Author Topic: Darunavir and Shit: Personal Experiences? (Read 7392 times)

Matty the Damned · « **on:** February 05, 2010, 05:31:08 am »

Matty the Damned has been on a combo of Kivexa/Reyetaz/Ritonavir for a number of years now. Frankly it's beginning to show it's age and his sexual health physician, the terrifying Frau Eva has decided that the time for change is fast approaching.

Various tests have been ordered (notably resistance assays) and should these turn out as expected she's proposing a combination of Darunavir/Raltegravir/Etravirine with a tasty Ritonavir chaser.

The general clinical and pharmacological aspects of this new combo are pretty apparent to me. I wondering if those who have experience with one or more of these meds have any personal experiences of them that are worth knowing about side effects wise.

For example, should I be on the look out for ghastly skin reactions? Odd brain things? The screaming shits? Might I sprout horns? A sudden predisposition to ABBA or Scientology?

All responses gratefully received.

MtD

/edited to replace the plural with the singular/

Ann · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2010, 05:51:08 am »

Quote from: matty.the.damned on February 05, 2010, 05:31:08 am

A sudden predisposition to ABBA or Scientology?

Now that would be truly terrifying.

Quote from: matty.the.damned on February 05, 2010, 05:31:08 am

Might I sprout horns?

C'mon, Ms the.Damned, you can't fool us, we know you already have horns!

Well, you did say...

Quote from: matty.the.damned on February 05, 2010, 05:31:08 am

All responses gratefully received.

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2010, 06:22:57 am »

C'mon, Ms the.Damned, you can't fool us, we know you already have horns!

True. But not where you might reasonably expect them to be.

MtD

veritas · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2010, 08:29:48 am »

matty,

My combo is Prezista/norvir, Isentress and Truvada (no experience with Etravirine).

Thankfully, I have experienced little in the way of AEs. Slight irregularities with lipids, that I can control somewhat with diet and exercise so far. Some BMD issues, although, I attribute that to viread.
I've been ud with a decent cd4 count ever since starting this combo. My cd4% has screamed (46%).

I believe you made a good choice.

v

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2010, 10:13:55 am »

Darunavir and Raltegravir have not been problematic for me. I've never been on Etravirine.

I've had diarrhea issues for 13 years spanning many different med combos so I can't blame it on this one.

gemini20 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2010, 02:05:22 pm »

Matty,

I've been on Darunavir/Ritonavir only since I had to switch from Reyataz/Ritonavir last April.

I'm only taking these meds and I'm pleased to report I've experienced no side effects such as skin problems, diarrhoea, brain issues. The only thing I have noticed is increased body fat around my stomach (not weight gain as I'm only 58kg, same as I've been for about a decade) so I can only assume it is med related.

I did reach my highest t-cell count for 15 years just on this monotherapy - screwed up spectacularly by then taking a treatment break but that's another story! I'm back on it now and take it once a day in the evening, with or without food depending on whether I can be bothered to cook!

Hope that helps,

Emma

jjmcm · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2010, 12:29:01 pm »

Hey Matty. I am on exactly the same regimen you are considering. I actually changed one medication at a time from my old combo. That way my doctor and I could see the lab results and know exactly what each one did in regard to side effects. At no time did my VL become detectable.

The first change I made was to Isentress from Fuzeon. No problems at all to report with that one. Easy swap as most others have indicated. Then I swapped out Kaletra with Prezista/Norvir. I did have some IBS mainly constipation with this change. It seems the motility of the Kaletra had gotten my digestive system lazy. So, I was forced to add probiotics and fiber along with a number of other supplements to get it in line. That did the trick.

Finally, I swapped out the Truvada with Intelence. It seemed to kick in a little immune response and I had some old shoulder injuries give me a problem for a while. However, that calmed down after a month or so. I was also finally able to stop taking Lunesta nightly to sleep. My dreams got much better.

I must tell you though that my lipids went down considerably when I stopped taking Kaletra and got better and better until I started the Intelence. Once I started the Intelence the lipids started climbing again. They are not as high as when I was on Kaletra but I almost thought about staying on the the Truvada because of it. However, my doctor has had tremendously good results with this combination for a number of salvage patients like myself and I have decided to stay on it.

I hope you have good results also and do not grow horns...

