How long does it take for side effects to show up?

[Jeff1959]

I just started on meds, and was wondering how long it takes for any side effects, if there are going to be any, to show up.  I am currently on Truvada and Sustiva, along with Septra.

[Tucsonwoody]

Hey Jeff -

I am no expert so can only tell you what I have learned on the few months since my diagnosis and starting on Atripla.  For myself, I havn't really had much impact from side effects since starting at the end of November.  I read up on the possible side effects on different websites including this one and was ready to have everything from rash all over to throwing up and running to the john all day, so for me the mental expectations for something that never happened was the worst part so far.

My doctor had also gone over the possible side effects pretty throughly, but also said that most of them would last for only a short time if I got them at all.

But I have read alot here in the forums of people who have them from day one to people who seem to get some years into their treatment to people who never have any, so it seems to vary from person to person for all kinds of reasons.

Best thing to do is be aware of what to look for and know what is a major side effect that requires attention and other side effects that you can just deal with.

Hope that helps a little and that you have few side effects and great results from the meds, which makes it worthwhile.

Kevin

[ademas]

I'm sure there's no set time frame.
As Tucson said, some people here have gone for years without any major side effects.
I was on my first combo (Crixivan, AZT, 3TC) for over 5 years before any major side effects (not counting diarrhea...)
After a few years, I was convinced that not only were the meds working for me, but that I would always tolerate them well without many side effects. 
It didn't end up that way for me, but hey...I'm just one person.

[Jeff1959]

Thanks for the input.   Like I said, I'm just starting.  Last night I did start to feel a little itchy after taking them, but I think I'll just pick up some Benedryl for that.  I don't itch today, so I guess it's just a temporary reaction after taking it.   My Doc said if I do well on the Truvada and Sustiva, he would switch me to the Atripla, and once I get to undetectable, he would stop the Septra.   That will be fine with me....I already take too many pills everyday.  I'm also on Vicodin and Neurontin for nerve pain from disk problems at L5 S1 and L4 L5, but that's another story.

[budndallastx]

My doctor did the same thing on the Sustiva / Truvada combo.  I initially had itchy skin but a benedryl (half dose) kept it in check for me.  I also have heard taking an bath in Aveeno can help with the itching.  It passed within a week and never was too bothersome. 

[Morton Salt]

Hey Jeff.

Ive been on meds a few months now.  Truvada, lexiva and norvir is what i take.  I was asking that same question to my doctor and she said this, " DONT SIT AND WAIT FOR THE SIDE EFFECTS, GO ON AND LIVE YOUR LIFE".  So my advice is, dont look out for it.  Dont create catastrophy's that might never happen.   Good luck to ya mate.

~Morton

[Morton Salt]

Oh, and i forgot to mention. I have no side effects.   They never happened.

~Morton

[thunter34]

It also depends on what you mean by 'side effect'.  Do you mean nausea, diarrhea and such...or more severe things like lipodystrophy and kidney problems?  There is commonly nausea and the like a few days after one begins taking the meds that can last for days to weeks or more.  Some lucky joes never have the first problem.  Any of the problems- from simple to complex- vary from person to person and regimen to regimen.

[Miss Philicia]

yah... I've been on almost all the available meds at one time or another.  Some I've had side effects from, some not.  Some have been kind of major, some minor.  Generally stuff like nausea and headaches can happen in the first few weeks and then as your body adjusts to the medication will gradually diminish and you're over the hump.  To be honest I've been lucky and never had much nausea from stuff, but headaches yes.  Aspirin works so it's not that big of a deal.  Only one time did I have to stop something and that was Ziagen... whatever side effect for that one that makes you have to halt taking it and never take it again.  I think that's the only medication like that... was it a rash?  It was about 7 years ago so I don't recall it that well.

Then I had a bad sulfur based reaction to bactrim a decade ago or so.  I was on it for a good year or more before my body started to have a reaction, so this caused my doctor and I to take a while to identify it.  I started having frequent low-grade fevers.  Enough to be miserable, not enough to miss work though I might have missed a day.  Anyway, by that time my cd4's were up high enough to quit it so in the end it wasn't a big deal.

Then there's the long term effects.  PI's have always give me LOTS of the trots.  LOTS, and I didn't complain about them enough because, well, everyone knows to expect them but evidently once I complained enough they said mine were more than others were having.  I've popped copious amounts of immodium (prescribed loperamide) for around 8 years.

Anyway, bottom line is it all varies and the more you fixate on expecting them the more you will trick yourself into thinking a paper cut is a side effect of your HIV medication.

[J.R.E.]

Hello Jeff ,

Can't really give you more information, then what has already been given to you. Everyone is going to react differently. Some have problems, with the meds, others can get by relatively easy on the meds.

Some people will have diarrhea, I have never had those problems with the meds that I am on.

I am sure your doctor will be monitoring you through blood test, to make sure everything is ok. Hopefully you will get through this starting phase with very little problem. I believe ( from what I understand, side effect can begin within the first two weeks, and take up to 6 weeks. If you drink, alcohol, you should probably avoid it for a while.

Make sure to drink plenty of water. You should have at least 8 full glasses of water a day. It is very important, to drink enough water, just don't overdo it !!


Let us know how you are doing-----------Ray

[mathewscity]

I started meds (Atripla) on the first of this month (February).  Today is the last day of the month, and as far as side affects, the only thing that I can see a difference of is that I am STARVING when I wake up in the morning.  That started probably on the 2ND or 3rd night I took them.  They say to take it before bedtime, but I never have had a specific bedtime in the past 20 years.  So if I am awake when the meds start kicking in, I feel the same way when I am stoned!!  I just sit there sometimes and watch T.V. and either fall asleep or just wait till it wears off.    Nothing yet as far as those other side affects that we've both heard about.  Hopefully it'll stay that way.  So good luck.....