Author Topic: switching to Complera? checking side effects (Read 16907 times)

wylidas · « **on:** April 20, 2012, 03:29:06 pm »

I know there are quite a few Complera fora on here, but none of them I looked through seem to address my questions.

I have been successfully taking Epzicom/Reyatax/Norvir for 5 years, and my VL is UD and CD4 bouncing between 300-500 with 25%+ as my normal results.

But I have noticed that my anxiety and BP are high when I take this combination after all this time, and my doctor said it could be the Reyataz and NOrvir component causing it. I tried Atripla years ago when I first sero-converted, and I could NOT take the dreams and stoned feeling.

Now my doc tells me about COmplera, and I am reading mixed things about potential side effects. Is anyone currently taking it that can tell me if anxiety or insomnia/bad dreams are part of the Complera experience?

I can handle almost any other side effect except things that mess with my sleep or my head. And Epzicom/Reyataz/Norvir were great in that department. Sort of nervous about switching, but if this could have a better profile for me, I would consider it. Waiting to pick up prescription of Complera now.....

wylidas · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2012, 12:23:40 pm »

So nobody on these boards takes Complera? I find that hard to believe. $:-\$

Ann · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:37:30 am »

Wylidas, the weekends can be a bit quiet here, so don't take the lack of replies personally.

I'm sure others will soon chime in, but in the meantime you can find other posts about Complera by using the site's search engine.

Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you.

wylidas · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2012, 09:17:19 am »

Thank you, Ann. I actually did use the search function but couldn't find anything on Complera and the bad dreams. I am not sure if I want to start it or not. I am waiting to hear back from others.

Thanks for the explanation on why its so quiet. Makes sense as I am sure people are out enjoying their time off work.

Ann · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2012, 09:35:55 am »

Quote from: wylidas on April 22, 2012, 09:17:19 am

Makes sense as I am sure people are out enjoying their time off work.

Particularly this time of year when the weather is getting nicer.

Keep in mind that if you don't find people talking much about a particular side-effect from a particular drug, it's most likely because it doesn't happen very often.

As long as you still have doses of the combo you're currently on, waiting for a bit won't hurt. I hope you get things sorted out soon.

wylidas · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2012, 11:45:11 am »

I did have my old combo, but I felt like I should take this new one and give it a fighting chance. Sometimes I feel like my fear of the new drugs and potential side effects is worse than the actual reality.

So, I went ahead and took my first pill this morning with a big breakfast. Here's hoping for minimal side effects! Fingers crossed.

steve halliday · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2012, 12:21:11 pm »

good luck wylidas, i switching to complara in a few week when i see my consultant, i was drug free for 8mths and i thort i was doing good but no, everything shot through the roof in the last few week of being drug free, and i heard about complera a few mths ago, and for me it would be good cos i find it hard to take 3pills, i had Atripla @ first but yep, bad dreams and very depressed, but i hear complera has the same effect, so i gona follow your jurney for a bit and see, if them nightmairs come into it well i not going for it i will stay as i am for now, & try harder to regiment myslf, sh

MoMorrison · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2012, 03:49:11 pm »

Wylidas - I have been on complera for 19 days today. The only thing that I can say as far as side effects go is/was very mild nausea that started at about day three but has subsided. I'm not too sure when it did, but I know that I don't have it anymore. The other thing is that I developed a very mild rash on my chest and on my arms. It was very faint however and it looked like nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, if I would not point it out to anyone they probably would not even notice it. That has gone away as well. Complera has been known to cause new or worsening anxiety. I suffer from mild to moderate anxiety and have for about 9 months now. I am on ativan for that though. I know that everyone is different and for me those were the only side effects that I have had from Complera. Good luck and best wishes.

wylidas · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2012, 10:00:48 pm »

THanks for the responses. I took my first pill this morning, and the only thing I have noticed so far is a strange tightness in my chest, and some pain in my upper back like a tension feeling. It probably has more to do with anxiety than the drug.

I definitely did not get that high feeling like when I first took Atripla years ago, so that's one huge plus for Complera already. I feel like myself.

Now I am going to see how the sleep is tonight and continue forward and see what the coming days bring. I have also heard about the increased anxiety from a few other posts where they said it developed into anger in some instances, but those same posts took the drug for months and all of them said that those things went away after about 4-6 weeks.

So, I think I am really going to try and tough it out and see how I respond. One thing I cannot deal with is anything anxiety related that's too rough, as I came off Ativan 7 months ago and I have been through hell and I will never go back on anything like it.

