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Author Topic: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects  (Read 7971 times)

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Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« on: May 11, 2012, 07:25:41 pm »
I have seen some posts on here about side effects for Truvada and Viramune, but not if someone is taking them both together. I just started them about two weeks ago. When starting Viramune, my Dr said you have to take a low dose of it for two weeks to get the body used to it because it can be harsh on the liver - then you switch to the higher dose. However, my Dr said since I was on Aripla for over four years, that we could cut it to only one week before I took the higher dose. They have to monitor the liver for a while when starting it but I don't go for bloodwork for another month.

I was feeling good the first few days. Since then I've had head pressure around the sides and back of my head, more so when I wake up. Had a couple of nausea spells that hit pretty fast. I'm not exactly bursting with energy. The bigger complaint is constipation - which seems to be the opposite of what people are experiencing here. My stool is like small rabbit pellets and somewhat dark. I didn't have to go yesterday, and have no urge to go today. It's highly unlike me.

Have left messages for my Dr to ask about it but to no avail yet so just wanted to see what others are going through, and if even anyone else is on this particular combination.
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

Offline Peacock

  • Member
  • Posts: 72
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2012, 06:50:08 am »
Honestly, when I started my meds (combivir & nevirapine), I gave it at least a month to do its thing before worrying about side effects. I felt like shit for the first month (NAUSEA!) and then it all smoothed out and Ive been fine ever since.My Dr gave me nausea pills that I took only when I felt really bad. I think that in the first month of starting meds you should not think too much about how your feeling and just go with the flow...and let your body adjust to the changes. Thats what i did.
As for the constipation-stress and worry can also effect youre tummy.
Obviously be concerned if you get terrible rash and aches, but as for tummy workings, and nausea- just give yourself some time to get used to the meds. Im only saying what I did (relaxed)- and it worked for me. Im no expert and dont have any knowledge of the Truvada..but if I were in your shoes, i would just take it easy and give the body a month or so to get in the 'new meds groove'
 ;)Sorry I cant be of more help, besides writing a prescription to Relaaax. :o
All the best, Stevie P
Peacock,Steve
Diagnosed 07/01/2002
Started Haart- 25/11/04 Cd4: 205 VL: 76'500
                      19/12/08 Cd4: 623 VL: UD
      26/03/12 Cd4: 497 Cd4%: 30.10 VL: UD
Combivir and Nevirapine(200mg) x1 of each-Am & pm
Not changed Meds since starting on HAART
Green Tea,Multivit,Selenium ACE,Folic acid,Vit C,Aciclovir 200mg 5x per day for 3 days-(ONLY when I have Shingles!)
100 percent adherence-with the help of a wristwatch!

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2012, 03:22:35 pm »
Thanks very much.

Part of the reason I was concerned was because I still had some body aches. The other night was the first time in weeks, but it was fairly bad. I had that for years on Atripla, it was very debilitating, but my Dr's felt they couldn't do anything about it. My blood work showed everything except my T cells was great (I did have a catscan for something unrelated but it showed no problems with anything else.)

So with the aches and extreme weakness, my new Dr felt it could only be from Atripla. Like you said it's still new - My Dr said I'd notice a difference in two weeks of switching - but I'm going to give it more time like you said, maybe about a month to adjust.

It just gets to a point after doing so much work on my health that I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and getting nowhere sometimes.
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

Offline joemutt

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,167
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2012, 02:02:24 am »
I switched from combivir/nevirapine to truvada/nevirapine a few years ago. i am fine with viramune, no side effects. i think i have the usually described side effects from the truvada though.

Offline surf18

  • Member
  • Posts: 533
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2012, 11:21:53 am »
i had the dreaded rash on day 13 of this combo. terrible. head to toe covered in rash/hives. couldn't work for 3 days, took me damn over a year to get the red out of my face too. my dr wanted me to push tru it and keep taking the verimune and when i didn't get any better after 3 days i pretty much told him to go fuck your self get me something different asap. that is when i switched to selzentry.

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2012, 03:33:43 pm »
Wow - just when you think you are in the clear with side effects they pop up that long after - sucks!

Since my switch off Atripla to the Truvada/Viramune combo - my moods and energy have been literally all over the place.I started out feeling great the first few days into it. I had - what I consider - a normal amount of enery through those days.

I had some nausea spells, but that stopped. I have had terrible constipation which is getting a little better as of today. The headaches are also getting less. My Dr's office called and told me those side effects were not from the medications. Odd - since I never EVER get headaches or constipation!

I have tried to explain how I feel to people off Atripla. I knew I was in a fog, like I was not all there, and I knew it wasn't good. I had NO energy or drive at all, which people blamed on depression. I didn't really know how severe it was though. I do feel like I'm coming out of a coma. I'm going to a therapist so we have started to discuss all this recently, but coming off the Atripla is an experience!

