Altripila - sense of touch and vision

[Rafaelmagura]

Hi , I'm Rafael

Im new sorry if i post this in the wrong section. I've been on Altripila for a year and six months and I noticed that my vision seems to be unfocused and kinda spaced out is this normal. I also have noticed that my sense of touch has changed and also many mood swing's is this normal. Has anyone else had  this side affect with there (HAART) Treatment , please someone replay , Thanks Rafael

[Ann]

Hi Rafael, welcome to the forums.

The mood swings you speak of are a common side-effect of the Sustiva portion of Atripla. I wouldn't call them "normal" though. You don't have to put up with them - there are too many other options out there. For most of them, you can keep the other two meds in Atripla (usually prescribed in one pill called Truvada) and just switch the Sustiva for something else.

I've never heard of vision or other sensory problems being associated with Atripla, but that doesn't necessarily mean it can't happen. You should have your vision evaluated by an optometrist or better yet, an ophthalmologist. Speak to your doctor about this and ask if he or she can refer you to a good optometrist or ophthalmologist who is familiar with hiv.

Or, if you've already have an optometrist or ophthalmologist, it would be a good idea to stick with him/her as he/she would already be familiar with your eyes and could more readily notice changes.

Please talk to your doctor about all three of these problems. The mood swings are very likely to be happening because of the Sustiva, so ask about a combo change. You don't have to put up with the mood problems.

Ann

[Rafaelmagura]

Thank you so much ,Ann

there so many symptoms like i just want to be left alone.it's like some kind of depression like I don't want to speak to anyone I just want to stay home and lay in bed and sleep and I shouldn't feel like this because there noting wrong in my life, I spoke to my doctor a week ago and I told him my symptoms and he told me if i wanted to switch to complera but I'm afraid because I don't want my HAARTtherapy to fail or i develop a resistance. i feel confused kinda feel scared =( 

[Ann]

If you switch from one combo to another without any break in between (example - take Atripla on Tuesday and immediately change to and take Complera on Wednesday), you will not have any resistance issues.

A lot of people seem to be very happy with Complera and tolerate it well. You might want to use the [site's search engine[/color] to find threads where people have discussed their experiences with it. Quite a few have switched from Atripla to Complera. Complera is recommended to be taken with a meal of at least 400 calories.

There are other combos you could try as well. You might want to read through some of the different meds listed on the Treatments. Good luck!

[Rafaelmagura]

thank you so much for taking some time and giving me some advice    you made my day thank you .

[newt]

Vision disturbance is a known, if uncommon side effect of efavirenz, one of the drugs in Atripla. I would go get some new meds, you can't live with this for 10+ years more. All the advice above is good.

- mattfont]

[Rafaelmagura]

thank's matt . Im seeing my doctor july 27 and switching to complera I just wanted to do my research and see what other people would say and see if these were common side affect i also want to finish my last bottles of pills .