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Author Topic: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada  (Read 7736 times)

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Offline vertigo

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Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« on: June 14, 2013, 07:58:47 pm »
Hi Everyone -

So about 14 months now since contracting HIV.  Latest labs:  CD4 478 / 20%   VL 54,000

T-cells have been slowly sliding and with no real good reason to put off meds at this point, just picked up my first bottles of Isentress & Truvada.

Curious from peeps who are on this regime, are the first few days likely to be strange and woozy?  I've heard stories about this with some of the other meds, but not this combo.  Also, any thoughts on whether to take the Truvada in the AM or PM?  I'm thinking of starting this Sunday.

Thanks -

Offline Ann

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2013, 06:12:57 am »
I can't comment on the Isentress portion of your combo, but I can on the Truvada portion.

My combo is once a day and one of the tablets is Truvada. My combo needs to be taken with food, but a snack will do. What I find is that the less food I have in my stomach when I take my meds, the more I'm going to start farting in an hour or so. The more I eat, the less I fart.

One of the meds in Truvada is notorious for causing farts - to the extent that some people call it TOOTvada. :)

It's not dangerous, it's just annoying. Particularly to others, if you get my drift (pun intended).

So when you're deciding whether to take your Truvada in the AM or PM, you might think about when you're going to be able to take it with some food, or when you're less likely to annoy others with smelly farts. It doesn't need food to work - don't think I'm saying that. I'm just relating my experience with it regarding food. Your experience may differ.

What's the most important thing here is that you're taking your meds every day, and making sure you get that Isentress down your neck TWICE a day as evenly spaced out as possible.

Good luck!
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline mikeyb39

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2013, 08:34:55 am »
hi vertigo,
I currently take Isentress and have no side-effects from it.  I've taken Truvada and it seemed to be ok, although I don't take it anymore.
11/02/2010  cd4-251, vl-591000
12/09/2010  started Atripla
02/18/2011  cd4-425, vl-800
06/10/2011  cd4-447, vl-70
10/10/2011  cd4-666, vl-80
01/05/2012  swiched med (prezista,norvir ,isentress, )
02/10/2012  cd4-733, vl-UD  Viread removed
06/10/2012  cd4-614, vl-UD
12/14/2012  cd4-764, vl-UD
09/01/2013  cd4-785, vl-UD
03/06/2014. cd4- 1078, VL-UD
09/05/2014  cd4-850 , VL-UD
09/05/2014 switched meds isentress, prezcobix -still only two antivirals
10/14/2015  cd4-600 , VL-UD

Offline Miss Philicia

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2013, 08:56:43 am »
I had no issues when I began Isentress. Truvada has a sticker on it indicating it can cause dizzyness, but I've never felt it and don't read about people having it on these forums in any large degree. Sometimes I got very mild nausea from it, but I emphasize mild -- never to where I feel like vomiting. And it passes in five minutes.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline vertigo

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2013, 11:06:30 pm »
Hi Ann, MikeyB & Miss P -

Thanks for the replies.  My doc said this combo has the fewest side effects of any, but I'm just curious about other experiences.  I noticed the yellow stickers warning of dizziness and headaches on the Truvada bottle, and was a bit surprised as I hadn't read much about that.

Anyway, I bought a pill tray to ensure that I don't miss any doses.  Anyone have a good recommendation on an iPhone app for keeping track of meds?

Cheers -

Offline mecch

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2013, 01:19:19 am »
Truvada Isentress is my current combination.  well over a year.  It wasn't my FIRST combination, however.  I think the first weeks someone takes HAART, he/she does notice...  But lots of people its very mild.
I think sometimes I might feel the Truvada, a little bit after taking it, if I'm not busy or otherwise occupied on some task. Very minor.
Generally this combo has ben the least noticeable of 4, so far.
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline vertigo

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2013, 04:50:31 pm »
Thanks mecch.  Just started today.  Prolly a bit early to tell, but so far I don't feel a thing.  Looking forward to seeing my VL drop, though!

Offline vertigo

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2013, 07:27:31 pm »
An update after one month on meds:

VL down from 54,000 to just 130.  CD4 462 / 24%

Happy to report that there have been NO side effects.  I actually don't feel anything when I take them.  It's also nice that there are no meal restrictions.

Having to take twice daily isn't ideal, but it's also not that difficult.

So far so good!

Offline mitch777

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2013, 08:27:03 pm »
Great news! :)
33 years hiv+ with a curtsy.

