Kaletra or Reyataz/ Norvir?

[Pippet]

Strike one!  Viramune kicked my butt...  My doc is giving me a choice of Kaletra or Reyataz/ Norvir as a chaser to my Truvada.
I was hoping I could get some opinions from experience.  With no more than I know about these (or any other) treatments, all I can do is flip a coin.

If it helps,  CD4 around 200, VL >200,000.  I'm still trying to find my first line of attack!

Thanks.

[jerek]

the first combo i was on was truvada & viramune.  my t cells were 5 & vl was 500,000.  that combo did nothing for me.  my doc then switched me to truvada, norvir, & reyataz.  within 2 months my vl went undetectable & tcells rose to 65.  i know everyone is different but i did not suffer any major side effects from the norvir.  the only thing with norvir is i felt a lil tired & nauseous the first week or 3 but that quickly subsided.  i hope this helps!!

jerek

[Robert]

I go with the Reyataz/Norvir/Truvada combo.  That was my first line of attack.  I started 3 years ago at 18 t-cells, 500,000 VL.  By March (3 months later..I started in Dec.) I was undetectable,  By summer I was up over 200 t-cells.  I'm now over 600.

Side effects are minimal.  Yellowing of the skin and eyes for a few weeks.  Also depression but that could just be me, or maybe it's the virus or the pills but if it's the pills, then  that could also be true for any other regmine.

The Reyataz/Norvir/Truvada combo is also a little easier on lippo.  .  I've heard the opposite is true for Kaletra.

robert.

[Pippet]

Thanks for the responses. 
I was leaning toward the Reyataz, mainly because of the once a day dosage.

 

[suzieque]

      Hi,
        I find the Reyataz/Norvir great, although if you drink you can feel the hangover more as the Norvir slows down the liver process!! You should have less issues with lipo and cholesterol than with Kaletra. I kind of keep Kaletra there as a "just in case" as my doc says it is super strong and can be very usefull somewhere down the line.
                Best wishes to you
                            Suzie

[Pippet]

Thanks for your input Suzie.

Happy Holidays! 

[newt]

There are good reasons to begin wth Reyataz

1. It uses less Norvir as a booster, which is always good
2. As Suzieque says, kinder on lipds etc 
3. Once a day & longer half-life, so more forgiving on timing
5. Unique resistance profile means if it buggers up Kaltetra still good

However, some people, it don't agree with, they find Kaletra easier

- matt

Now playing: Estelle, I'm Gonna Win

[unfair]

I am not really sure of how and if norvir works very well but i know that fpr my little brother, kaletra is very effective. Even though i found him getting a little fatter, he seems to be getting along very well with no real problem down the line.

[newt]

Just for the record, Kaletra contains Norvir.  Kaletra is made up of the two drugs, lopinavir + a low dose of ritonavir (Norvir), in the same tab. 

Norvir blocks the pathway used by the liver to process PIs. Taking a PI with Norvir means it stays in the body at an effective level for longer. Using Norvir with another PI is called boosting.  Sometimes you see phrases like "a boosted PI".

Kaletra's the only med where the Norvir's pre-packed, so to speak. Nobody's bothered to combine Norvir with any other PI. 

Kaletra gives you 200mg of Norvir a day. Boosted Reyataz is normally prescribed with a 100mg of Norvir a day.

- matt