POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: jupiter on October 11, 2010, 04:06:28 pm
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Hi all!
I started meds 3 weeks ago with the above combo. I have been getting some side effects. Tiredness brain fog and acing joints. how long doe these normally last for? I know there is an adjustment period of a few weeks. Just wanting to know others experiences.
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A few weeks at most
If they go on speak with your doc. What was your CD4 count on starting? Did your eyes go yellow at all (or indeed, are they)?
- matt
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Yes my eyes did go yellow. cd4 was around 230
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Hello
When you start combo the drugs block HIV at various points, which is how it stops it reproducing. The result: lots of dead HIV and lots of dead CD4 and other cells with bits of dead HIV in them. This is junk to your body, like any other particles left over after any infection (eg flu). Your body mobilises your immune system to clean them up. This is what causes the symptoms you are having (just like flu or a cold).
Also, other lurking ailments can temporarily reactivate and be dealt with by the immune system now it's able to do this, a sort of clean up moment.
This can manifest as a sometimes serious condition call IRIS (Immune Restitution Inflammatory System). This mostly happens in people with CD4 counts of 100 or below, people who have a very fast drop in viral load or people with some pre-existing other conditions eg hepatitis B and C, herpes, shingles or TB.
The symptoms you describe are probably just your body adjusting to its new found strength to deal with HIV. If the fever gets bad or doesn't abate, or you become more confused etc, though, it is worth raising it with your doc. I wouldn't hesitate myself, even if just for reassurance.
The other possibility, also to raise with doc if this don't get better, is an allergy to one of the meds. This is rare. If you do have one the fever is usually sudden and high, and a rash is common.
If you're tired, sleep. Your body has basically been injured by HIV. Sleep aids recovery from injuries.
- matt
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Thank You for your help and reassurance Matt!
Im Hangin in there.
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I started this combo on 10/19, I'm in a drug study comparing the booster-- so I don't know what booster I'm on (Norvir or GS9530).
Anyway, I'm getting pretty intense yellowing in my eyes. Luckly, I started treatment while on vacation but today was suppose to be my first day back, but called off until Sunday, but may extend further. Today, I'm feeling like maybe it's starting to dissipate today, but it's still unsightly. I've been trying to stay hydrated.
I just wanted a personal account: How long did the noticeable yellowing persist with you?
(or anyone else with starting this combo).
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Hi newhorizon80
The yellowing took about 3-4 weeks to become unnoticable with me.
It returns occasionally (alcohol and some pain medication ie: codeine seem to be culprits for me)
Mine was very noticable, but it gradually went away.
I think once your body gets used to the Reyataz, things more or less go back to normal.
I was told to stay hydrated,drink lots of water, and try to get some sun by my doc.
Cheers....