Offline a2z

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  • Posts: 209
Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2013, 06:14:47 am »
While you have since answered your own question, others might find this later.  My only negative experiences when I began this medication was even more insomnia (something I was already prone to) and headaches (something that was rare for me.)   OTC medications help both for me.

Great news on your results.
Dates are blood draw dates:
3/12/15: CD4 941, 36.4%, VL UD
9/4/14: CD4 948, 37.9%, VL 150
5/23/14: CD4 895 --.-% VL UD - Truvada/Isentress
09/21/09: CD4 898 27.0% VL 120 - back on track, same meds.High level enzymes, but less so
06/15/09: CD4 478 21.8% VL 1150 - high liver enzymes... looks like I may not be resistant
05/22/09: Fixed insurance, resumed medicine
04/17/09: Ran out of medicine, could not resolve insurance problems
04/01/09: CD4 773 28% VL 120 - high liver enzymes
12/01/08: CD4 514 23% VL 630
10/17/08 started Reyataz, Norvir and Truvada. -- possibly minor neuropathy, but otherwise okay.
9/10/08: CD4 345 17%, VL > 78K
8/18/08: CD4 312 18%, VL > 60K (considering meds)
12/19/07: CD4 550 28% VL > 100K (no meds yet)
Diagnosed 10/23/07

Offline Erwachsenerkind

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2013, 05:50:36 pm »
Hi Ann, MikeyB & Miss P -

Thanks for the replies.  My doc said this combo has the fewest side effects of any, but I'm just curious about other experiences.  I noticed the yellow stickers warning of dizziness and headaches on the Truvada bottle, and was a bit surprised as I hadn't read much about that.

Anyway, I bought a pill tray to ensure that I don't miss any doses.  Anyone have a good recommendation on an iPhone app for keeping track of meds?

Cheers -

I have been on Truvada for 6 months now. It's an O.K pill with slidly any effects, but always it depends how your body will accept it. A snack or a small meal it's ok with the pill to be taken.

I use an app in iPhone which is not free (2 dollars or something) but it's one of the best I've seen now.
Just have a look on the AppStore "Pillboxie"

Offline vertigo

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2013, 05:59:44 pm »
Happy to report now undetectable, CD4 649 / 28%.

Realize that others mileage may vary, but I have had no side effects from this combo.

Offline YankInAustralia

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Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2013, 08:16:16 pm »
I started the same regime about 2 months ago.  My viral load dropped to 170 units from about 12,000 in the first 2 weeks. Getting my 2nd set up results this week.  Hoping to be undetectable.

I will let you know.

In terms of side effects I only felt like I was on acid and ecstasy for the first 72 hours and then that vanished. It wasn't at all painful, just felt high as a kite. As in so high I couldn't even ride a bike without falling over.  But no headache, no stomachache, no gas, no diarrhea, no pain. And after 72 hours absolutely nothing.

My experience is that it is an amazing regime.  It was my first.

Offline 0608

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  • Posts: 67
Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #13 on: November 26, 2013, 10:05:05 am »
This is my combo, too, and it got me down to undetectable in 3 months, and my CD4 has climbed steadily on it (304->481->602->904).  The first time I took it, I definitely noticed a "high" feeling a short time afterwards.  But I slept it off, and from the 2nd day on, I never had that feeling again.

As for other side effects, I do seem to get some gas (there was one single instance when my stomach felt really bloated and painful, but it hasn't happened again).  I never had trouble falling asleep, but there were some mornings when I woke up still feeling rather tired.  So a few months ago, I started taking the Truvada in the morning as opposed to at night, and that seemed to have done the trick, and it's been great ever since sleepwise.

For me, I can't recommend this combo highly enough, and personally, there's no way the twice a day factor would ever outweigh the frightening stories I've heard about Atripla.  Just my opinion.

Offline Ann

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    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Starting Meds: Isentress/Truvada
« Reply #14 on: November 27, 2013, 06:13:21 am »

So a few months ago, I started taking the Truvada in the morning as opposed to at night, and that seemed to have done the trick, and it's been great ever since sleepwise.


My bf always felt Truvada made him groggy in the morning - to the point where driving was difficult - so he takes his first thing in the morning with no problem. Personally I've never noticed this effect, but I'm not a morning person anyway and I don't have to drive, so I've never really looked for a difference caused by what time of day I take it.
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


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