Issentress(raltegravir) Side effects?

[kaamos]

Hi everybody:

Greetings from Colombia. Well, first at all some of my history.I´m gay 34 years old, in 2010 i was diagnosed with PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy) by HIV, phase IV :\, much for medical negligence and strange symptoms not until i was very, very bad medics thought in hiv (about me.....uhmm i wasn´t sane at all by very, very hard headaches.......anyway), my full recovery lasted three years. In this years i began to practice capoeira as therapy, to recover everything, my physical cordination, my short term memory, my fluent speak, and all my confidence.
I began with efavirenz that don´t cross brain blood barrier, after that i began with Kaletra and 3tc/azt(lamividine/zidovudine), that save my life, but i began to have digestive problems i have horrible ninja farts(silent but deadly) much of the time.Work in that way has been ......uhmmm..uncomfortable for me and people around me, also i have libido and erection problems. I talk with my medics and they decided change my medication for Issentress(raltegravir) and the same old 3tc/azt(lamividine/zidovudine).
I´ve read that Issentress is one of the best medications, but i´m concerned about insomnia and lost of muscular mass, i´ve been on 'diet' by farts issues (no way to eat all that i want) and some skinny. Problems that i´ve read, has been with  Issentress/truvada combo.
I just wanna know your experience with Issentress

Thanks

And a good day

[ad2san]

Hi There. I am on this combo too. I cannot report any sleep or muscular issue ... libido is unchanged (too low imho  ) and no erectile dysfunction (finger crossed).
 
I take the medication w/breakfast "all in one"

Take care.

[kaamos]

Thanks ad2.

[eric48]

This regimen should be easy enough

In a thread, that is not too old, ad2san and others discussed about taking Issentress all at same time

I gotretty much convinved by their arguments

You may want to discuss this with your Doc since once daily dosing is much more convinient

That would mean changing your azt with an other molecule

Azt ... If you could get this replaced, I think most posters here would think it would be nice

Try to get that discussion,if you can

[Tonny2]

Hi everybody:

Greetings from Colombia. Well, first at all some of my history.I´m gay 34 years old, in 2010 i was diagnosed with PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy) by HIV, phase IV :\, much for medical negligence and strange symptoms not until i was very, very bad medics thought in hiv (about me.....uhmm i wasn´t sane at all by very, very hard headaches.......anyway), my full recovery lasted three years. In this years i began to practice capoeira as therapy, to recover everything, my physical cordination, my short term memory, my fluent speak, and all my confidence.
I began with efavirenz that don´t cross brain blood barrier, after that i began with Kaletra and 3tc/azt(lamividine/zidovudine), that save my life, but i began to have digestive problems i have horrible ninja farts(silent but deadly) much of the time.Work in that way has been ......uhmmm..uncomfortable for me and people around me, also i have libido and erection problems. I talk with my medics and they decided change my medication for Issentress(raltegravir) and the same old 3tc/azt(lamividine/zidovudine).
I´ve read that Issentress is one of the best medications, but i´m concerned about insomnia and lost of muscular mass, i´ve been on 'diet' by farts issues (no way to eat all that i want) and some skinny. Problems that i´ve read, has been with  Issentress/truvada combo.
I just wanna know your experience with Issentress

Thanks

And a good day

   ojo    hola colombiano...I've been taking Isentress for seven years (twice a day), no problems at all....I agree with Eric48, if possible, try to get de zidovuine switched, I guess you are taking Combivir, right? or lamivudine and zidovudine...buena suerte...good luck     ojo

[kaamos]

Thanks to everyone and for your kind answers. I know the issues about convivir, but here health is a mafia not always medics are attentive to patients sugestions, and we got much of that is convenient to this mafias.  For my change i had to talk with psychologist of the clinic, after FOUR YEARS!!!!!!!! complaining about kaletra, and is ridiculous i know that is kaletra somedays for work metings i miss a dose and no one fart(no fear my CV is below 20 copies and CD4 in 834 after all my problems), and they insist that could be. Same with libido issues, they don´t know, they only prescribe viagra (i have a suspicion about libido i will open a thread to discuss that with a test that i´m gonna do with myself while end  my last kaletra bottle), as top in this four years i´ve been unable to achieve an orgasm luckily i´m versatile, but anyway is frustrating and when i went to endocrinologist i only received laughs and viagra  , Is not anxiety is ritonavir.
I hope that least farts dissapear.

