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Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: terrysenc on February 07, 2010, 01:41:20 am

Title: Reyetaz, Norvir, Truvada
Post by: terrysenc on February 07, 2010, 01:41:20 am
I have been on Reyetaz, Norvir, and Truvada Since May 09.  So far I have had virtually no side effects, other than a little weight gain.  My T cells are up to 335 they were 131 when I started & my vl is down from 544,000 to 141.  My doc is concerned because I am still not undetectable but he wants to keep me on this combo.  Has anyone else on this combo had trouble getting to undetectable & what kind of side effects have you experienced??
Title: Re: Reyetaz, Norvir, Truvada
Post by: Matty the Damned on February 07, 2010, 01:44:19 am
Yus. One would expect that your VL would have hit undetectable by now and your doctor is right to review the situation, even though your VL is quite low. Have you been totally or almost totally compliant?

The increase in your CD4 count is good. Do you know your CD4 percentages as well as the absolute numbers you've quoted?

That said, the measure of HIV treatments is not the CD4 count, it's the VL and that's where the focus needs to be.

MtD
Title: Re: Reyetaz, Norvir, Truvada
Post by: BlueMoon on February 07, 2010, 08:23:05 am
That was my original regimen and it took seventeen months to get to undetectable, and that is with the addition of Isentress after thirteen months.  For a year, my results were all between 51 and 66, and my two most recent were undetectable.  The only side effect so far is occasional yellowing of the skin and eyes.

It's hard to decide what to do in a case like this.  You don't want to change a tolerable regimen if you can avoid it.  I'd say give it a year, as long as the virus doesn't begin to rebound.
Title: Re: Reyetaz, Norvir, Truvada
Post by: Inchlingblue on February 07, 2010, 10:23:30 am
As long as the viral load continues to go down (as BlueMoon says, no rebound), you're actually almost there at this point.

Two indications that the combo would still be working would be if you had resistance tests done before starting that indicated these drugs would work for you and if you have been adherent, preferably 100% so.

I know someone on a very similar combo (Reyataz/Norvir/Epzicom) who started with a viral load in the same ballpark as yours and it took them about 9 or 10 months to reach undetectable and they've remained so ever since. They are not experiencing side effects to speak of, not even the famed Reyataz yellowing.

At this point it makes sense, as your Dr. recommended, to continue a bit longer and see what's going on. When are you next scheduled to have blood drawn?
Title: Re: Reyetaz, Norvir, Truvada
Post by: terrysenc on February 07, 2010, 11:05:09 am
My next blood work will be done in May.  I have been 100% compliance I take all three drugs with dinner between 530 & 730.  I haven't missed a dose yet.  Hopefully next time it will be undetectable without having to add anything.  I fortunately haven't had trouble with the yellowing that reyetaz causes.  Thanks for all the replies:)
Title: Re: Reyetaz, Norvir, Truvada
Post by: Okealyshire on February 09, 2010, 03:23:34 am
My viral load was over 1,000,000 when I started this combo in November 1997; took nine months to reach undetectable. I've remained undetectable since then, and I've switched to Epzicom + Reyataz (no Norvir) mostly to reduce my copays and because the combo appears to be working well for many other folks.