--JJ

Assurbanipal · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2010, 07:23:30 pm »

Matty

For me so far it has been like a less intense version of Kaletra. (I did Kaletra --> Isentress --> Prezista) I never had the uncontrollable diarrhea on Kaletra -- by avoiding some foods and lots of fiber I could have more or less normal (if rather loose ...) days. Then on Isentress, I had to add back some of the previously avoided foods in order for everything to flow "smoothly"... Then with Prezista I took them back out.

Same with lipids -- problems on Kaletra, not on Isentress, and looks like it will be a problem again on Prezista.

Good luck
A

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2010, 06:26:54 pm »

Cheers y'all.

I'm supposed to start the new regimen on 24 Feb. I'll have more info then.

MtD

aztecan · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2010, 10:44:47 pm »

Hey Matty,

I have only taken two of the four meds you mention: Raltegravir (Isentress), and Ritonavir (Norvir).

The Isentress was a breeze, as others have said. I had absolutely no side effects, period. The Norvir sometimes caused a bit of loose bowels, and occasionally my lips would go numb. I know it was the Norvir because I took Isentress and Norvir at different times.

I did run into someone today who started the same regimen as I, Isentress, Truvada, and she lost most of her hair.

From what I have been able to learn, nobody seems to know whether it was the Isentress or Truvada. Nobody had ever heard of this happening to anyone else and I haven't found any literature explaining this.

I just thought you might want to know, just in case. You do have that delightfully red hair and, if memory serves, it was long and lush.

For the record, her hair is now growing back and its just as thick and lush as ever - and she is still on the same meds.

Go figure?

HUGS,

Mark

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2010, 02:01:07 am »

Frau Eva had reinforcements. Some Indian (think saris not casinos) ID specialist was with her. Which is rare in Australia - HIV is normally the province of seuxal health physicians, not ID doctors.

Anyways, they decided that changing my regimen is not the Right Thing at the moment. I remain on Ritonavir/Atazanavir/Abacavir/Lamivudine for at least another three months.

I'm actually rather keen to get rid of the Abacavir. I've been taking it on and off since 2004 and the cardiac issues are starting to concern me. But the Frau and the Dame of Delhi were not for turning. Apparently smoking doesn't lend my cause much credibility.

Ah well.

MtD

Jeton · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2010, 08:35:30 pm »

Quote from: veritas on February 05, 2010, 08:29:48 am

matty,

My combo is Prezista/norvir, Isentress and Truvada (no experience with Etravirine).

Thankfully, I have experienced little in the way of AEs. Slight irregularities with lipids, that I can control somewhat with diet and exercise so far. Some BMD issues, although, I attribute that to viread.
I've been ud with a decent cd4 count ever since starting this combo. My cd4% has screamed (46%).

I believe you made a good choice.

v

that's my combo as well, tho i'm on a bunch of other meds to counteract sides...nausea (marinol), hives (benadryl), cholesterol (lescol) and diarrhea (immodium). all in all, i find it a livable combo that also finally has me undetectable (for almost 2 years), unlike any other combo since 2004 when i started sustiva/combivir.

secretgarden · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2010, 09:25:57 am »

I just switched from Atripla after year. I could not stand the dreams and depression. Now I am on Prezista, norvir and truvada. Its my second day now. I had great sleep on this. I haven't been so fresh in the morning since I started Atripla. The only set back is that after I take prezista, the next two hours I have little diarrhea. I took it so far in the morning with my breakfast but from tomorrow I am going to try to take it at night before going to bed and see how it goes...

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2010, 04:29:24 pm »

Matty has failed to provide closure now on this important topic going on 2.5 months. I personally am appalled.

anniebc · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2010, 05:25:34 pm »

Quote from: Miss Philicia on April 15, 2010, 04:29:24 pm

Matty has failed to provide closure now on this important topic going on 2.5 months. I personally am appalled.

Matty did say he would be staying on his Combo for another 3 months...that will end on the 24th of this Month, so there is time yet for him to come back and let us know what is going on...not like you to be this impatient..

Hugs
Jan

Hellraiser · « **Reply #15 on:** April 15, 2010, 07:49:37 pm »

Philly usually is so patient when it comes to the details of other people's coprophilious endeavors.

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Author Topic: Darunavir and Shit: Personal Experiences? (Read 7392 times)