Starting Meds (Complera) - advice?

[Live040314]

Hello All,

I have received my first prescription for complera. I have concerns about how I am going to make this a scheduled thing every day. Does anyone have any insight about what time of day to take meds, what kind of food I'll need to take and a realistic approach to this medication. Being able to take it at the exact same time every day is going to be hard with my work and life schedule. Also my personal diet and eating habits aren't great. I don't know that I've eaten regularly in my entire life. Ideas?

[BKKKevin]

I will also begin Complera next Thursday.. And I have an additional question of when in relation to the 400 calorie meal can the medication be taken? 1 hour before or 1 hour after meal possible?...

Also to Live040314 I noticed that in another post you talked about your med costs and that after insurance you would be paying $900/month.. Note that the makers of Complera have a copay card that can get you a $400 a month copay assistance just by signing up at there website...

[buginme2]

I've been on Complera for awhile.

1.  Who told you that you have  to take it at the exact save time every day?  You take it once per day.
2.  My experience has been that it's easiest to buy a pill holder for your keychain, and when your  eating a meal (lunch or dinner) take your pill.   

Some days I take it with lunch, some days I take it with dinner.  Depends

[Live040314]

That's very good to know. Somehow myself and my partner came out of our appointment with the doctor thinking it had to be the same time every day with a meal of 500 calories or more. I started today with lunch and he started last night with dinner.

On a side note, would it be too much to ask at this point for a solid bowel movement. I literally think it's been weeks now and it seems as though immediately after eating anything it's straight to the restroom. The stomach cramps are crazy. Hopefully the medication helps a bit.

[harleymc]

I time mine for the same meal each day, (meal time might vary by a few hours).

I used to do dinner time when I was in a domestic relationship, but now that I'm single and my dinner times are less regular it is breakfast for me.
Week days 7.00 am weekends about 9.30 am. My Virus doesn't wear a watch.

Do have it with or  just after the meal, not an hour beforehand. The food helps it absorb properly, if you have it on an empty stomach then you're not getting the full goodness.

[absopozilutely]

It's one of the easier drugs as long as you take it at some point during a day with 400 calories or more, including fat, then you're fine, read on the complera website and it gives you meal suggestions. I've had no side effects, and as you can see in my signature it works pretty damn good. You can PM me if you have questions, sorry you were diagnosed, life keeps on moving make sure you do too. I'll even give you my cell number If you need someone to talk to.

[absopozilutely]

Oh yeah, I forgot, you can take it pretty much anytime throughout the day, but, make sure there's at least 12 hours between doses, and try not to go am pm am pm just try and be consistent within a few hours, the half lives (how long the drug is in your body) is reaaaalllllly long with these meds, so have no fear.

[le_liseur]

I've been told by the nurse at my HIV clinic that meals of 350 calories are fine too, as long as it's solid and contains some fat, to better absorb the molecules. A shake or Ensure wouldn't work well with Complera, but two slices of bread with peanut butter is more than what you need.

Also, the idea of taking it at the same meal (more than at the same specific time) is to help you keep a routine and be adherent. You can fluctuate by a some hours some days because of your schedule, and it's okay. Same thing if you were going on a trip with a different time zone, you should just continue to take your pill for the same meal than you usually go for.

You need to take the pill while eating or soon after finishing eating (doctor said to not wait more than 30 minutes, to be safe), because the molecules are absorbed during digestion.

You will probably have an easy time with the pill, with probably no side effects or very light ones if any, on the first day (little dizziness that will go away very fast).

Let us know how it goes.

[Ann]

On a side note, would it be too much to ask at this point for a solid bowel movement. I literally think it's been weeks now and it seems as though immediately after eating anything it's straight to the restroom. The stomach cramps are crazy. Hopefully the medication helps a bit.

You need to get that checked out by your doctor. It could be anything from a bacterial or parasitical infection, to IBS, to newly-diagnosed-hiv-jitters.

Your first step would be to submit a stool sample. Not pleasant, but it has to be done.

If that checks out ok, then you need to start looking at your diet, probably starting with an elimination diet. This is how you'll find out if you're lactose or gluten intolerant, for example.

I've had the same thing for years and I've gone through the process I described above and it took about two years to finally get a diagnosis of hiv-related diarrhea. It's what they call a diagnosis of elimination, meaning they rule out all of the usual suspects first before settling on it being hiv-related.

Chronic hiv-related diarrhea isn't all that common, so don't immediately jump to any conclusions. It's much more likely to be a bacteria, parasite or dietary problem.

If it is hiv-related, the meds probably won't make much difference. They didn't for me and according to my doctor, they rarely do.

You really need to discuss this issue with your doctor. Pronto.

[Live040314]

Thanks Ann,

You are a wealth of knowledge and information it's all greatly appreciated. Regarding the unpleasant diarrhea, I've been relatively normal for two days now. I'm thinking maybe it was just the stress of the new diagnosis. I will be talking to my doc about it still at my next appt. although I did mention it at my last and there wasn't much concern given to it. I feel like the doc is being very cautious about jumping on anything right now until my mind and body are stable from the stress of the diagnosis.

I'll keep you updated but so far so good.

[Hellraiser]

I'm on complera.  I have zero side effects although I began this medication after being on Atripla for 3 years so I had a tolerance to the Truvada I imagine.  As for taking the medication at the same exact time every day that would be the Doctor erring on the side of caution.  When you take the medicine every day at the same time it helps to develop a routine so you are less likely to skip.  DO NOT MISS THE MEAL, or you will be in a world of hurt.  I read that while the meal helps with absorption of the drug it is mostly to stop the digestive issues associated with taking the drug.  You will cramp up very badly if you take it on an empty stomach.  If you have any more specific questions feel free to Private Message me.

[Jmarksto]

Hey Live; 

I am also on Complera, and agree with the other posts. In terms of getting the calories - I eat a handful of almonds to supplement a  small snack if I need to.  Almonds have 160 calories for 1/4 cup, and are 22% fat!  I do try to take my pill with lunch every day, but that can swing two or three hours either way at times.

Best,JM

Edited to add:  The packet insert also indicates that you should stay away from grapefruit juice. I stopped eating grapefruits, which I miss....

[Ann]

Regarding the unpleasant diarrhea, I've been relatively normal for two days now. I'm thinking maybe it was just the stress of the new diagnosis. I will be talking to my doc about it still at my next appt.

Yes, it's quite possible that it was just stress. If it keeps flaring up, you'd be wise to rule out a bacterial or parasitical infection first before investigating further. It's the most likely culprit in cases like these, when it isn't simple stress. Good to hear you'll be bringing it up with your doctor.