Stopping Truvada because of osteoporosis

[Veritee]

I have quite severe osteroporosis - might or might not be due to Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) which is a component of Atripla, but could also just be something I would have got anyway. I am 60.


I have been advised not to stop Atripla but to take meds to protect my bones and stop them getting worse.

I have tried taking once weekly Alendronate (Fosamax). It did not agree with me and anyway have just been told I need something more than this/

They want me to have zoledronic acid as an intravenous (IV) dose in hospital.
Has anyone had this and what were the effects, how did it go?

Should I also change my HIV med from Atripla.
What do you think?

[Ann]

Hi Veritee, long time no see.

I removed your post from a nearly four-year-old thread where you posted it. This way you'll get answers to your own question instead of people talking to the original poster of the other thread, which would only confuse things. It's always better to start your own thread when you have specific treatment questions, rather than piggy-backing onto someone else's.

Can you take Ziagen (abacavir)? You'd need to have the sensitivity test first. If you can take it, you could switch out the Truvada portion of the Atripla for Kivexa and change the Sustiva portion out to something else as well.

Why does your doctor want to keep you on Atripla?

[newt]

Hello

The drug in question that may be hurting your bones is tenofovir. So like Ann says perhaps you can just swap this for abacavir. There may be some caution on abacaviur for older folk becuase it seems to raise the risk of heart attack. But this said, you can construct a decent combination without tenofovir or abacavir, several these days.

- matt

[rocky48]

 
Posts: 36

Switching from Atripla

« on: December 17, 2013, 07:45:45 PM »

Wondering if anyone has had bone thinning while on Atripla.  I started on Atripla  April 23, 2011 and my bone density test shows some bone thinning as of Dec. 2, 2013. My PCP is thinking it maybe from the Atripla or my parathyroid. My id doctor said, Atripla can in a few cases cause this problem. So, he has now started me on Norvir, Epzicon and Reyataz. He also told me if the endocrinologist fines the problem to be from my thyroid I could which back to the Atripla. 

Anyone have opinion. By the way I am 65.

[wolfter]

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and I'm only in my 40's.  My doctor indicated that it was probably the tenofovir.  The preferred course of action would be a med change.  Due to severe resistance issues, I had to settle for taking Boniva.

[buginme2]

How about Tivicay and Epzicom (kivexa),  then when the one pill combo is approved you could take that and you would still only have one pill to take each day.

 Could also use this as an excuse to get off the Atripla,  seems to be the consensus these days as not many people are prescribed it as a new med  these days.   Seems to be a hold over from the past. 

[alberche]

Dear Veritee,

I had the same problem 4 years ago. My doc changed my meds from Truvada+Reyataz to Truvada+Intellence (Etravirine, an NNRTI). And, a year later, to Kivexa+Intellence.

It seemed to partially stop bone density loss. But I haven't recovered the density I lost in those first years on treatment. As my condition is not too severe so far, my doc is treating me with D vitamine supplements, tocopherol, and I am doing some exercise and taking sunbaths everytime the wheather permits it.

I am 47 years old right now.

Talk to your doc on the possibility of a medication change. Maybe this will help you to stop it or even improve your bone density.

I wish you will be better.

Regards,

 

[tednlou2]

I'm sorry to hear about the bone issues, but glad to hear it has been diagnosed, so appropriate changes and monitoring can be done. 

Before starting meds, particularly a tenovir-containing regimen, is it recommended to have a baseline bone scan done?  That way you can see where things were before the med, so you aren't wondering whether it was there all along?

[sfpvguy41]

I wrote this detailed post about my experience a while back, was told it was helpful by some so hope it helps you.

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=50523.msg605215#msg605215