Eating with Atripla

[hivez]

Hello,
I couldn't find anything on this.
I was recently diagnosed with HIV in July 06' and was put on meds 10/06 because my cd4 numbers dropped below 300 and I was continually feeling crappy.
I was told not to eat 2 hours before or after taking my pill, which I take at 10pm. What happens if I go to a movie and eat popcorn during that 2 hour time span?

I asked my doctor if I should be taking any suppliments, vitamins etc. during the day he said it wasn't necessary. Can anyone lead me to some information that might suggest what would help lower my load/assist the meds keep me healthy.
Thanks,

[newt]

Eating with Atripla won't affect how the drugs work, but may affect how one of the meds it contains, Sustiva, acts up in your brain, ie may make dreams more vivid, sleep not so good etc, give you a drunk feeling.  This is a very individual reaction, so you myabe ok with popcorn, or even a burger, but many people find food (esp. fatty food) + Sustiva = worse side effects.

- matt

[hivez]

Thanks
great resource for newly diagnosed people

[SoSadTooBad]

I agree, Newt.  I take Sustiva along with combivir - taking Sustiva on a full stomach is not any different for me in general.  I get a little dizziness that starts about an hour after I take it, and lasts about two hours, but it usually happens when I am asleep, so no big deal.  For me, I think a high carb meal makes the feeling a tiny bit more intense, but nothing major.

[Esquare]

My rule I follow is not to eat after I take Atripla at night before bed. The one time I did it I couldn't get to sleep and had the vivid dreams. Other than that one bad night I have not had an issue and I've been on Atripla for over a month now.

[roadlesstraveled]

I take Atripla and eating before or afterwards does not effect me anymore. I've been taking it for over 3 months and the side effects have vanished, lasted about 3 weeks. My thing is taking it at the same time each night. Sometimes on the weekend I may not go to sleep until 3am and eat after the club around 2am. Play around with eating different types of foods and see which ones effect you if any and if you don't have the side effects from Sustiva then live well.