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Author Topic: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?  (Read 9041 times)

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Offline Pricho01

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Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« on: September 05, 2012, 12:18:48 am »
So long story short Atripla made me pretty suicidal, psych and specialist both advised I stop taking it which I did....and good advice from peeps on this forum so.....

They want to start me on a new pill/s...hopefully without the suicidal ideation! I'm seeing the specialist tomorrow arvo....

Can anyone advise of a good regimen who had similar issues?

Many thx Phil
Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist, While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it! Sincerely, The Opportunist

Offline mecch

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2012, 01:09:23 am »
Its great that you got the docs to respond. I had those issues. Really, anything the experts recommend as a replacement to sustiva is going to solve the problem.  Feel confident in your next combo.
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline Ann

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2012, 07:35:37 am »
Hey Phil, I'm sooo glad to hear that you stopped the Atripla. The Sustiva (aka Stocrin, aka efavirenz) component isn't for everyone.

There are quite a few different meds you can change to and you can keep two of the meds you were already taking in the Atripla -  tenofovir (aka Viread) and emtricitabine (aka Emtriva or FTC). They're usually prescribed in a one-pill combo called Truvada.

If you want a once a day combo (but not a one-pill combo) you can switch to something like Norvir (aka ritonavir) boosted Reyataz (aka atazanavir) or Norvir boosted Prezista (aka darunavir). I'm on the latter and aside from some diarrhea in the first few weeks, it's been side-effect free for me.

You might want to read more about combos and treatment in general in the Lessons - check out the The Big Treatment Questions in particular.

You can also read more about the available meds in the meds pages. Keep in mind that you need to switch the Sustiva out for a med from a different class to the meds in Truvada. Effective treatment needs to include at least three different meds from at least two different classes.

Hope this helps - and I hope you're feeling better soon. Suicidal ideation sucks!
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline Pricho01

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2012, 08:07:17 am »
Hey Phil, I'm sooo glad to hear that you stopped the Atripla. The Sustiva (aka Stocrin, aka efavirenz) component isn't for everyone.

There are quite a few different meds you can change to and you can keep two of the meds you were already taking in the Atripla -  tenofovir (aka Viread) and emtricitabine (aka Emtriva or FTC). They're usually prescribed in a one-pill combo called Truvada.

If you want a once a day combo (but not a one-pill combo) you can switch to something like Norvir (aka ritonavir) boosted Reyataz (aka atazanavir) or Norvir boosted Prezista (aka darunavir). I'm on the latter and aside from some diarrhea in the first few weeks, it's been side-effect free for me.

You might want to read more about combos and treatment in general in the Lessons - check out the The Big Treatment Questions in particular.

You can also read more about the available meds in the meds pages. Keep in mind that you need to switch the Sustiva out for a med from a different class to the meds in Truvada. Effective treatment needs to include at least three different meds from at least two different classes.

Hope this helps - and I hope you're feeling better soon. Suicidal ideation sucks!

Thanks Ann... this is really useful and helpful - I'll print this out (without any personal info) and take with me tomorrow.... and yes! Suicidal Ideation sux the big one! "shivers"
Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist, While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it! Sincerely, The Opportunist

Offline Ann

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2012, 08:27:03 am »

You're welcome. Make sure you also do some reading in the links I gave you.

and yes! Suicidal Ideation sux the big one! "shivers"

Suicidal ideation is the worst. It happened to me when I was taking the smoking cessation drug Champix (aka Chantix). I woke up one morning and I couldn't stop thinking about effective, easy ways to kill myself. I wasn't even depressed but all I could think about was how to do myself in. One part of my brain was saying "WTF???" while another part was weighing up if I had enough pills in the house to down with some whiskey to end it all. Bizarre and scary!

I then found out that Champix causes suicidal ideation in some people and I was relieved. (It wasn't listed on the package insert at the time, although it is now. I found out via Google.) I quit taking it and the thoughts disappeared within a day or two.