I think my anxiety is a little whacked out on the new meds though. I have sort of racing thoughts and weird feelings that are unlike me. It's hard to explain, but my sense of awareness feels very heightened - almost like I am high (which I only know cuz it happened the FEW times I smoked up years ago). The other night, I was Very aware of the fact that I was alive  ???  and even more aware of the fact I am a man  :-X  And naturally felt that I knew I was going to die one day. Yeah very weird. I felt like energy was flowing through me like air (seriously I never do drugs). I don't know if anyone has gone through this, but if you have please let me know.

...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

Offline eric48

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,361
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2012, 06:04:58 pm »
Hi,

the only thing that would be an adverse side effect from this viramune switch would either be a rash or liver intolerance. When they happen, viramune must be discontinuated. headackes and some psycho effect may happen but statiscally in a significant less number than with atripla.
Other inconvienience like constipation , lack of energy should be temporary.
I discussed it last week at the hospital and one doc said that unless there is rash or liver issues, it is a very well tolerated drug
While a number of posters on this forum have reported stronf adverse effects when viramune was prescriped as their first treatment, I do not recall a thread of any one reporting such adverse events if they are aleardy treatment experienced and switch to viramune for one eason or another

Hope this helps

Eric
NVP/ABC/3TC/... UD ; CD4 > 900; CD4/CD8 ~ 1.5   stock : 6 months (2013: FOTO= 5d. ON 2d. OFF ; 2014: Clin. Trial NCT02157311 = 4days ON, 3days OFF ; 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157311 ; 2016: use of granted patent US9101633, 3 days ON, 4days OFF; 2017: added TDF, so NVP/TDF/ABC/3TC, once weekly

Offline northernguy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,347
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2012, 01:10:11 am »
I have seen some posts on here about side effects for Truvada and Viramune, but not if someone is taking them both together. I just started them about two weeks ago. When starting Viramune, my Dr said you have to take a low dose of it for two weeks to get the body used to it because it can be harsh on the liver - then you switch to the higher dose. However, my Dr said since I was on Aripla for over four years, that we could cut it to only one week before I took the higher dose. They have to monitor the liver for a while when starting it but I don't go for bloodwork for another month.

Interesting.  Here my doc and phramacist told me to go right on the full dose after being on Atripla for 2 years.
Apr 28/06 cd4 600 vl 10,600 cd% 25
Nov 8/09 cd4 510 vl 49,5000 cd% 16
Jan 16/10 cd4 660 vl 54,309 cd% 16
Feb 17/10 Started Atripla
Mar 7/10 cd4 710 vl 1,076 cd% 21
Apr 18/10 cd4 920 vl 268 cd% 28
Jun 19/10 cd4 450 vl 60 cd% 25
Aug 15/10 cd4 680 vl 205 cd% 27
Apr 3/11 cd4 780 vl <40 cd% 30
Jul 17/11 cd4 960 vl <40 cd%33
April 15/12 cd4 1,010 vl <40 cd% 39
April 20/12 Switched to Viramune + Truvada
Aug 2/12 cd4 1040, vl <40, cd% 38
Oct 19 cd4 1,110 vl <40 cd% 41

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2012, 04:23:46 pm »
I'm a small guy, and also have stomach issues, and because I was having such a hard time with Atripla, I think he was being cautious by having me try the lower dose first. Luckily so far it seems to be working. My numbers were good. All my Atripla side effects are gone, no weakness, tiredness, body aches, dizzyness, nausea - still some vivid dreams but not as strong or often.
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

Offline eric48

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,361
Re: Truvada - Viramune combo Side Effects
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2012, 05:10:51 pm »
...  I knew I was in a fog, like I was not all there, and I knew it wasn't good. I had NO energy or drive at all, which people blamed on depression. ...
I think my anxiety is a little whacked out on the new meds though....

I could have written the exact same words...

Except that I am NOT under EFV (Efavirenz a component of atripla) but under NVP (Viramune)

Which makes it a little hard for anyone to figure out which is which.

posts mentionning loss of energy/fog/anxiety are more many with EFV than NVP. But Viramune is no aspirin either

Wishing yu well Eric
NVP/ABC/3TC/... UD ; CD4 > 900; CD4/CD8 ~ 1.5   stock : 6 months (2013: FOTO= 5d. ON 2d. OFF ; 2014: Clin. Trial NCT02157311 = 4days ON, 3days OFF ; 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157311 ; 2016: use of granted patent US9101633, 3 days ON, 4days OFF; 2017: added TDF, so NVP/TDF/ABC/3TC, once weekly

 


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