Author Topic: Atripla for Breakfast, Anyone? (Read 12068 times)

David_CA · « **on:** May 08, 2007, 01:48:33 pm »

I know most are told to take Atripla at night before bed. I did this for several months and accidentally 'switched' to taking it first thing in the morning. I can feel it off and on most of the day, but it's not bad. Maybe I just enjoy the trippy feeling it causes, who knows. It didn't really bother me taking it at night, but the dreams were very intense and involved, and I generally didn't want to leave the dreams and get up in the mornings. I also take Adderall, so that may be partially why it doesn't seem to bother me taking this way. So, do any of you guys take Atripla (or Sustiva) in the morning?

David

Teresa · « **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2007, 01:52:38 pm »

Hubby started taking his Atripla at night and then he decided to switch to taking it when he woke up in the mornings. He gets up the same time everyday ( even on weekends) and decided he would do better at taking the meds at the same time everyday. He has no problems at all taking them in the morning.

Teresa

cjc · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2007, 11:35:47 pm »

Hello David. So far I have only taken my atripla at night. I might try taking it in the morning sometime later. I do know that when I took Truvada/ Sustiva, I took the Truvada in the morning without much trouble Cristy.

Blixer · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2007, 11:48:32 pm »

I take my sustiva (along with my Epivir and Videx EC) at 6 AM every morning. I've had no real issues at all. I can't eat for approximately 1 hour after taking the Videx EC so by taking it right after getting up everything seems to work out great. Once in a while I'll get that dizzy feeling, but not too often at all. I seem to wake up within 15 minutes of 6 AM every morning now without any alarm clock no matter how late I stayed up the night before.

ACinKC · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2007, 11:08:53 am »

Im an Atripla for breakfast kinda guy.

The ADD I have helps, cause I get to take SPEED(adderall as well David) with it so I generally avoid the drowsies. And a grab a Mocha on the way in so im good and wired till about 430 or 5.

When I took it at night I felt the dreams were just WAY to intense to allow me to get good REM sleep that my body needed. For about 2 weeks I felt drunk until about 11 am but after that 2 weeks was up I was good to go. Gotta admit the trippy feeling was fun for awhile.

whizzer · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2007, 07:29:01 pm »

I thought REM sleep was when most vivid dreams occur.

richva · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2008, 08:27:08 am »

Hi - I'm rekindling this older topic started by David to revisit the Atripla in the morning thing. I hope that's an okay practice around here (as it really is the same topic/question.)

Anyway, after five decent months on Atripla, things started going south in September. Basically, I have been plagued (there really is no other word for it) by insomnia. A variety of sleep aids were prescribed, and I tried them all with high hopes of counteracting the Sustiva and maintaining what has been a terrific response to HAART. You can do the math: It's now December. At higher doses, some helped - but none solved the problem outright.

So, two nights ago I said "screw it" and decided not to take my Atripa before bedtime. Instead, I took it yesterday morning. For a couple of hours in the morning at work I was worthless... but I'd actually slept for about 7 hours the night before! I did the same thing last night, and I've recently woken up after an 8-hour sleep. What a difference! I've taken my Atripla this morning, I'm sipping coffee now, and heading up to shower as soon as I post this.

For me, the drunk buzzy feeling usually hits about 45 minutes after taking my pill and lasts for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I'm hoping that the a.m. buzziness will either wear off a bit as I adjust to the schedule or that I'll learn to function my way through it. My doctor and I have discussed it repeatedly: I've given this a good shot. For me, now, it's either a.m. dosing or a switch in meds.

David, are you still dosing in the morning? Others? Anyone with experiences to share or update?

Thanks, all, and happy holidays.

David_CA · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2008, 08:46:20 am »

Yep, I take it every morning without fail! I've still not missed a dose in a bit over 2 years, either. I find it easier to remember to take in the morning than at night before bed. It still makes me feel a bit drunk (not necessarily a bad thing!), but I get up around 5:15, go to the gym and work out, go back home and get ready for work, have a cup of coffee, and head to work by 7:30. Maybe it's that buffer time or exercise that makes taking it in the morning not bother me, or maybe it's the Adderall I take every morning, but by 7:45 - 8:00 or so I can't even tell I've taken it. On weekends, I'll often take it and go back to bed... what a weird sleep that is! Honestly, I can't even imagine taking it at night; I sleep too well and feel too good in the mornings to do that.

