New combo starting next week will be Prezista,Ritonavir,Isentress ....

[maddeuwch]

2 Prezista,1 Ritonavir and 1 Isentress tablets in the morning,and an extra Isentress at night...

anyone any advice?

cheers

[Miss Philicia]

Sure, I take all of those -- any advice in what respect? I've had no side effects from them so not much more to say.

[maddeuwch]

Sure, I take all of those -- any advice in what respect? I've had no side effects from them so not much more to say.

just general side effects that i might have that others have experienced and how they're doing on it.

[Miss Philicia]

I've been on Prezista now for five years, Isentress for four -- went on each the first month they were FDA approved and/or was in the clinical trial. I've probably been on 75% of the HIV meds currently available (due to long standing resistance issues) and I would easily say that these two medications have been the easiest for me in terms of side effects, and I have had amazing lab numbers on them.

[newt]

As it's one drug short of a full combo, personally I'd be wary of it's durability and therefore hot on adherence and want a good clinical reason for the choice. The rule of thumb for combos is 3 active drugs from at least 2 classes. This is 2 drugs from 2 classes (ritonavir doesn't count as active). Clearly, and rarely, commonly used nukes eg 3TC, FTC, and less rarely, tenofovir, can promote anaemia but there is still scope for a 3 drug combo.

This said, if your adherence on the Isentress is very good it has a very high chance of being sufficient. Indeed, boosted Prezista on it's own probably qualifies in this respect 8/10 times if your viral load is under 50 when you start the combo.

If when on the new combo your viral load rises slightly ask about adding 3TC. This is very rarely related to anaemia, but generally kind and the extra strength it adds to a combo probably enough to make the difference between eg viral load of 75 and viral load of 40.

If the new combo works, and the odds are in more in favour than against, you are blessed, for it is less drugs and this is always good (I might even be a little bit jealous  .

I'd be wanting a viral load test at 1 month after new drugs, and then at 3 months if all is well.

Good luck.

- matt

[Matts]

I am on a comparable combo ( Prezista 600mg, celsentri 150 mg, norvir 100 mg once daily), because atripla was no option because of psychic problems. I take it for three years and its working. It can last longer to get undetectable ( nearly one year for me), than on atripla.

I wish You good luck with Your combo; at least you take less meds than most of the Positives.

[james3000]

Newt is correct I take 3tc isentress intellence prezista and Norvir  I had problems getting down to UD but it is working now. Adding 3tc makes sense.