Well i wait for more opinions and experiences

All you guys made my day 

[Tonny2]

    ojo    Hi again, I'm really sorry you have to go through this....KALETRA saved my life and my vision, never had any problems with it, well, after five years taking it, it caused pancreatitis...I'm glad you are aware of the problems by taking zidovuina, just check your hemoglobine leves, I had problems with anemia with zidovuine....good luck

[eric48]

Are you sure of your observation that

Miss = no fart ?

[kaamos]

    ojo    Hi again, I'm really sorry you have to go through this....KALETRA saved my life and my vision, never had any problems with it, well, after five years taking it, it caused pancreatitis...I'm glad you are aware of the problems by taking zidovuina, just check your hemoglobine leves, I had problems with anemia with zidovuine....good luck

Kaletra also saved my life and not only my eyes all may white brain matter  (my speak, memory, movement, etc, etc) but make me a stinky and impotent guy.  ,
I have a minor degree in Biology, i´m not so naïve. I didn´t tell to my medics but researching i found the reason of farting and my digestive problems, ritonavir inhibits digestive enzymes (when a read that i thought OMG a pancreatitis could come in some years pancreas could be overcharged, that happened to you tonny ¿are you ok with that problem? ),

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FB%3APHAM.0000019294.03188.cf#page-1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1397787/

I´ve controled farts using a very complete mix of digetsive enzymes that i bought in amazon, enough to survive a job day, at six o clock farterella  must return to home ´cause enchantment is gone, (i bought  most complete one and problem still persists dismished but there), but at least can work without incommode so much, no way to have a partner ¿can you imagine farting under covers with farts that can clear out a room full of people?............miserable.....mixed with erection and libido problems i´ve had a real 'nice' combo...... i´ve been so bored and frustrared......... really i hope that with new meds all will go better.
About azt, i practice a very demanding sport and again i know that azt is toxic to mithocondria and make us age more quick, and produce anemia problems, when i was recovering i began to take alpha lipoic acid that minimize azt toxic efects(also was thought as antiretroviral) so my analytics are perfect. I care so much of my self i don´t wanna repeat a episode of dementia again(really i´ve fought so much in this four years, two first with memory and coordination issues). Now i don´t use alpha lipoic acid i use Mitoq since two months ago ´cause and article on sciencedaily

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140506094940.htm

, well i dont make advertising, is an expensive antixidant but deserves a review, some genetic legs varice veins has become to disapear. ...is an antioxidant specially targeted to protect mithocondria.

Guys much thanks, i hope also can colaborate with you

see ya

[kaamos]

Are you sure of your observation that

Miss = no fart ?

Yep i incidentally discovered that, one day i forgot a dose in the morning, hours later birds began to sing and a sweet lavanda smell surrounded me. Later i miss a dose under control and the same sweet lavanda smell not the toxic one. Also i discovered other trick, DON´T TAKE KALETRA WITH THE FOOD, i wait a while one or two hours after eat to take kaletra, that makes me less farty, ¿reason? digestion has happened and ritonavir doesn´t have enzymes to inhibit

See ya

[kaamos]

This regimen should be easy enough

In a thread, that is not too old, ad2san and others discussed about taking Issentress all at same time

I gotretty much convinved by their arguments

hey can you publish the link of these thread?

Thanks Guys

[eric48]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140506094940.htm
...
Guys much thanks, i hope also can colaborate with you

Thanks for this interesting link...

Here, the current therapy is take this (expensive) single once daily pill, then, move along, there is nothing else

And it works.... So the 'elders', the 'veterans', who would know what to tell you, have been made obsoleto y pasado de moda.

The good news is that, your current route is to try this Issentress, make sure you are UD and plan for next Doctor's visit (6 months ?)

