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Author Topic: Minimizing Altripla side effects?  (Read 5575 times)

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Offline dowellndoubtnot

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  • Posts: 52
Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« on: July 20, 2012, 11:06:07 pm »
My boyfriend is about to start Altripla for the first time in the next few days, and he is quite nervous about it. Do you guys have any recommendations for minimizing both the likelihood of side effects, and the severity of side effects?

I know that it should be taken on an empty stomach, 2 to 3 hours after eating anything...and right before bed. Anything else?

Also is there any over the counter medications that you would suggest he have on hand to be ready for the possible side effects?

Thanks!

Offline vaguesbleues

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  • Posts: 97
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2012, 11:38:27 pm »
Sounds to me like you both have pretty well prepared for starting meds.  While the first few nights were kinda loopy for me, the side effects calmed down after only a lil bit.  I'd certainly recommend taking it on an empty stomach for at least a little while, and then slowly start to experiment with food/drink as you see fit. 

Other than the vivid dreams/dizziness that I experienced the first few days, the only other common side effect is a slight rash after about a week.  I had a rash for about 3-4 days, but it was very faint and none of my friends noticed it at all until I mentioned it to them.  I found that having some benadryl or other antihistamines helped keep that down to a minimum.  Who knows though, I've also known a few friends who've had no problems at all with this medication.  Good luck!
3/10/11 - HIV-
4/26/11 - Inconclusive WB
5/19/11 - HIV+, VL < 50, T-Cell 747 (30%)
6/13/11 - VL 345, T-Cell 841 (30%)
8/23/11 - VL 50,100, T-Cell 1155 (19%) - CMV
9/18/11 - Started Atripla
11/7/11 - VL 489, T-Cell 881 (31%)
2/8/12 - VL Undetectable!, T-Cell 772 (34%)
8/8/12 - VL UD, T-Cell 1070 (42%)
11/5/12 - VL UD, T-Cell 1174 (35%)
3/18/13 - VL UD, T-Cell 972 (28%)
10/4/13 - VL UD, T-Cell 1025 (34%)
2/9/14 - VL UD
7/31/14 - VL UD
1/29/15 - VL UD, T-Cell 1027 (32%)
9/15/15 - VL UD
10/21/16 - VL UD, T-cell 765 (39%)
4/28/17 - VL 29
8/17 - started Genvoya
10/27/17 - VL UD, T-cell 880 (35%)
3/30/18 - VL UD
9/28/18 - VL UD, T-cell 980 (34%)
4/19/19 - VL UD
10/18/19 - VL UD
10/22/20 - VL UD, T-cell 1005 (35%)

Offline buginme2

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  • Posts: 3,426
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2012, 11:52:12 pm »
he is quite nervous about it. Do you guys have any recommendations


I would tell him to relax.  The side effect bark is much worse than its bite.  The first couple days could be dizzy/trippy.  After a couple days things will settle down. 
Don't be fancy, just get dancey

Offline Pilot

  • Member
  • Posts: 126
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2012, 01:24:34 am »
I have been on Atripla for a few years now and had no side affects from it that were really noticeable or a problem.  Taking it before bed is really the only thing that I would advise to pretty much reduce any problems.  I am able to eat when I want or drink what I want and have never had a problem with that.  The only thing I can say is that once in a blue moon I get a kind of out of body experience from it and after asking the doc he said you are not the only one who has mentioned that but no one has said it caused any problem with functioning. Its just a weird feeling I get but I also know when it is about to happen so its just kind of a funny side affect.

Offline Ac75088

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  • Posts: 246
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2012, 02:06:19 am »
My first night on Atripla was actually a weird buzz feeling when I woke up in the middle of the night, but it wasn't a "bad" buzz..It was almost like one of those "I'm feeling pretty good" kinda buzzes..I was a little loopy the first couple of mornings but it wasn't bad..After more than a year of being on it, I still have the weird dreams but that is it..I haven't had any depressed feeling, no stomach issues..Hopefully you will have a good experience on Atripla..It's very convenient and works very well

Offline dowellndoubtnot

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  • Posts: 52
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2012, 01:34:03 pm »
Thanks guys! :)

My bf has been taking it the past couple nights, and asked me to sleep over with him because he was nervous...but it has turned out not being too bad at all. The first night he slept like normal, but woke up with the dizzy/buzzed feeling lots of people seem to talk about, lasted about an hour, and then became very minimal for the rest of the day...last night he slept a bit less perfectly, in and out of sleep a few times, but had much less of the dizzy feeling in the morning.

Overall it has not been too bad at all, very manageable :)

Offline Ac75088

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  • Posts: 246
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2012, 11:04:16 pm »
Glad to hear he is doing ok!!

Offline Bbnb

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  • say Hi! I love to chat !
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2012, 12:56:32 am »
I have been on Atripla for a few years now.  The only real side effect I heard about was the hallucinogenic-like dreams. I did not experience those symptoms.Then again, I am  a pretty hard sleeper who never remembers his dreams anyway.
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Offline dowellndoubtnot

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  • Posts: 52
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2012, 07:38:41 pm »
Just wanted to post a little update! My bf has been taking altripla for 18 or 19 days now i believe, and there has been very few side effects to speak of after the first couple days. He has had a couple nights where he has not slept well (one of them being on the only night that he ate less than 3 hours before taking the pill), and a little feeling of light headendess sometimes, nothing crazy. He has not had the rash yet, does this mean he probably won't get it?

Also, he has a little break out of a few pimples on his face...this is not the rash is it? It is not something typical at all for him, could it be related to altripla? Not that it is a big deal, just curious! Thanks!

Offline dowellndoubtnot

  • Member
  • Posts: 52
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2012, 04:02:01 am »
Just thought i'd post an update, because i know reading other peoples experiences on here helped me!

My bf just got his first test results after starting altripla yesterday, and he is now undetectable! His CD4 stayed about the same, but his doctor said his % went up which means that his CD4 is probably going up.

Offline vaguesbleues

  • Member
  • Posts: 97
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2012, 06:01:21 pm »
That's great news!  Glad to hear he's doing well on the medication.  :)
3/10/11 - HIV-
4/26/11 - Inconclusive WB
5/19/11 - HIV+, VL < 50, T-Cell 747 (30%)
6/13/11 - VL 345, T-Cell 841 (30%)
8/23/11 - VL 50,100, T-Cell 1155 (19%) - CMV
9/18/11 - Started Atripla
11/7/11 - VL 489, T-Cell 881 (31%)
2/8/12 - VL Undetectable!, T-Cell 772 (34%)
8/8/12 - VL UD, T-Cell 1070 (42%)
11/5/12 - VL UD, T-Cell 1174 (35%)
3/18/13 - VL UD, T-Cell 972 (28%)
10/4/13 - VL UD, T-Cell 1025 (34%)
2/9/14 - VL UD
7/31/14 - VL UD
1/29/15 - VL UD, T-Cell 1027 (32%)
9/15/15 - VL UD
10/21/16 - VL UD, T-cell 765 (39%)
4/28/17 - VL 29
8/17 - started Genvoya
10/27/17 - VL UD, T-cell 880 (35%)
3/30/18 - VL UD
9/28/18 - VL UD, T-cell 980 (34%)
4/19/19 - VL UD
10/18/19 - VL UD
10/22/20 - VL UD, T-cell 1005 (35%)

Offline dowellndoubtnot

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  • Posts: 52
Re: Minimizing Altripla side effects?
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2012, 08:27:33 pm »
Thank you! :)

 


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