SO I guess if I do develop extreme depression or anxiety (the kind that is chemical and even natural activities doesn't cure) then I will be switching back to my old regimen as at least it did not have those effects on me.

I will keep you all posted if you want to follow my progress.

HnyMustard · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2012, 10:51:29 pm »

Wylidas-- please keep us posted on your experience. I've been going through strange anxiety and depression, and I think switching from Atripla may help. I am very interested myself in hearing the experience of others in this switch.

Thanks!

wylidas · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2012, 11:04:39 pm »

Sure thing, HnyMustard. I am on another website dealing with benzo withdrawal issues, so I will pull double duty. I really love being able to help anyone I can with my experience.

wylidas · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2012, 09:58:38 am »

Just wanted to post to let others know how my first night went on Complera. I am happy to report that I slept pretty well, with very little disturbance. I had no bad dreams that I can recall, so looks like the reports are true about it being way better than Atripla on that front. If anything I slept a little too hard and feel groggy this morning trying to wake up and get ready for work. Luckily I have an intermittent medical leave where I can go in late to work while I am adjusting to this new regimen.

I have not had any GI symptoms so far, and the slightly 'out of it' feeling I have seems tolerable and manageable so far.

Will keep going and report how the coming days go.

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2012, 07:02:22 am »

Hi Wylidas,
I switched from Atripla to Complera in March and had a rash as a first side effect, Ive also had the nausea and a bloated feeling. I am more tired now than I was before and I have had Pneumonia since I started it....I dont think its working well for me, I am back at the hospital next month to see what my numbers are like. In February my numbers were VL:UD and CD4: 762.
I hope you are not having any bad side effects.
Good Luck,
Rob

wylidas · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2012, 09:56:15 am »

Azrael - I am so sorry to hear you're having issues like pneumonia.

I am on Day 3 now and I do have some of the burps and farts I hear about, but nothing too bloating. I think it may also have to do with how healthy my diet is and I drink a LOT of water. No rash yet. Slept GREAT last night. No bad dreams, I feel like I have great energy this morning, and I am so happy with this switch so far.

I am having some slight lower back pain, and I am wondering if it has to do with the fact that this is processed by the kidneys. I guess we will see what my kidney results say with the first labs, but it's not like I an acute pain, more like a slight dull throbbing in my lower back, so I am not overly worried at this point.

No other bad effects to speak of. I will keep reporting! Azrael, take good care of yourself. I am hoping that the pneumonia could just be coincidence and you will be ok. But keep us posted.

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2012, 02:07:54 pm »

Hey there!
Thanks for the good wishes, I too am drinking loads of water to help flush this out, its interesting you have lower back pain, I too have that. Feels like Ive been kicked in my lower back. I will keep an eye on it and see how it pans out. Good thing is I too am sleeping better, its amazing what a good nights sleep can do for the body, and for the mental health.

If I switch back to Atripla il have to put up with not sleeping, I was lucky in that I didnt have any wacky dreams, then again, its hard when yer chronically awake!

Stay in touch, hope yer doing ok?
Rob

wylidas · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2012, 05:45:47 pm »

Yeah, sleep is so important to the body's restorative functions. I was not on Atripla and I always have slept fine, but it's funny because this medication seems to be allowing me to go into a pretty deep sleep and that is super important for my mental health. BTW, I was thinking that I read other posts where people switched from Atripla to Complera, and I would be willing to bet your fatigue is because the Atripla was amping you up and now that it['s out of your system, your body is just adjusting to some normalcy again. I bet it goes away.

I wonder what is up with the lower back pain for both of us? Interesting...
I am Rob too, Rob.

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2012, 09:35:11 pm »

Hey Rob! Nice to meet ya!

Yeah the fatigue was due to the Atripla keeping me awake. Even the sleeping pills I was prescribed didnt work so I stopped taking them. The Complera is good in that I do sleep now. Its amazing what a good nights sleep can do for your body.

Hmmn, the back pain thing is an odd one alright, maybe somebody out there will have an answer?
Rob

wylidas · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2012, 11:33:50 am »

It's strange because I am on Day 4 now, and I woke up SO tired I can barely move. I just want to lay in bed. I wonder if this is the fatigue you were talking about, and one of the side effects I have seen listed. Hmmm.... Hopefully it passes. It's still just Week 1, so I gotta give it more time.

