POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: vanlefar on May 22, 2010, 10:40:24 pm
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I am hoping someone can help me figure this out. I began taking Truvada/Isentress a little over a month ago, and in the past few weeks have started having extreme gas/bloating, pain in the middle of my chest, and uncontrolled diarrhea. I have had to take the last week off work, because I started having a low grade fever, which would come and go.I went to see my primary physician, but she quickly dismissed the idea of the pills being the cause. She ran blood/stool tests which were both negative. The fever is finally gone, but last night the gas/pain/diarrhea became to much for me to take so I called my doctors office, and the Doctor on duty told me to stop the TRuvada/Isentress. I was a bit hesitant to do this, because my doctor said the stopping early in treatment could cause issues. I did stop taking the pills, and today am feeling much better. I would love to know if anyone else has has dealt with anything similar..or any insight into a treatment that would maybe be a better candidate. Thank you for any info you might have.
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...The Doctor on duty told me to stop the TRuvada/Isentress. I was a bit hesitant to do this, because my doctor said the stopping early in treatment could cause issues. I did stop taking the pills, and today am feeling much better. I would love to know if anyone else has has dealt with anything similar..or any insight into a treatment that would maybe be a better candidate. Thank you for any info you might have.
V:
Hi! I've been on your same Combo, Isentress + Truvada (17 months).
As much as I'm pleased to read posts from the newly-treated that state "no side effects" with Truvada + Isentress, I cannot say the same. Bloating, belching, and the runs have all been part of the story for me too. The first two lessened by a half after a few weeks. I have improved a bit beyond that due to vigorous walking and exercise plus oatmeal in the AM. The runs nearly disappeared, too.
Isentress + Truvada has nearly doubled my CD4s and brought me rapidly down to undetectable in about the first 2 months. This is a common experience.
Your runs might be due to any # of other causes, like an undiagnosed bacterial infection. I have been sick with these kinds of debilitating illnesses before and after starting this treatment. In my case, they were unrelated to my HIV meds.
I would speak to your OWN HIV specialist immediately, not simply go on the advice (not saying he's wrong or right) from MD On Duty. I really doubt discontinuing 1-2 meds would immediately cause your (welcome) improvement. Cause or coincidence? That's the question.
There are no med combos with no side effects for the majority. That's the truth. Side effects are not the only issue in choosing HIV meds (They're #3 on my list).
The runs are a total drag. Hope you keep feeling better!
Steven (aka megasept)
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While the viread in truvada can cause simple gas/bloating it's minimal and not something that effects your quality of life. What vanlefar is describing (I assume) is really, really bad, plus with the fever and general un-wellness could possibly be what's called lactic acidosis which can be caused, I think, from any NRTI class med though it's quite rare. I'm not a doctor so I can't say what that's what you have, but perhaps that's why the doctor had you discontinue the regimen. Google the term and you can read more on it.
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Thank you both for taking the time to help me get to the bottom *no pun intended* of this issue. I have an appointment with my M.D. tomorrow. I will post an update once I find out the underlying cause. Hope it's sooner rather than later.
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btw, I meant to say last night that I experienced something similar (if not the same) from Ziagen over a decade ago. I've been on a lot of HIV meds and it's only happened to me that one time, so don't get yourself anxious when it comes time to start your next set of meds, OK? :)
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I am hoping someone can help me figure this out. I began taking Truvada/Isentress a little over a month ago, and in the past few weeks have started having extreme gas/bloating, pain in the middle of my chest, and uncontrolled diarrhea. I have had to take the last week off work, because I started having a low grade fever, which would come and go.I went to see my primary physician, but she quickly dismissed the idea of the pills being the cause. She ran blood/stool tests which were both negative. The fever is finally gone, but last night the gas/pain/diarrhea became to much for me to take so I called my doctors office, and the Doctor on duty told me to stop the TRuvada/Isentress. I was a bit hesitant to do this, because my doctor said the stopping early in treatment could cause issues. I did stop taking the pills, and today am feeling much better. I would love to know if anyone else has has dealt with anything similar..or any insight into a treatment that would maybe be a better candidate. Thank you for any info you might have.
Now that I have been on I&T for a little over two months I have had a couple events concerning pain in the middle of my chest. I had an Echo & EKG and my heart is fine. My IDS said it was from gas caused by the Truvada. GasX and BeanO worked wonders for me.
Billy
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UPDATE! I have seen my primary doctor, and while off my TRU/ISEN medication my t-cells dropped from 325 to 183. I still have no clue what was causing the weight loss, but it did finally level off. I am now back on meds and will have my status checked in late July. Thank you all for your messages.
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UPDATE! I have seen my primary doctor, and while off my TRU/ISEN medication my t-cells dropped from 325 to 183. I still have no clue what was causing the weight loss, but it did finally level off. I am now back on meds and will have my status checked in late July. Thank you all for your messages.
If I may ask, what meds are you taking now?
Billy
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I am sorry for the delay in responding to your message. I am back on the same medications. Isentress/Truvada. The doctor also had me start taking Septra once daily ,since my t-cells are below 200.
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I am sorry for the delay in responding to your message. I am back on the same medications. Isentress/Truvada. The doctor also had me start taking Septra once daily ,since my t-cells are below 200.
Glad to hear back from you and I hope all goes smoothly this time.
Billy