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Author Topic: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla  (Read 4178 times)

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Offline notoutinilm

  • Member
  • Posts: 33
Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« on: December 15, 2009, 05:45:16 pm »
Tonight will be two weeks on Atripla.  Never on meds for HIV before....

It has not been easy.... Talked to friends and docs, they all said give it 2-4 weeks.  I was really hoping at the end of 2 weeks I would be feeling back to normal....

While I toss and turn at night (not too bad but I remember) ... the problem side effects seems to be exsasorbation of my ever so sensative sinuses and slight swelling of the glands in my neck (they usuallys swell when my sinuses go on the war path....).

I feel like I have been on speed for the last two weeks and would like to remove my jaw for an hour and then put it back on....

Also am not able to focus well.  Feels like I have lost my periphrial thinking ability.  Today on a work call I become totally lost....

I am really hoping it is just going to take me longer than average to get used to this.  Maybe I need to take something along with the Atripla to slow down the speedy feel.

I have been taking Claritan D to try and clear my ears but that just adds to the speed so I am taking it very sparingly.

Any suggestions....

Offline Miss Philicia

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Re: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2009, 05:54:44 pm »
I would say that the sinus/glands stuff is your immune system reconstituting itself as the medicine begins working.  This is normal, but yes it does make you feel worse in the short term. 

Your other issues in terms of focusing and thinking ability are unique to the Sustiva component crossing the blood-brain barrier, and this is something that seems to affect some individuals more than others unfortunately.  Only you can tell if it is something that you can't handle, but if you can't deal with it after 4 weeks or so it's certainly something to validate a decision to change your regimen to something else. 
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline Poz 2008

  • Member
  • Posts: 8
Re: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2009, 05:27:51 pm »
I can relate to your Atripla experience somewhat.  I took Atripla for 2 days when I was first diagnosed.  After the first night, I woke up and felt like I had been run over by a truck -- extreme fatigue.  The second night I took it, I woke up two hours later wired out of my mind and couldn't go back to sleep.  I had other issues that occured on both nights ...  my breathing pattern would change (would breathe faster or out of breath) within an hour after taking the pill.  My breathing would return to normal after about 15 seconds. 

I am now taking Isentress/Truvada.  It is a twice a day regimen, but no side effects.  For me, it's like taking a vitamin -- I don't feel a thing.  Completely different experience than Atripla.  I tell you this just to let you know that there are other drug combinations out there that have little or no side effects.  DON'T get discouraged from taking meds.  I believe the reyataz/norvir/truvada combination is also very well tolerated by many individuals.  

Hang in there.  And, talk to your doctor about switching combinations if it does not get better.
« Last Edit: December 17, 2009, 05:31:55 pm by Poz 2008 »

Offline notoutinilm

  • Member
  • Posts: 33
Re: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2009, 07:00:24 pm »
Thanks, and I am keeping your advice in mind.  Hopefully it will just take me longer to overcome the side effects, although I seem to be picking up more as time goes on and not letting go of the older ones.  I can only carry so much baggage so some of them are going to have to start jumping ship or finding new hiding places.... at the moment I feel like I have been on a bad acid trip for a few days.... not that I was ever on a bad acid trip ;)

Offline mecch

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  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2009, 08:05:44 pm »
A lot of stuff is going on when you start taking an HIV combo . HAART.  There is immune reconsitution and emotional and pyschological stuff too.  The sustiva component of Atripla finally doesn't suit a few people. I was amongh them. However, my HIV specialists insisted I give it the college try for a few months, so you might try to calm down, take good notes of your experiences, share them with your specialist, and when the time comes, you may be due for a switch.
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline notoutinilm

  • Member
  • Posts: 33
Re: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2009, 10:12:09 pm »
A lot of stuff is going on when you start taking an HIV combo . HAART.  There is immune reconsitution and emotional and pyschological stuff too.  The sustiva component of Atripla finally doesn't suit a few people. I was amongh them. However, my HIV specialists insisted I give it the college try for a few months, so you might try to calm down, take good notes of your experiences, share them with your specialist, and when the time comes, you may be due for a switch.

Thanks, and yes, it is the good college try I am giving it.  Those I have spoken to said I need to give it a few months.  No need to calm down.... in the sense I am calm, just can't sit still, and that normally is a problem.... now I can take the wheels of my chair and still fly around the office.... food would normally solve that but now food seems to make things worse... a bit of experimenting here is required... one of the great things about this site... so anyone that has figured out how to manage the speedy feel of Atripila, please speak up...

The only issue that is really bothersome is swollen glands.  Not like balloons but a trained medical eye would notice enough swelling to look further and feel them.  They are not getting worse, just not getting better.  I may take some xmas cookies over to the office and see if I can have a non-visit peak and Mr. & Mrs. Gland....

Thanks everyone.

Offline antibody

  • Member
  • Posts: 525
  • "every man thinks his burden is the heaviest"
Re: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2009, 10:53:51 pm »
My advice is no need to go months. I was stupid and suffered on sustiva for 9 months waiting for it to improve. It didn't. Pretty safe to guess if it hasn't got better by 4 weeks it never will. But take it as long as you see fit.
Timbuk      <50/ 794  CD4 10/06 
                 <50/ 1096 CD4 3/07
                 <40/ 1854 CD4 4/09

Started Atripla  7/14/06
Switched to boosted Reyataz Truvada 3/28/07

*Ask me about Medical Marijuana and how it can help you!*

Offline FLORIAN

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
Re: Beeten up for 2 weeks on Atripla
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2010, 08:31:47 am »
Tonight will be two weeks on Atripla.  Never on meds for HIV before....

It has not been easy.... Talked to friends and docs, they all said give it 2-4 weeks.  I was really hoping at the end of 2 weeks I would be feeling back to normal....

While I toss and turn at night (not too bad but I remember) ... the problem side effects seems to be exsasorbation of my ever so sensative sinuses and slight swelling of the glands in my neck (they usuallys swell when my sinuses go on the war path....).

I feel like I have been on speed for the last two weeks and would like to remove my jaw for an hour and then put it back on....

Also am not able to focus well.  Feels like I have lost my periphrial thinking ability.  Today on a work call I become totally lost....

I am really hoping it is just going to take me longer than average to get used to this.  Maybe I need to take something along with the Atripla to slow down the speedy feel.

I have been taking Claritan D to try and clear my ears but that just adds to the speed so I am taking it very sparingly.

Any suggestions....
how do you feel now

 


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