Hope things are going well in Ireland, Rob!

justinslyriq · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2012, 11:56:37 am »

I'm happy to report that the first night was a success. No bad dreams and slept fine. I was a little nervous about taking some OTC sleep aids but it worked out. I did however feel like my chest was "bloated" but I assumed it was my nerves. Hopefully I continue to have low/moderate side effects.

wylidas · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:33:26 pm »

justinslyriq- I have the bloated chest feeling, with little sharp pains here and there, that I am assuming are gas related. I have anxiety normally too, so I am probably over thinking this.

My main things I notice so far: sleep like a rock (almost so deep it's crazy), I feel mild fatigue and nausea, some mild lower back pain, and the extreme gassiness. And I don't know if this is related or not, but I am horny as a teenager. LOL I guess that could be just my libido returning to normal since it's been suppressed for a while.

I will keep reporting.

wylidas · « **Reply #20 on:** April 26, 2012, 01:00:39 pm »

Well we're on Day 5 now, and I have to say every day gets harder to wake up and get going. I had a doctor's appointment this morning and I was so tired I could barely get it together enough to go. I read that fatigue is a side effect of Complera, and I am wondering if this is what they were talking about. I feel generally out of it and lethargic. Having trouble concentrating as well. Any others taking Complera care to chime in? Hoping this gets better.

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 26, 2012, 01:46:48 pm »

Hey Rob,
Sorry to hear yer feeling so exhausted, yeah Im the same at the moment. My head is all fuzzy and I honestly have to say Im sorry I switched over.

The only thing about the Atripla was not being able to sleep now I cant wake up! And I too feel bloated, or have no appetite.....I will be interested to see how its affected my VL and my CD4, but have to wait for 3wks to see how that goes.
Hope yer feeling better soon buddy.
Rob

wylidas · « **Reply #22 on:** April 26, 2012, 02:07:42 pm »

Thanks Azrael! It actually makes me feel better to know you're in the same boat, as it probably has to do with side effects from the med and it's not just me. That gives me hope that it should pass for us both.

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2012, 04:03:45 pm »

No probs! yeah id say what were both goin thru is med related. Bummer! LOL!

justinslyriq · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:43:03 pm »

Rob - Sorry that you're having fatigue with Complera. $:-\$ I'm on day 3 and I sleep fine and don't feel any more tired than I was before I started taking it. However I do have problems concentrating at work in the AM and have to force myself to become productive lol but that's hardly an issue. And my sex drive has stayed constant and hasn't gotten me any trouble.

Hope everything works out for you.

wylidas · « **Reply #25 on:** April 27, 2012, 11:42:24 am »

Day 6, and I just keep feeling worse. I was doing so well the first 3-4 days, and now I just feel anxious and irritable and 'off' for lack of a better way to put it. I still am sleeping like a rock, so maybe this will just pass. I feel like I am getting more and more depressed and feeling hopeless.

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 27, 2012, 12:24:51 pm »

Now Now! none of this hopeless talk mister! I can identify with the anxious irritability and sleeping like a rock....Id love to say it will pass, and I hope it will....soon!
You are not on yer own with this....even tho some of us are on the other side of the globe, support is here for ya man.
Rx

wylidas · « **Reply #27 on:** April 27, 2012, 09:37:54 pm »

Another update. I had to skip my dose today because I was in a state of total panic and anxiety and haven't eaten much all day because of it. I am concerned about my ability to handle the anxiety I am feeling, since I came off Ativan and am still in a compromised state from that.

Am wondering whether I should continue with Complera or go back to my old regimen....

HnyMustard · « **Reply #28 on:** April 27, 2012, 10:33:53 pm »

Hey wylidas--

I've been keeping an eye on this thread; I'm so sorry to hear that it's been a rough med switch.

I brought my anxiety issues up to my doc, along with depression problems, and she wrote me a prescription for Prozac. This was a few days ago, and I haven't had that anxious chest issue that's been going on. Every drug does something a little different for each person, have you tried any antidepressants?

Here's hoping to you feeling better

wylidas · « **Reply #29 on:** April 27, 2012, 10:42:42 pm »

hey there HnyMustard- I have contemplated going the SSRI route, but unfortunately with benzo addiction recovery it's not always the best route as it doesn't do anything for the root cause of the problem (which is the down regulation of GABA receptors in the brain and body)

Basically, in lamens terms it's a chemical thing that goes on with the body and brain needing to heal after being addicted to benzodiazepines, and SSRIs don't address those issues, so many times they end up causing more harm for a person in benzo recovery than good. A good rule of thumb for many suffering in benzo withdrawal and recovery is that if you weren't like this before benzos, then you won't be once your body heals, but you have to give the body time to heal. And before I took Ativan, I was definitely not the mess I am today, and I consistently took my meds without fail and was living a pretty great life. So sad it took this hell to realize what I had.