David

John2038 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2008, 02:45:06 pm »

ATRIPLA at breakfast time ?
Isn't ATRIPLA recommended to be taken on an empty stomach ?

bocker3 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2008, 03:57:05 pm »

Quote from: John2038 on December 19, 2008, 02:45:06 pm

ATRIPLA at breakfast time ?
Isn't ATRIPLA recommended to be taken on an empty stomach ?

It is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach, but not following that recommendation is not really a "bad thing". If you take Sustiva with food, you end up with more drug in your system. It is only a problem if you have a difficult time with any Sustiva side effects, thus intensifying these effects by having more in your system.

Mike

David_CA · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2008, 04:44:09 pm »

Quote from: John2038 on December 19, 2008, 02:45:06 pm

ATRIPLA at breakfast time ?
Isn't ATRIPLA recommended to be taken on an empty stomach ?

Um... Atripla for breakfast, not with breakfast = Atripla on a (very) empty stomach. First thing in the morning means just that: first thing (before eating, drinking, even taking a leak.) Besides, I thought that sounded better for the title of the thread than "does anybody take Atripla in the morning on an empty stomach?"

YaKaMein · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2008, 05:50:15 pm »

Rich, sounds like trying in the morning is worth a try. If it works better for your body and schedule, why not?
Seems like others do well with a.m. dosing. I take mine at night, with two exceptions, when I popped Atripla for a Bactrim, oops! Just made for an interesting morning for me. I've never had any difference in effects with food or not. I'm adherent and it's working, so I happy til a cure.

richva · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2008, 11:02:04 am »

David - Thank you for the update (and for clarifying for others what you meant by titling your initial post as you did.) Indeed, I can't think of a time when my stomach is emptier than, say, at 6 a.m.

Because today is Saturday and work isn't on the agenda, I woke up at 7 a.m., took my Atripla (which now makes 3 mornings in a row) - and then enjoyed the luxury of returning to bed. I can't say I slept deeply, but it did help to pass 2 1/2 hours. Since my Atripla "kicks in" about an hour after I take it and the "funkiness" peaks about 90 minutes after that, I guess I got out of bed pretty much at the height of the party. I scarfed down an English muffin and am sipping on coffee now, and I'm keeping tabs on how long this after-party sensation lasts. Of course, at home on my sofa, it doesn't matter too much. Yesterday at work was a different story.

Unfortunately, despite having taken "Atripla for breakfast" both Thursday and Friday, I have still had to rely upon both Lunesta and Ativan (2 mg. of each) to finally fall asleep each night. (Mind you, it's been solid and decent sleep three nights in a row; I can't remember when that last happened!) So, placing distance between the timing of my Atripla dose and bedtime definitely seems to be lessening one problem... but creating (at least on weekdays) an entirely new one.

I spoke with my ID doc yesterday at length about switching to a Truvada + PI/Norvir-boosted regimen. Ditching the sleep issues and reclaiming my mornings seems awfully appealing....

I know the decision is ultimately mine, but any thoughts on when to just throw in the towel and end a relationship with one's combo?

Rich

P.S. - David, I really admire your up-at-5-and-to-the-gym routine, but for me that schedule seems about as likely as [insert any wild and unlikely thing here]

David_CA · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2008, 04:34:17 pm »

Quote from: richva on December 20, 2008, 11:02:04 am

P.S. - David, I really admire your up-at-5-and-to-the-gym routine, but for me that schedule seems about as likely as [insert any wild and unlikely thing here]

Ha! If you knew me, you'd know how out of character it is for me to get up at 5:15 am and do anything! I'm basically a stay-up-late and get-up-late kind of guy. What makes me do it is 1) helps with my blood pressure 2) keeps me (somewhat) trim and looking decent 3) able to eat more instead of diet and 4) I'm sure as hell not going to do it every day after work (although I do work out Tues and Thurs nights)! Perhaps some sort of exercise routine in the morning, even 30 minutes of fast walking, would help. I swear that exercise helps me get through the morning haze much quicker. If you can make it work, I believe that Atripla is one of the easier combos to take physically (GI issues, lipo, etc). It might be worth giving it a bit longer to see how things go. I'd also bet it will take a bit of time to get accustomed to doing without the sleep aids, too. Good luck with it!

