POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: iking2009 on November 11, 2009, 03:48:19 pm

Title: No Meds Yet...
Post by: iking2009 on November 11, 2009, 03:48:19 pm
Ive been poz for about a year now, that I've known of. I go for my check ups every 3 months. My doc was very close to putting me on Atrilpila until my visit in June. My tcell count was alot better than before, don't know why, but wont question good health. Since then, my doc says that its up to me whether i start the meds, since I'm doing good. So my question IS: What are the goods/the bads about hiv meds??  i don't know anything about them, except for the dreams that people refer to.  Tell me some things about them...
Title: Re: No Meds Yet...
Post by: deibster on November 11, 2009, 04:02:21 pm
Hello, the guidelines about when to start medication are changing every year. One theory is that starting meds at a CD4 count of 500 rather than a CD4 count of 200 will add 20 years to a young person's life. I wish I had known this in '95 when my CD4 count started falling.

All of the meds have some gastro-intestinal side effects from nausea, to gas pains to loose bowels. For some people they are very minor, for a very few they are serious. One thing to remember is that, once you start meds, it is a lifelong commitment, every day for the rest of your life. That said, I still wish that I had started the meds earlier in my life. Hugs, & Best wishes from Provincetown, deibster
Title: Re: No Meds Yet...
Post by: mecch on November 11, 2009, 04:05:21 pm
Why not read through a bunch of the threads here.
Title: Re: No Meds Yet...
Post by: mecch on November 11, 2009, 04:07:28 pm
All of the meds have some gastro-intestinal side effects from nausea, to gas pains to loose bowels. For some people they are very minor, for a very few they are serious. One thing to remember is that, once you start meds, it is a lifelong commitment, every day for the rest of your life. That said, I still wish that I had started the meds earlier in my life. Hugs, & Best wishes from Provincetown, deibster

No gastro problems here. So far.
Yes, lifetime commitment. Until something else comes along that is.
Title: Re: No Meds Yet...
Post by: iking2009 on November 11, 2009, 04:53:38 pm
Why not read through a bunch of the threads here.

Ive read alot about dreams & sleeping side effects. Ive also read alot about other kind of meds. Im specifically asking about atripilla. That was the 1st time ive heard about any gastro-intestinal side effects.
Title: Re: No Meds Yet...
Post by: Assurbanipal on November 11, 2009, 05:02:22 pm
Have you seen the lessons on this site yet?  You might find this section helpful  http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/WhenToStart_7512.shtml
Title: Re: No Meds Yet...
Post by: iking2009 on November 11, 2009, 05:16:11 pm
Have you seen the lessons on this site yet?  You might find this section helpful  http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/WhenToStart_7512.shtml

thanx 4 that link
Title: Re: No Meds Yet...
Post by: Inchlingblue on November 12, 2009, 12:04:38 pm

All of the meds have some gastro-intestinal side effects from nausea, to gas pains to loose bowels.

I'm on Isentress and Truvada and I have not had any GI problems so far (started in July).