It's extremely frustrating when there is nothing medically that I can take to ease my suffering, and I am constantly reminded that the only thing that works is 'time.'
I think this med change to COmplera was me hoping that maybe a new HIV med would help make me feel better, but it seems to have only complicated things further. I guess I just need to go back to what I was on before and wait it out. Nothing else I can do really.

sanduneboi · « **Reply #30 on:** April 30, 2012, 04:30:40 pm »

It bums me out to see you are having such a terrible experience with Complera. I switched to Complera after having an allergic reaction to Atripla, and find that side affects are far less interfering with my life than those of the Atripla which mainly affected my cognitive abilities. Outside insomnia which I remedy with OTC Unisom and the loss of appetite which my waistline is appreciating the only other affect I can think of is the dreaming which after a month and two days of treatment have been STRANGE but never scary. I have never been much of a dreamer so I defiantly am enjoying these new nighttime adventures. Hopefully you are able to find something that works for you, be it Complera or some other combination.

gadawg1979 · « **Reply #31 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:47:08 am »

Been on Complera for almost two months now sleep is not an issue other than I still have horrible night sweats. I am constantly tired and yes there is a ton of gas and bloating... I also have found that I am easily to fly off the handle on this med. no rash yet.

Hellraiser · « **Reply #32 on:** May 06, 2012, 12:16:48 pm »

Started Complera on Friday, two doses later the only real side effect I'm noticing is the extremely mild nausea for the first few hours after I wake up.

drphotog · « **Reply #33 on:** July 19, 2012, 01:33:11 pm »

I'm also taking Complera. The only side effects is the cold sweats and yes I get vivid dreams, but I like my dreams.

My nervous system seems a bit out of wack though.

Lilita · « **Reply #34 on:** July 19, 2012, 11:39:44 pm »

Today is my 2nd day taking Complera no side effects yet. Thank God.

simpleguy · « **Reply #35 on:** July 20, 2012, 03:24:40 am »

Wylidas, give it some time - your body is adjusting and you should give it like 4-5 weeks before things settle down. I had a few headaches in the first weeks after the switch. One lasted for 3 days and aspirin did not help at all. But now, after 2 months, I'm doing fine - no physical side effects at all, although I have noticed that I'm feeling depressed more than before. It's hard to tell if that's just me, my job situation (it really sucks at the moment), the bad weather we've had for the last 3-4 weeks or just some kind of midlife crisis. Still - I wouldn't change Complera for anything else. Really! It's that great! Hang in there and don't panic!!

Edit: my sleep has gotten a lot better after the switch, and no weird or vivid dreams like those you typically get on Atripla.

flip408 · « **Reply #36 on:** July 25, 2012, 12:26:11 am »

Almost 18 months on complera, I had a mild headache at night the first 10 days, no problems whatsoever after that, improved my lipid panels also.

I switched from Epz Norvir Reyataz. I had no problems with that either. I hope you can stick with complera, less for you to stress about.

wylidas · « **Reply #37 on:** August 06, 2012, 03:08:38 pm »

Hey all. Thanks for all the wonderful and positive posts!

I wanted to update everyone on where I am at.
I discontinued the Complera shortly after my last reply on here. After talking to my HIV doc (who is so knowledgable and amazing) he suggested I take a drug holiday from everything in order to let my system heal a little. He put me on Bactrim to prevent any possible PCP or other infections, and I was off HIV meds for over 3 months.

I have since started Isentress + Truvada and am now on Day 2 of this combo. So far, I do feel some strangeness, but it's manageable.

I am determined to stick this combination out for at least the next 2 weeks no matter what. Then I have a followup and will see what my doc thinks. I have heard such good things about this combo that I really want this to be 'the one.'

Will keep others updated on I+T progress.
For those of you on Complera, hang in there! It probably does get much better.

Anyone else on I+T and having good experiences?

Ann · « **Reply #38 on:** August 07, 2012, 05:00:33 am »

Hey Rob, I wondered where you'd got to!

I'm not on that combo, but if it weren't for having to remember a second daily dose of Isentress, it's one that I may have chosen because I've mainly heard good things about it. I went with Prezista, Norvir and Truvada instead as it's once a day. I'm now on day 28 and I'm feeling good.

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Author Topic: switching to Complera? checking side effects (Read 16907 times)