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Author Topic: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?  (Read 4656 times)

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Offline northernguy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,347
Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« on: February 05, 2010, 10:16:18 pm »
I'm wondering if I should take a few days off when I start Atripla?  Did others find it messed you up too much to work when you started?
Apr 28/06 cd4 600 vl 10,600 cd% 25
Nov 8/09 cd4 510 vl 49,5000 cd% 16
Jan 16/10 cd4 660 vl 54,309 cd% 16
Feb 17/10 Started Atripla
Mar 7/10 cd4 710 vl 1,076 cd% 21
Apr 18/10 cd4 920 vl 268 cd% 28
Jun 19/10 cd4 450 vl 60 cd% 25
Aug 15/10 cd4 680 vl 205 cd% 27
Apr 3/11 cd4 780 vl <40 cd% 30
Jul 17/11 cd4 960 vl <40 cd%33
April 15/12 cd4 1,010 vl <40 cd% 39
April 20/12 Switched to Viramune + Truvada
Aug 2/12 cd4 1040, vl <40, cd% 38
Oct 19 cd4 1,110 vl <40 cd% 41

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2010, 10:31:18 pm »
A weekend should suffice if you you are feeling a bit nervous.  I had no choice but to start and then start the semester right away.  I thought it was quite trippy but as a teacher I could deal since I don't work straight through a day. In fact I enjoyed the spacey feeling. Frankly my viral load was so freaking high and that drug works so damn fast, my body breathed a huge sigh of relief, along with my mind. The drug stops replication.  HIV doesn't live so long and you have very large viral drops very quickly.

Some people report problems starting this drug. Many other report no feeling whatsoever. And a few like me report rapid "feeling much better" scenarios!

“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline alliance

  • Member
  • Posts: 159
  • hmmmm. . .
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2010, 11:01:32 pm »
I was really anxious about starting Atripla, I agree with the idea of a weekend being enough.  Its been a couple months now, Im still a little groggy in the morning when I get up sometimes, but the shower takes care of it right away.  I waited to start until I had a weekend, at home, with others in the house just in case, but I was fine and I feel so much better now. I had vivid dreams, good ones, the first few nights, but they gradually went away after the first couple nights.  I really didnt have a choice as to whether or not to start, but it's my understanding that the current thinking is going towards sooner is better. 
"The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality."
10/10/12   CD4=378  %=32   VL=UD
5/10/12     CD4=426  %=32  VL=UD
11/15/11   CD4=296  %=29  VL=UD(20)
6/15/11     CD4=345  %=29  VL=UD(38)
3/15/11     CD4=317  %=31  VL=UD
12/1/10     CD4=315  %=28  VL=UD
8/11/10     CD4=250  %=25  VL=UD
6/10/10     CD4=380  %=24  VL=UD
3/4/10       CD4=340  %=22   VL=UD
1/11/10     CD4=312  %=22   VL =130
11/30/09   CD4=228  %=19  VL=1726
11/20/09    started atripla
10/15/09   CD4=281  %=18   VL=85,000

Offline StacheBC

  • Member
  • Posts: 266
  • Hello
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2010, 11:26:28 pm »
Although everyone is different, I agree with Mecch. If you start your first dose on a Friday evening, you should be fine to continue work the following Monday.
In my case I took Friday off and started on a Thursday...  Friday morning I felt fine and to be honest if I hadn't taken the day off, I could have gone to work without any problems.
My own experience when I first started was dizziness about 40 minutes or so after taking the pill (if I didn't go to bed right away) feeling a bit off balance if I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom... but never had problems working the next day and I have a job that needs a lot of concentration.

After a few days I started to feel this surge of energy, that I hadn't felt in a long time, getting to a point where I started to look forward to take the pill so I could kick HIV in the butt. Sounds odd but it's true. :)

Wishing you the very best.

Offline tednlou2

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  • Posts: 5,730
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2010, 11:47:46 pm »
Let us know how it goes and what, if any, side-effects you experienced.  That is the thing that worries me about starting.  I think this is the big thing holding me back from starting.  I have this feeling I'm going to be sick on meds for a while.  Obviously if a person is at the point where they absolutely have to start, then that is a different story. 

