 days ON, 4days OFF; 2017: added TDF, so NVP/TDF/ABC/3TC, once weekly

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Viramune Not Digesting
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2012, 07:03:17 pm »
This is a known phenomenon and I am sure if you email the manufacturer they will confirm as long as the pill is degraded the medical compnent has been absorbed.  Shame about the nausea/vomitting etc.

See also:

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=43930.0


- matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline eric48

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,361
Re: Viramune Not Digesting
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2012, 07:05:32 pm »
Side note: taking your Viramune XR at 12:30 pm ... Is that night ? or lunch time ?

With XR I would have though that taking it along with food would have help enter the tract but it may work the other way round. I do not kow. I have not started XR yet.

Eric
NVP/ABC/3TC/... UD ; CD4 > 900; CD4/CD8 ~ 1.5   stock : 6 months (2013: FOTO= 5d. ON 2d. OFF ; 2014: Clin. Trial NCT02157311 = 4days ON, 3days OFF ; 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157311 ; 2016: use of granted patent US9101633, 3 days ON, 4days OFF; 2017: added TDF, so NVP/TDF/ABC/3TC, once weekly

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Re: Viramune Not Digesting
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2012, 06:46:14 pm »
Thank so much for the replies.

So far I have been able to keep the Viramune down after those two weird episodes. I do feel like I'm getting a cold now - but it's the season so I'm not sure if it's related to the Viramune, or an actual cold.

I'm glad to know about the pill's consistency too, it was partially degraded when it came up. I talked to my Dr's office and they had said only blood work would show if there was any real effect - so as long as I'm keeping them down now, I can only wait and see.

It is the XR 400mg pill, been on it for 7 months, and I take it at 12:30 lunch time. I will also eat usually within an hour or less of having the pill and had no issues before at all. I see a nutritionist and he also recommended eating with the pill also. He told me the viramune could be coated with something and looked into it and told me this:

"The Viramune is a fat and is better absorbed with a meal containing some fat. I would recommend trying a little peanut butter, cheese, an egg, or some nuts with the Viramune."
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

Offline eric48

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,361
Re: Viramune Not Digesting
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2012, 08:23:13 pm »
"The Viramune is a fat and is better absorbed with a meal containing some fat. I would recommend trying a little peanut butter, cheese, an egg, or some nuts with the Viramune."

Never heard or such a thing... A quick look at nevirapine  chemical structure :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevirapine

shows it is anything but a fat... (google for : fat chemical structure and choose the images display, if your chemistry classes are old story for you)
Nevirapine  is metabolized thru the liver. That is true.

Except for the mechanical effect I had suggested, I do not see any reason to take with food.

In the same fashion, the extended release version is made such that the benefits of taking yours pills some hours apart are unclear to me.

gobing all your meds all at once, makes one feel less of a 'sick' person than being on a complicated schedule

hope this helps
Eric
NVP/ABC/3TC/... UD ; CD4 > 900; CD4/CD8 ~ 1.5   stock : 6 months (2013: FOTO= 5d. ON 2d. OFF ; 2014: Clin. Trial NCT02157311 = 4days ON, 3days OFF ; 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157311 ; 2016: use of granted patent US9101633, 3 days ON, 4days OFF; 2017: added TDF, so NVP/TDF/ABC/3TC, once weekly

Offline buginme2

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,426
Re: Viramune Not Digesting
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2012, 09:55:46 pm »
The issue of Viramune XR not digesting has been discussed here before on this thread.

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=43930.0

The OP in that thread was noticing undigested tablets when he went to the restroom.

He wrote a letter to the manufacturer of Viramune and received a response that this was normal and expected and should not affect the level of medication that is absorbed.  He posted a copy of the letter.

Long story short. You sould be ok, apparently Viramune XR doesn't dissolve fully, it's normal, and ok. Try and relax.   


Here is a copy of the letter from Viramune



From: <medinfo.au@boehringer-ingelheim.com>
Date: 24 July 2012 11:31:13 AWST
To: <***********@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Viramune XR (nevirapine) enquiry


Dear Mr *********,

 

Thank you for your enquiry. I understand you have been observing undigested Viramune XR® tablet remnants in your faeces every day.

 

The inactive ingredients of Viramune XR extended-release tablets may occasionally be eliminated in the faeces as soft, hydrated remnants. This is a result of the extended release mechanism of the tablet. The inactive ingredients absorb moisture and form a matrix through which the active ingredient, nevirapine, is slowly released.

 

A number of patients taking Viramune XR in clinical trials noted tablet remnants in their faeces. Despite this finding all patients had the expected concentration of nevirapine in their blood and a sustained viral response.

 

I understand from your email that you have consulted your doctor and a recent blood test showed your CD4 counts remain stable. It would therefore appear that the tablet remnants you are noting in your faeces is not associated with any lack of drug effect.

 

Given the tablet mechanism, the clinical trial findings and your own blood test results it would appear that the undigested pills you are observing in your faeces is the inactive tablet ingredients.

 

I hope this email alleviates your concerns. A copy of the Consumer Medicine Information for Viramune XR is attached for your reference. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Kind regards,
***************

Pharmacovigilance and Medical Information Manager
Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited

78 Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia

Maybe we can relax now and stop stressing...................Just sayin'
Cheers!





Don't be fancy, just get dancey

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Re: Viramune Not Digesting
« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2012, 08:09:26 pm »
Maybe we can relax now and stop stressing...................Just sayin'
Cheers!

Having the pill in stool was one concern, so at least I see that is a normal occurrence. The real stress was coming from that I was vomiting up the pill, two days in a row. I was more concerned it was as if I was missing doses since they were coming back up and not getting into my system.
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.