This leaves enough time... So, hopefully, the 'scientifically inclined' will come back ... with a plan

Keep reading, keep asking, removing this AZT remains a desirable objective

Side note on Kaletra Fart on demand: If I had a weapon of mass suffocation, I'd use it ... wisely... ;-)

[kaamos]

Side note on Kaletra Fart on demand: If I had a weapon of mass suffocation, I'd use it ... wisely... ;-)

JEJEJJEJE I DID  , Something positive had to have this issue   

[Tonny2]

Kaletra also saved my life and not only my eyes all may white brain matter  (my speak, memory, movement, etc, etc) but make me a stinky and impotent guy.  ,

Hi kaamos, it seems you know your "stuff", so I guess you will be ok with Isentress, like I said if before, I tske one pill twise a day....good luck  ;p

About my pancreatitis, I had three different episodes of pancreatitis,, and I think, I'm not sure, if two first episodes were caused by Ritonavir though I've taking it for years, but 1n 2005 the ER doc said, that pancreatitis was caused by KALETRA, anyway, I'm stil here, alive, beaten up, but, still breathing   ;o

You and eric48 are pretty funny guys

Hugs and keep us posted

PS my combo is PREZIXTA?NORVIR (just 100mg and not 400 or more as years ago),INTELENCE AND ISENTRESS, I started taking them in 2007 as a salvage treatment, cause I was "frito", after the failure of KALETRA in 2005, any treatment worked for me, my cd4 were zero again....now I've been UD since March 2007, and last cd4 538, %25

[eric48]

Do you get the Azt inside Combivir (tm) or as separate generics?

[kaamos]

Do you get the Azt inside Combivir (tm) or as separate generics?

In combination in one pill with lamivudine, why?

[eric48]

You new combo includes one of the best molecules as well as one of the phased out

First : secure RAL, make sure, doc does not put you back on some lesser drug

Second (long term target) : remove AZT ... Nothing you can do in immediate future

In your position,in your country, this not a medical issue: it is a matter of negociation

would your own doctor take azt for himself or family?

You can wait until AZT dissapears .this will happen anyway ... In 20 y. AZT still in use in colobia? I do not think so

So, you can wait until the phase out in Colombia, this one way

The other way, is to take this (non critically urgent) matter proactively

The question is not why , but how

in my humble opinion, of course...

Do you have a wish to replace AZT , in a foreseable future?

[kaamos]

Thanks eric, i must go step by step. Azt is of common use here, i don´t know why, i suspect that is ´cause health is a very politicized area in my country, health is not public, health is managed by private companies and owners are politicians, goverment subisidizes them with money for medications, for me is not expensive but for much people is a complex theme, there´s much cases where people considered as high cost patient(much of cancer patients) must demand health companies to receive medication.
Medics work with that they have, fortunately hiv is much 'well' covered than other health areas, but still we see effects of the heavy bureaucratic and corrupt goverment.

I have another question about issentress, did you have insomina or weird dreams? fatigue? I would be happy with lucid dreams, sometimes at will i can cross into dreamland or realize that i´m dreaming and live amazing experiences , i learnt this skill in my 24´s from one of my best friends.

Thanks again  guys 

[Tonny2]

   Hi kaamos, as I heard somewhere, "es lo que hay", it is whst it is, you have to get what the doctor prescribed, just keep an eye on the AZT...Isentress, like I said before, I've been taking it for seven years, I had some episodes of insomnia, but I'm not sure if it is due to Isentress, cause I have other issues...when I can't sleep, I take ambien for ten days and I'm back to my normal sleeping cycle..I'm sleeping as if I didn't owe heheheh, like a baby...so, I think you will be ok with this med...no te dugestiones, va?...good luck and let's us know please, if you becomme a zombie   ;p

[hivtalian]

Hi,
Im' on truvada (once a day) + isentress (twice a day). Since 8 months, and so far no side effects. UD since 2 months.
The only bad thing is that you have to take a pill every 12 hours which can be more trickym but it's only matter of habitude...
Good luck, and let's cross our fingers for drugs more and more effective and less toxic.