I still smoke, but at least I'm still here. ;D
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline Pricho01

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2012, 07:04:18 pm »
You're welcome. Make sure you also do some reading in the links I gave you.

Suicidal ideation is the worst. It happened to me when I was taking the smoking cessation drug Champix (aka Chantix). I woke up one morning and I couldn't stop thinking about effective, easy ways to kill myself. I wasn't even depressed but all I could think about was how to do myself in. One part of my brain was saying "WTF???" while another part was weighing up if I had enough pills in the house to down with some whiskey to end it all. Bizarre and scary!

I still smoke, but at least I'm still here. ;D

I know I was totally like OK here's a tasty knife and I'm sure that it would get to my heart - it seems long enough.... yuk! Bizarre and scary for sure... I will do some reading and again thanks for the info! Phil
Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist, While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it! Sincerely, The Opportunist

Offline Rockin

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2012, 12:25:19 am »
I know I was totally like OK here's a tasty knife and I'm sure that it would get to my heart - it seems long enough.... yuk! Bizarre and scary for sure... I will do some reading and again thanks for the info! Phil

Hey Prich, I took the Reyataz+Truvada combo for one year and never felt anything like that at all. Ask your doctor about it.

Offline jackfrost

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2012, 01:08:23 am »
Hey Prich,

I am glad you are getting off the Atripla, suicidal idealization is a scary thing to experience. I had the same thing happen to me, one part of me said take this knife and stab myself and the other said no what are you doing, you want to live. I went to Emergency and they sent me home with a sleeping pill. Thanks to Ann and others on this forum, I went to my HIV doc and told him I wanted off Atripla immediately. I am so glad I did. Not only did the suicidal thoughts stop, I also stopped having vivid dreams, my dreams were so vivid I felt like I didn't sleep. I also noticed my memory was crap while I was on Atripla. I am now on Truvada, Reyataz and Norvir and aside from some diarrhea issues (which is getting better) the combo has been great.

Offline Pricho01

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2012, 04:53:28 am »
Hey Prich,

I am glad you are getting off the Atripla, suicidal idealization is a scary thing to experience. I had the same thing happen to me, one part of me said take this knife and stab myself and the other said no what are you doing, you want to live. I went to Emergency and they sent me home with a sleeping pill. Thanks to Ann and others on this forum, I went to my HIV doc and told him I wanted off Atripla immediately. I am so glad I did. Not only did the suicidal thoughts stop, I also stopped having vivid dreams, my dreams were so vivid I felt like I didn't sleep. I also noticed my memory was crap while I was on Atripla. I am now on Truvada, Reyataz and Norvir and aside from some diarrhea issues (which is getting better) the combo has been great.

Jackfrost! Yes it is a scary thing... speshially when you already have depression etc... specialist told me she will wait 6 weeks b4 we start a new treatment option which I think is a bit long (?) but I'll just go with it....

Thanks to Ann and everyone else for comments.... Phil :)
Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist, While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it! Sincerely, The Opportunist

Offline alberche

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2012, 05:57:01 pm »
Hi Pricho, I hope you are feeling better now after this time. I am taking Intellence (Etravirine), it is a same drug type than Efavirenz/Sustiva, kinda new one, sorted a couple of years ago, and it is much milder than Sustiva as per regards of side effects. The only noticeable thing is that it may cause some fatigue episodes, as per my own experience, but nothing of all that scary dreams and mood changes associated to Sustiva.

Maybe trying this one could be an alternative letting you keep Protease Inhibitors as a future option, just in case a more potent treatment is needed with the passing of time.

Take care :-)
love is blindness...  a wonderful song!

Offline joemutt

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Re: Atripla out..... suggestions for replacement - mental health?
« Reply #10 on: November 11, 2012, 03:09:45 am »
I take Viramune instead of Stocrin, together with Truvada (generic) once a day
at night, I have been on this for a few years with good results. (I have been on meds for 15 yers, cd4 around 1100). The side effects of Viramune which lead to having to stop that med happen in the first weeks of treatment and need monitoring, most people incl. me don't have htese and continue the med. Be Well.

 


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