POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: StandTro on August 11, 2013, 01:50:54 pm
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Hi I need your help.
By tomorrow night I am going to take my first HIV medication since 9 years this Medical person told me on 2004 I am HIV positive.
For 9 years I didn't take no HIV medication until tomorrow night Monday 8/12/2013 It will be my first time taking call Complera.
I would like to know did anyone ever took this medication Complera? If you did, what is your experience of this medication? and does this medication changes our body fat, facial appearance, things like that?
Thanks
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I just wanted to wish you all the best for little to no side-effects. Like you, I have been poz at least since 2001, and not on meds. But, I feel the time is nearing. I will be interested to see what the more experienced folks tell you. Many are at the AMG gathering and it is a weekend, so be patient.
I just met this past week with the pharmacist, at my HIV clinic. I felt it was time to go over my options again. Last time I met with them was 2009. We discussed Complera and Stribild, as those weren't an option in 2009. I could tell the pharmacist was favoring these drugs over the regimen I had chosen, which was Truvada, Reyataz, and Norvir. He did say Complera was less forgiving, as far as adherence/resistance goes. I explained that while I feel I would be adherent, I wasn't sure I would want to start a med, that I could never miss a dose. Then, he said he shouldn't have scared me like that. He said the 95% adherence still applied to Complera, and he shouldn't have acted like one or two missed doses could ruin it. But, he still said it was less forgiving, but said mainly for someone missing more than average missed doses.
He said Complera and Stribild don't have the lipid issues that folks can run into with P.I.'s. He said I wouldn't have the issues that Norvir can have, affecting other meds I take. If I remember correctly, he said I would need to take it with a 500 calorie meal. One pill a day does seem better than having to take 3, especially if you're traveling and have to make sure you take enough of all three.
So, again, I will be interested in the replies you get. I need to start learning more about this and Stribild, so I can make an informed decision. My big question was whether to start a med, that doesn't have the years of study that the others have. Would some big issue pop up, that wasn't known in safety trials? He said it has proved very safe and effective. He said like many meds, they have to list every event that happened. If someone died of other causes in the trials, they had to report that. If someone had a heart attack that would have happened anyway, they had to report that. In all, he said it was just as safe and effective (without causing those issues you asked about) as any of the other first-line regimens.
Anyway, all the best on your first dose. Be sure to let us know how it goes, and in the weeks and months ahead. Of course, any med affects people differently.
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Hi Will, long time no see!
I've moved your thread into the Treatments section, which is the more appropriate place for it. You'll find lots of other threads about Complera in this section.
The main thing with Complera is that you need to take it with a meal. It's probably best to take it with whatever meal you eat the most at, so you don't have to worry too much about the 500 calories thing.
Good luck - quite a few forum members are on this combo and are doing just fine.
Ann
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Hello!
I can tell you about my experience so far with Complera.
I don't have tons of experience living with HIV, but I can still share what I know or experienced. I'm a 26 years old guy, diagnosed in the 2009 during Fall, and probably got it earlier that year, so it's been 4 years. I started taking Complera on last July 1st, so it's been 6 weeks so far. And I had not endured any side effects ; it actually went muuuuuuuch better than I thought. I had, a bit before starting, some sort of panic attack episode at the thoughts of starting treatment and of the possible side effects we always hear about. But, really, my time with it have been so much better than what I would have thought.
I take my pill at breakfast, which is usually around 10AM. It happened I ended up taking it earlier or later too, always as I take my first meal of the day. I started with heavy breakfast, because of what the doctor told me about complete-350 to 400 calories minimum meals (eggs and bacon, greek yogourt with pancakes, stuff like that), but now, I feel good simply taking two slices of bread with jam or peanut butter on them. I tend to eat better actually just to make sure my breakfast is full enough, so I'll add some fruits (banana, apples...) You just need to make sure that a portion of your meal is solid food, not only liquid calories like Ensure, or milk. If you like cheese, bagels, etc. you'll be fine !
I also went on a trip to a 3hours difference time zone about 2 weeks after starting treatment. At first, I was worried about the timing difference, but I came here to read what people already answered to that specific topic, and I was reassured : a few hours difference, won't make a difference in the end. The important part is to adhere to your med and to take it everyday, tho if you miss it once, it will still work well.
Next week, I'm getting blood test to check how the med is working for me. I always had around 750 to 1000 CD4 and a VL between 5,000 and 20,000, so I hope it will be fast to get undetectable. I'm confident that starting meds was the right decision, as it's easier to get good results while your numbers are still good.
Hope this helped you a bit. I tend to go in all directions and lose track of what I talk about, so don't hesitate to ask me anything if you need to. Also, sorry for the bad English and mistakes! ^^"
Don't worry, it will go well for you. :)
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Hey thanks for the info. I just took my first pill around 10:10pm EST. We pray first before I take it. I eat food later ago 7:pm EST. Then around 10:10pm EST I took my first pill of Complera.
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Will,
I'd love to touch base with you in a bit. I was diagnosed in 2009 and still am not in a place number wise to need meds, but my dr said she's really changing her mind on not starting meds just because you're a long term slow progresser and after her latest hiv conference, we both decided its probably time.
Complera hands down seems to have the lowest side effects and just complaints in general, other than the 400 calorie meal.
Tonight was my first pill and I'm not sure what I was expecting, like music or fireworks, but nothing happened, so I did the dishes. :P I'm still not having nausea or anything really and it's been five hours.
Best to you my friend and I'll be curious to see if you experience anything.
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Been on Complera for awhile and its been pretty side effect free.
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Hey thanks for the info. I just took my first pill around 10:10pm EST. We pray first before I take it. I eat food later ago 7:pm EST. Then around 10:10pm EST I took my first pill of Complera.
Hi Will,
Good for you for starting meds. You'll see, it's obviously worth it. If anything happens, advise your doctor so that you can make your treatment go better if any side effects were to occur.
The only thing, and someone with more experience should correct me if I'm wrong, is that I think you would have to take Complera with your meal or very close to it. My doctor told me 30 minutes after the meal would be the longest I should wait, because you need to take Complera while you're digesting. I believe it would be important you take the pills during or soon after your meals the next times you take your Complera. :)
I usually take it while eating my breakfast, before I'm done eating everything (while coffee is getting ready, I simply go get my daily pill, and I keep it in my place to not forget it hehe). Sometimes I'll also eat it few minutes after my last bites; that way, I don't have to think about it for the rest of the day. :)
Let us know how it goes!