[kaamos]

Hi,
Im' on truvada (once a day) + isentress (twice a day). Since 8 months, and so far no side effects. UD since 2 months.
The only bad thing is that you have to take a pill every 12 hours which can be more trickym but it's only matter of habitude...
Good luck, and let's cross our fingers for drugs more and more effective and less toxic.

jejejjee a pill each 12 hours is not new for me with kaletra has been three pills  , whats UD?

Thanks

[Jeff G]

whats UD?

Thanks

It means undetectable .

[kaamos]

Thanks jeff i don´t know much of abbreviatons used here

[Tonny2]

    Hi kaamos...let's us know how it goes with the Isentress, good luck, you'll be ok

hugs

[kaamos]

I´ll begin this saturday
THANKS A LOT GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tonny2]

   estaras bien...you'll be fine, just don't read the information of the side effects, you know your body, it will tell you if something is different...good luck

[kaamos]

   estaras bien...you'll be fine, just don't read the information of the side effects, you know your body, it will tell you if something is different...good luck

A very good friend told me that after all that i´ve happened i can deal with anything 

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE SUPPORT!!!!

[Niro]

Hi everybody:

Greetings from Colombia. Well, first at all some of my history.I´m gay 34 years old, in 2010 i was diagnosed with PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy) by HIV, phase IV :\, much for medical negligence and strange symptoms not until i was very, very bad medics thought in hiv (about me.....uhmm i wasn´t sane at all by very, very hard headaches.......anyway), my full recovery lasted three years. In this years i began to practice capoeira as therapy, to recover everything, my physical cordination, my short term memory, my fluent speak, and all my confidence.
I began with efavirenz that don´t cross brain blood barrier, after that i began with Kaletra and 3tc/azt(lamividine/zidovudine), that save my life, but i began to have digestive problems i have horrible ninja farts(silent but deadly) much of the time.Work in that way has been ......uhmmm..uncomfortable for me and people around me, also i have libido and erection problems. I talk with my medics and they decided change my medication for Issentress(raltegravir) and the same old 3tc/azt(lamividine/zidovudine).
I´ve read that Issentress is one of the best medications, but i´m concerned about insomnia and lost of muscular mass, i´ve been on 'diet' by farts issues (no way to eat all that i want) and some skinny. Problems that i´ve read, has been with  Issentress/truvada combo.
I just wanna know your experience with Issentress

Thanks

And a good day

To what extent did PML affect you? What specific medication did you take to treat it? What do you believe caused your turn around, looking back what were the first signs of the road to improvement for you?

[kaamos]

To what extent did PML affect you? What specific medication did you take to treat it? What do you believe caused your turn around, looking back what were the first signs of the road to improvement for you?

Hi Niro:

Niro do you have PML? or someone near to you?Well was a very complex issue i was nearly dead, i was between third and fourth state (if fourth KAPUT XX), but in my case wasn´t JC virus agent causing me neurological issues, was the same HIV who was messing my brain. I came to that state main ´cause i didn´t know that i was infected (but i had suspicions), i was on a very, very stressfull work, when migraines began medics only thought that was caused by my work as programmer(a heavy charge work for the brain, i blame a lot to my work about had arrived to that state), appart of that no diarrea, no fever, no nothing else, nor typical hiv infection symptoms, i had to quit to works for headaches, i was sleepy all the time (med´s fatigue is absolutely nothing compared with fatigue and tiredness that PML produces) i began to forget all short time issues, i began to loss my speaking, my arms and legs jumped alone without any control, me and my family thought that wasn´t normal that could be brain cancer, so i went to neuroligist, with a magnetic resonance all the mess was revealed, inmediately a HIV test was required, when finally we got results, i nearly recognized my family, i lost a lot of hair, it was like be a very, very old man dying of alzheimer and i had 30 then  . I was hospitalized, all test was done, no JC, some small oportunistic, candiada, tongue leukoplasia , some condilomas, fungi on my feets, and no more. Inmediatly i began with medication, like i said before efavirenz that in one month was changed  ´cause don´t cross blood brain barrier, was changed for Kaletra and lamivudina/zidovudina (AZT also crosses blood brain barrier i think is also one reason ´cause i´m still with this old fashioned med). About my recovering............all was very subtle and slow paced, all oportunistic went away so easily, but not so neurological issues, my emotions was 'disconected', world was a plain emotionless and gray space, no sadness, no hapiness, no anger, everything seemed not to matter, but i had awareness that that state wasn´t normal. My long time memory was ok i remembered my life on a emotionless fashion and then tried to 'return' slowly to small things that i did. First symptons of my neurological recovering i thing could be that i  partially recovered control of my legs, later my arms...but the most, most amazing moment was when one morning sudendly ALLLL EMOTIONS RETURNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since that day, everyday i give thanks to life to still be here(despite all issues that i´ve had), i apreciate every moment, i´m trying to change my lifestyle to give me a better life ( if someone knows how to become rich and  not work the rest of my life i would apreciate tell me the secret  ), we pass our lifes front a pc, on works that we hate, tied to nocive relationhips............anyway i turn me philosophical jejejejejej , but that experience changed my life a lot, in terms of being old, about life and freedom. Eventough hardness of the experience, recovering was the MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE THAT I´VE LIVED

