POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: vertigo on June 14, 2013, 07:58:47 pm

Title: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: vertigo on June 14, 2013, 07:58:47 pm
Hi Everyone -

So about 14 months now since contracting HIV.  Latest labs:  CD4 478 / 20%   VL 54,000

T-cells have been slowly sliding and with no real good reason to put off meds at this point, just picked up my first bottles of Isentress & Truvada.

Curious from peeps who are on this regime, are the first few days likely to be strange and woozy?  I've heard stories about this with some of the other meds, but not this combo.  Also, any thoughts on whether to take the Truvada in the AM or PM?  I'm thinking of starting this Sunday.

Thanks -
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: Ann on June 15, 2013, 06:12:57 am
I can't comment on the Isentress portion of your combo, but I can on the Truvada portion.

My combo is once a day and one of the tablets is Truvada. My combo needs to be taken with food, but a snack will do. What I find is that the less food I have in my stomach when I take my meds, the more I'm going to start farting in an hour or so. The more I eat, the less I fart.

One of the meds in Truvada is notorious for causing farts - to the extent that some people call it TOOTvada. :)

It's not dangerous, it's just annoying. Particularly to others, if you get my drift (pun intended).

So when you're deciding whether to take your Truvada in the AM or PM, you might think about when you're going to be able to take it with some food, or when you're less likely to annoy others with smelly farts. It doesn't need food to work - don't think I'm saying that. I'm just relating my experience with it regarding food. Your experience may differ.

What's the most important thing here is that you're taking your meds every day, and making sure you get that Isentress down your neck TWICE a day as evenly spaced out as possible.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: mikeyb39 on June 15, 2013, 08:34:55 am
hi vertigo,
I currently take Isentress and have no side-effects from it.  I've taken Truvada and it seemed to be ok, although I don't take it anymore.
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: Miss Philicia on June 15, 2013, 08:56:43 am
I had no issues when I began Isentress. Truvada has a sticker on it indicating it can cause dizzyness, but I've never felt it and don't read about people having it on these forums in any large degree. Sometimes I got very mild nausea from it, but I emphasize mild -- never to where I feel like vomiting. And it passes in five minutes.
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: vertigo on June 15, 2013, 11:06:30 pm
Hi Ann, MikeyB & Miss P -

Thanks for the replies.  My doc said this combo has the fewest side effects of any, but I'm just curious about other experiences.  I noticed the yellow stickers warning of dizziness and headaches on the Truvada bottle, and was a bit surprised as I hadn't read much about that.

Anyway, I bought a pill tray to ensure that I don't miss any doses.  Anyone have a good recommendation on an iPhone app for keeping track of meds?

Cheers -
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: mecch on June 16, 2013, 01:19:19 am
Truvada Isentress is my current combination.  well over a year.  It wasn't my FIRST combination, however.  I think the first weeks someone takes HAART, he/she does notice...  But lots of people its very mild.
I think sometimes I might feel the Truvada, a little bit after taking it, if I'm not busy or otherwise occupied on some task. Very minor.
Generally this combo has ben the least noticeable of 4, so far.
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: vertigo on June 17, 2013, 04:50:31 pm
Thanks mecch.  Just started today.  Prolly a bit early to tell, but so far I don't feel a thing.  Looking forward to seeing my VL drop, though!
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: vertigo on July 21, 2013, 07:27:31 pm
An update after one month on meds:

VL down from 54,000 to just 130.  CD4 462 / 24%

Happy to report that there have been NO side effects.  I actually don't feel anything when I take them.  It's also nice that there are no meal restrictions.

Having to take twice daily isn't ideal, but it's also not that difficult.

So far so good!
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: mitch777 on July 21, 2013, 08:27:03 pm
Great news! :)
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: a2z on July 30, 2013, 06:14:47 am
While you have since answered your own question, others might find this later.  My only negative experiences when I began this medication was even more insomnia (something I was already prone to) and headaches (something that was rare for me.)   OTC medications help both for me.

Great news on your results.
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: Erwachsenerkind on August 03, 2013, 05:50:36 pm
Hi Ann, MikeyB & Miss P -

Thanks for the replies.  My doc said this combo has the fewest side effects of any, but I'm just curious about other experiences.  I noticed the yellow stickers warning of dizziness and headaches on the Truvada bottle, and was a bit surprised as I hadn't read much about that.

Anyway, I bought a pill tray to ensure that I don't miss any doses.  Anyone have a good recommendation on an iPhone app for keeping track of meds?

Cheers -

I have been on Truvada for 6 months now. It's an O.K pill with slidly any effects, but always it depends how your body will accept it. A snack or a small meal it's ok with the pill to be taken.

I use an app in iPhone which is not free (2 dollars or something) but it's one of the best I've seen now.
Just have a look on the AppStore "Pillboxie"
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: vertigo on November 25, 2013, 05:59:44 pm
Happy to report now undetectable, CD4 649 / 28%.

Realize that others mileage may vary, but I have had no side effects from this combo.
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: YankInAustralia on November 25, 2013, 08:16:16 pm
I started the same regime about 2 months ago.  My viral load dropped to 170 units from about 12,000 in the first 2 weeks. Getting my 2nd set up results this week.  Hoping to be undetectable.

I will let you know.

In terms of side effects I only felt like I was on acid and ecstasy for the first 72 hours and then that vanished. It wasn't at all painful, just felt high as a kite. As in so high I couldn't even ride a bike without falling over.  But no headache, no stomachache, no gas, no diarrhea, no pain. And after 72 hours absolutely nothing.

My experience is that it is an amazing regime.  It was my first.
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: 0608 on November 26, 2013, 10:05:05 am
This is my combo, too, and it got me down to undetectable in 3 months, and my CD4 has climbed steadily on it (304->481->602->904).  The first time I took it, I definitely noticed a "high" feeling a short time afterwards.  But I slept it off, and from the 2nd day on, I never had that feeling again.

As for other side effects, I do seem to get some gas (there was one single instance when my stomach felt really bloated and painful, but it hasn't happened again).  I never had trouble falling asleep, but there were some mornings when I woke up still feeling rather tired.  So a few months ago, I started taking the Truvada in the morning as opposed to at night, and that seemed to have done the trick, and it's been great ever since sleepwise.

For me, I can't recommend this combo highly enough, and personally, there's no way the twice a day factor would ever outweigh the frightening stories I've heard about Atripla.  Just my opinion.
Title: Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
Post by: Ann on November 27, 2013, 06:13:21 am

So a few months ago, I started taking the Truvada in the morning as opposed to at night, and that seemed to have done the trick, and it's been great ever since sleepwise.


My bf always felt Truvada made him groggy in the morning - to the point where driving was difficult - so he takes his first thing in the morning with no problem. Personally I've never noticed this effect, but I'm not a morning person anyway and I don't have to drive, so I've never really looked for a difference caused by what time of day I take it.