David

richva · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2008, 10:27:57 am »

David, you're right on many accounts. And, it's precisely because it's one of the easier combos to take that I've been so persistent in "making it work", adjusting dosing times by a few hours this way or that, watching what/when I eat, trying to find just the right sleep aid for me, etc. Today I even took my Atripla at 3:30 a.m. instead of at 7:00 a.m. - slept right through the funkiness and was fine when my feet hit the floor at 8:30 a.m. Decent sleep both pre- and post- pill. Yet another strategy.

Then again, I could just say "screw it", be bold, and make the jump to a Truvada + PI (+Norvir) combo. A few additional pills, but still once-a-day, and maybe able to ditch the sleeping meds....

I'll keep you posted. Again, thanks for your insight and support.

Rich

milker · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2008, 12:51:22 pm »

I take it at 7pm, eat at 8:30pm and go to bed around 11pm. That way i'm taking it on an empty stomach, i'm pretty sure i'll be home at 7pm almost every day (i have a few pills in my car in case i had to go somewhere at that time), eat 1h30 after taking it and go to bed 4 hours after taking it. No problems sleeping, no risk of forgetting it if I go out later, no problems in the morning.

The only two times this schedule didn't work well were for thanksgiving and for another even where I had to eat at 7pm. Both times I felt drunk for about 30mn after taking the pill but that feeling disappeared soon after and I was fine.

My doctor tried to convince me to take it in the morning when I wake up because he was afraid I may forget it at night if I had too much to drink. I didn't want to have any risk of side effects during work so the 7pm schedule is the best for me and it's been working great!

I have two reminders: a 7pm alarm on my cell phone, which I reschedule for 7:30pm or 8pm if I am out and know i'll be home soon. Otherwise I take the pill from the car, and schedule a replacement alarm for my expected time back home.

The second reminder is my roommate. He yells "TAKE YOUR PILL!" when he hears the alarm and asks me if I've taken my pill if he comes back home after the set time.

I don't have a pill box but I will get one, because i've been "wondering" if I took my pill a few times. I always did but I don't want to double dose one day by mistake. The pill box will help me avoid this.

Milker.

richva · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2008, 12:57:53 pm »

Quote from: richva on December 21, 2008, 10:27:57 am

Then again, I could just say "screw it", be bold, and make the jump to a Truvada + PI (+Norvir) combo. A few additional pills, but still once-a-day, and maybe able to ditch the sleeping meds....

I opted for "screw it."

To be continued....

red_Dragon888 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2008, 09:43:04 pm »

Quote from: David_NC on May 08, 2007, 01:48:33 pm

I know most are told to take Atripla at night before bed. I did this for several months and accidentally 'switched' to taking it first thing in the morning. I can feel it off and on most of the day, but it's not bad. Maybe I just enjoy the trippy feeling it causes, who knows. It didn't really bother me taking it at night, but the dreams were very intense and involved, and I generally didn't want to leave the dreams and get up in the mornings. I also take Adderall, so that may be partially why it doesn't seem to bother me taking this way. So, do any of you guys take Atripla (or Sustiva) in the morning?

David

Not to over state the obvious, but did you ask your doctor?

David_CA · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2008, 08:34:47 am »

Quote from: red_Dragon888 on December 22, 2008, 09:43:04 pm

Not to over state the obvious, but did you ask your doctor?

No, he wasn't there when I woke up around 5 am on the couch with me the day I 'switched' (he's not my type, anyway)!

I told him at my next appointment. I only took Atripla at night for 5-6 months before switching. Look at the numbers in my signature line, it's been well over a year and a half since I switched. His opinion on taking them in the morning (or any other time) was 'take them every day, at about the same time, without fail.' I've never missed a dose in over 2 years and am undetectable. He's since told me that he has a couple of patients who take it in the morning, but that I was his first (that he knew of, anyway). Evidently, it's working out better for them, too.