I wish ya all the best with no side-effects. 

Offline CJ2009

  • Member
  • Posts: 21
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2010, 12:46:45 pm »
Glad to hear no one is having any major complications with Atripla.

I'm thinking about starting it this week (Tuesday) since my doctor is recommending that I get on ART, ARV? Wait I forget what it's called exactly.

I'm a little scared, but looking forward to getting my VL down.

Offline Cliff

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,645
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2010, 03:03:21 pm »
I started Atripla last weekend.  Doc/Nurse prac recommended starting on a Friday (though I started on Sat).  Even starting on Saturday, I was a bit dopey on Monday/Tuesday.  Obey the food restrictions!  It makes a huge difference.

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2010, 03:14:33 pm »
After a few days I started to feel this surge of energy, that I hadn't felt in a long time, getting to a point where I started to look forward to take the pill so I could kick HIV in the butt. Sounds odd but it's true. :)

ditto.

Also remember, even if they are mild, there are immune reconstitution feelings that you may mistake as related to the drugs.
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline phildinftlaudy

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,985
  • sweet Ann what you think babe...
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2010, 08:18:57 pm »
i also started on a friday --- didn't have any pronounced effects --- some grogginess when i first get up in the morning - but then again, I have never been a morning person and typically only get about 6-1/2 to 7 hrs. sleep a night. 
September 13, 2008 - diagnosed +
Labs:
Date    CD4    %   VL     Date  CD4  %   VL
10/08  636    35  510   9/09 473  38 2900  12/4/09 Atripla
12/09  540    30    60   
12/10  740    41  <48   
8/11    667    36  <20  
03/12  1,041  42  <20
05/12  1,241  47  <20
08/12   780    37  <20
11/12   549    35  <20
02/12  1,102  42  <20
11/12   549    35  <20

Offline Dsd09

  • Member
  • Posts: 29
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2010, 04:44:33 am »
Hi northernguy

I'd agree with the other posts that a weekend should be fine. I took a week off when starting, but actually didn't need it.
Had the vivid dreams for the first two nights, and some slight dizziness for next few nights, nothing serious though.
Fine during the day.

I did get the rash at day 12 and this lasted about 2 weeks, it wasn't painful - just had to make sure I had plenty of long sleeve shirts for work!

This was a few months ago now, and now I don't get any side effects whatsoever.
And Atripla works really quick too.

You'll probably be fine, I think most people are once that initial first few days is out the way

All the best,
07/2009 - Diagnosis
08/2009 - CD4 354 / VL 4700
09/2009 - CD4 286 / VL 3200
10/2009 - CD4 249 / VL n/a - Started Truvada / Sustiva
12/2009 - CD4 318 / VL <40
01/2010 - CD4 316 / VL <40 - Switched Atripla
04/2010 - CD4 370 / VL <40
12/2010 - CD4 342 / VL <40

Offline northernguy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,347
Re: Should I Take Time Off When Starting Atripla?
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2010, 12:44:54 am »
Took the plunge and went to the docs to get the paperwork started.  He forwards it to the hospital, then I call and make an appointment with the pharmacist.
Apr 28/06 cd4 600 vl 10,600 cd% 25
Nov 8/09 cd4 510 vl 49,5000 cd% 16
Jan 16/10 cd4 660 vl 54,309 cd% 16
Feb 17/10 Started Atripla
Mar 7/10 cd4 710 vl 1,076 cd% 21
Apr 18/10 cd4 920 vl 268 cd% 28
Jun 19/10 cd4 450 vl 60 cd% 25
Aug 15/10 cd4 680 vl 205 cd% 27
Apr 3/11 cd4 780 vl <40 cd% 30
Jul 17/11 cd4 960 vl <40 cd%33
April 15/12 cd4 1,010 vl <40 cd% 39
April 20/12 Switched to Viramune + Truvada
Aug 2/12 cd4 1040, vl <40, cd% 38
Oct 19 cd4 1,110 vl <40 cd% 41

 


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