Well guys see ya

Thanks for all support again and niro if you have an aditional question send me a private

[kaamos]

I will keep you abreast. Thanks again

[Tonny2]

   wow kaamos, that sounds like a horrible infection, I'm glad KALETRA stopped it...just like in my case, no as bad as your tho, I was dealing with CMV Retinitis, Molluscous, almost got completly blind, I started Kaletra, Agenerase and Sustiva, and voila, everything stopped damaging my body, CMV, molluscous went away, tho never got problems with this combo for five years then I got pancreatitis, as I told you before...How long have you been taking Kaletra?...how long it took you to get back on your feets?...good luck next Saturday, and keep "pushing" your doc for that med change    ojo

[kaamos]

   wow kaamos, that sounds like a horrible infection, I'm glad KALETRA stopped it...just like in my case, no as bad as your tho, I was dealing with CMV Retinitis, Molluscous, almost got completly blind, I started Kaletra, Agenerase and Sustiva, and voila, everything stopped damaging my body, CMV, molluscous went away, tho never got problems with this combo for five years then I got pancreatitis, as I told you before...How long have you been taking Kaletra?...how long it took you to get back on your feets?...good luck next Saturday, and keep "pushing" your doc for that med change    ojo

My legs began to obey nearly in three weeks, i still strugle with some coordination issues, nothing to be worried. Until this year i´ve felt that i´ve recovered nearly all my skills, but in the road i´ve adquired others .......... And finally i´ve been four farting years taking Kaletra jejejjejeje   

See ya

[kaamos]

Guys i forgot........any libido and erection issues with RAL?......anyway tomorrow i´ll begin......

[kaamos]

Amazing, a whole weekend without farting, my skin was dry and know is returning to normality,  i 'll be attentive to other changes 
Thanks for al support

[eric48]

How is the other issue going

Remember: we demand graphic evidence ;-)

Hope you are doing well

[kaamos]

How is the other issue going

Remember: we demand graphic evidence ;-)

Hope you are doing well

JAJJAJA I´m feeling amazing, other issue still doesn´t respond  , but i´ve a little horny, not like i want, but definitely something has changed. I´m giving me time time, has been four years with kaletra, i really have faith with RAL

Again guys thanks for ask

A BIG HUGE

[Tonny2]

    ojo    may I know your age?...have you checked your testosterone levels?....I was on KALETRA for five years, I don't recall having pipi issues    ojo

[kaamos]

34 years and full active practicing capoeira, a full adrenaline sport. Testosterone is OK until i know, but i´m gonna ask for a new test. I was reading that sometimes testosterone is not enough, researching i found that in males progesterone play an important role in libido, and ritonavir creates a pregesterone imbalances in both females and males, ritonavir can cause abnormal fetus development in pregnant women. You lucky tony, also reading about kaletra i found that is one of the medications that more causes libido issues in both men and women 
In males more than 10%, some reports says that 30%.........Much guys don´t speak for shame  but is life quality

Thanks for your replies guys

See ya