Sustiva and Other Drug Combos

[Pavementlion]

The main question I am asking is, what are some suggested combos (I know there's no ultimate choice) and what are the pros and cons of the combo?  Share any personal experiences.
I've been on Sustiva Truvada for 4 months now and I don't think I can take it anymore.  I wake up every morning feeling like shit and I haven't slept for days, and I get anxious and depressed and antisocial and worried.  I'm not willing to have this beast run my life, so I'm thinking about changing, but am scared about the side effects of PI's.  I know that reyataz is the preferred PI, but aren't there a lot of stomach problems with that?  Also, I know that the positive about Sustiva is it hits the CNS and slows HIV progression in the brain, definitely a positive because HIV dementia is a very scary thing to me (since it is irreversible and i am only 20).  Anyone got any ideas for other drug combos?

[ARMANDO]

i too was on sustiva and couldn't handle it .my doc and changed my meds to norvir ,lexiva and truvada and its been great and i am undectectable a nd have remained so for 2 years

[J.R.E.]

Hello ,


I have never been on Sustiva, so I can't comment on the side effects of that drug. I am on the other Non-nuke ( Viramune). I have very little problem with the Viramune.

From the lessons : ( scroll down)


http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/WhenToStart_4759.shtml


Ray

[antibody]

i will be talking to my doctor this week about a switch from Atripla. i've been on it 9 months and can't handle it anymore. i'm going to talk to him about Viramune but worry my cd4 is too high 794. i was only hoping to switch out sustiva but i might see if Epizicom and Reyataz is an option but i refuse Norvir boosting anything. so i really don't know what he is going to recommend but i hate sustiva!

[Cseanr]

My regime consists of sustiva and epzicom.  I'm constantly anxious, depressed, on edge, ready to fight ... wake up feeling like I'm still dreaming...alot of it, from what I've read results from sustiva.  I plan on talking with my doctor about changing my regimen because the depression is way too extreme for me, and I've only been on these for 8 months.  Each month is worse and worse for me.

[risred1]

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/WhenToStart_4759.shtml

this chart really is the current front line guidelines. So there are excellent options other than sustiva, in the PI ranks.

Kaletra Based

and

reyataz based.

If I go on meds this year too would look at the unboosted reyataz option. reyataz + epzicom.

My doc is hopeful that the integrase options coming up will make it to front line and will be hopefully better and more tolerable than even the good stuff today.

[suzieque]

     Hi,
       Everybody is different, hard to say what will be the right thing for you, but as long as you are fairly stable healthwise I don't see any reason why you couldn't  change. I have changed many times, all successfully in regards to controlling the virus. I am now on a solely PI based combo, Reyataz, Saquinavir and Ritonavir booster ( interested why some of you are really against Ritonavir booster?). This is due to lipoatrophy from other combo's for me. I know all side effects are worrying, you almost have to take a try it and see approach, be diligent and if you experience lasting side effects don't be afraid to talk to your doc about it and ask for a change in meds ( if you are fortunate enough to be able to do so). Personally I have found PI's easy to tolerate, no stomach issues after the first week or so. Sustiva was a NIGHTMARE for me, and as I have mentioned in my other posts it is my docs last choice of med as he has seen so many people suffer with side effects. As for the HIV dementia, in 14 years I have only seen this occur in one person and this was due to him having resistance to many meds (from poor adherence) and complications from severe drug use.I don't worry about it at all, maybe others have different views/experiences. I know people who take no meds and have super low CD4's and no dementia.
            Best wishes to you,
                      Suzie

ps antibody...I am interested as to why you are on meds with such a high CD4 count, if you don't mind sharing this with me?

[risred1]

If I'm tyring to limit myself as much as i can from PI's that have Fat "issues" associated with them for a first
line treatment, which norvir is one of thoses. Reyataz needs to be boosted with certain ARV drugs because the action in the Liver lowers the concentration of the PI in the blood. So you can have a ine of Treatment with Reyataz that does not require another pill and another expense because of the nature of the combo.

Not the Epzicom is perfect, but if your Kidney's can tolerate it, which most people can, this becomes simplier drug regemine then say, Reyataz, Truvada, Norvir.

I am not against norvir, if you need it because of the combo, you need it.