Personal Questions About Treatment

[cicero]

Hi Everyone,

I have been taking Atripla since August 9 with no issues.  I'm feeling well and coping well with my new diagnosis.  I have some questions that are a little uncomfortable though that I'd like to hear your thoughts on.

1.  I am not a big drinker, but I'm headed out for vacation in a couple days and would like to maybe have a couple.  I know that alcohol can intensify the drowsiness side effect, but it won't make the drug ineffective, will it?

2.  Anal douching.  I'm aware of what's said about the negative effects of douching but all that aside -- and I'm sorry if this is a stupid question -- if I douche is it going to wash the medicine out of me?  I read diarrhea is a treatment issue because it can remove the medicine from the body and while douching isn't the same thing, purging the system that way seems like it might have the same effect?

3.  The Sun.  I know tanning is in itself bad for you but I can't find anything about the sun and Atripla side effects.  If I get a little sun, should it be no big deal?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Miss Philicia]

1. no problems drinking, in moderation
2. douche away
3. tan if you must, but don't cry to me if you get cancer

[cicero]

Thank you Miss Philicia!

[JMMich]

Hi cicero,

I started Atripla on July 12. Here's my input on a couple of your questions:

1. I specifically asked my doctor about this when he suggested Atripla. He said the exact same thing Miss Philicia did. He indicated that the more excessive the drinking, the more likely the side effects might intensify since your body is trying to process both the meds and the alcohol at the same time. Hence, as I understood it, the meds linger in your system longer at higher levels. Personally, I waited about 2-3 weeks after starting to give my body time to adjust before I gradually resumed moderate alcohol intake. No problems whatsoever. (Even went to a friend's cocktail party last weekend. Not only is he a good friend, but he's a bartender...no way I was passing that up!)

2. I wouldn't know enough to comment, so I won't.

3. I get a little sun every day when I go out walking/jogging. I try to stay in the shade as much as possible since I'm very fair skinned (not quite Casper the Friendly Ghost white...but close enough) and burn very easily. But what sun I do get hasn't had any effect with regard to the meds as far as I can discern. In fact, the whole Atripla experience so far has been (thankfully) rather anticlimactic after some of the things I'd seen about it.

Obviously, that's just one person's experience, so take it with that caveat in mind. Have a great holiday weekend! 

-JMMich

[cicero]

Hi JMMich,

I've read horror stories too but thankfully it seems to be no issues at all after taking it since Aug 9.

My plans for the sun are like what you describe, not baking in it but just catching some rays from enjoying the outdoors at the beach. 

Thanks for your input.

[darryaz]

You already received great answers to #1 and #2 so I'll just comment on #3.

I seem to be more sensitive to the sun than before.  My doctor thinks it's an Atripla side effect even though UV sensitivity is not listed anywhere in the Atripla literature.  Most people don't seem to be affected in the same way that I am.

I can get burned after a few minutes in the sun, even if I use sunscreen.

So I've had to adjust a bit.  I wear a hat and at the beach I sit under an umbrella.  The worst part is keeping the sun roof in the car closed (first world problems, right?)

[cicero]

I'll keep that in mind darryaz.  Thank you.

[newt]

On the douching point, your stomach absorbs HIV meds, not your rectum. Just saying :-) - matt

[cicero]

Thanks newt....my understanding of anatomy is lacking, I guess I was just worried about how deep the water goes... lol