David

franfrog · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2008, 01:30:20 pm »

David,
I am on combivir and sustiva and I thought my trouble sleeping had some part to do with an adverse reaction to the sustiva. We switched it to the morning and for the forst day or two it was defenitly a trippy feeling. After a few days I was fine. It made me feel no different. My sleep pattern did not get ay better so I switched back to nights but it will pass. I hope it all works out.

rick21007 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 23, 2008, 03:44:41 pm »

Hi David---I take Atripla first thing in the morning. Some mornings I feel a little spacey but that is getting more rare now. People tell me I am "mellow" when I get the spacey feeling. I find my compliance is 100% when I take it in the morning. Also I work out at the gym at noon and any spaciiness goes away when I hit the gym. I sure like having to take the one pill--especially in my case because it treats both hiv and hbv. VL undetectible and CD4 807.

rick

MYSTERY · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2009, 12:02:40 am »

Hey All,

I would just like to report that I used to take Atripla at 1 AM before bed time and found that I did not get a good night sleep, and the next morning I felt spacey (Being a blond not an excuse, lol). I read your posts and decided to take it in the morning after I woke up at 11 AM. I was going to switch medication but I decided to give this a try.

I must say that I have been able to sleep better, and no longer have a tired brain with the spacey feeling. I also have no dizzy feelings after I take it. I am really glad I made the switch, and thank everyone for the information. I wish I would have switched sooner. I feel so much better. In fact I have more energy when I work out after I take the pill in the morning after I wake up.

David_CA · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2009, 12:45:57 pm »

Mystery,

I'm glad it worked out for you and that you didn't have to have a med switch. It's a MYSTERY to me why morning Atripla dosing isn't suggested or even offered as an alternative. If it is, I've never heard of it. Most days, I really can't even tell if it's the Atripla or the fact that I'm not really a morning person that makes me sometimes feel a bit spacey the first couple of hours after I get up. The good night's sleep is really worth it, to me.

MYSTERY · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2009, 01:09:41 pm »

Hey David,

Thanks for starting this forum. I must say for me when I started taking Atripla It really made me feel spacey, and it helped me fall asleep. After awhile the spacey feeling started to go away, and I found myself having a hard time falling asleep with out the spacey feeling. The anxiety part started to kick in, and I found myself with a busy mind trying to sleep. Now I take it at 11 am and it helps me work out go figure. (lol). I don't think I could have taken Atripla in the beginning at 11 AM. I think the side affects would have been to much, but now after taking it for 3 years I am fine with the A. M. dosing.

I must say I feel 100 times better. It is amazing what a good night sleep will do for ya. Also, my system didn't agree with sleeping meds. The Ambien worked for awhile but I started to have side affects from it. I hated the stuff.

I would definitely encourage anyone with sleeping issues to try the A. M dosing before they switch medication.

DanKenny · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2009, 12:09:32 pm »

I also switched to taking Atripla in the morning, a week after going on meds. I take it around 6am and then take breakfast around 9 or 10. Occassionally, I feel the dizziness, but most days, I feel just ok...

rgds, DK

Longislander · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2009, 02:15:37 pm »

After forgetting a Friday night pill, I started taking Atripla in the morning on a Saturday ( just to see if I would have any trouble getting through the morning) . Luckily I had no noticable affects, no spaciness, and have been taking it in the morning for 2 months now. I have no reaction taking it whatsoever, could be an aspriin for all I feel.

I just had bloodwork done for appt next week, first labs since taking it in the mornings.

Paul

ALH300 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 06, 2009, 01:02:16 pm »

I take it in the morning....Fit my schedule better and it was easier for me to remember to take. Checked with my Doc and he said there was no problem taking it in the morning since I have had no side effects from it.

secretgarden · « **Reply #27 on:** May 27, 2009, 04:11:08 pm »

I am taking Atripla at the mornings. Usually first 4 hours are really bad. I feel high. Now I started to take atripla with food in the morning which seems to work for me better.

Quote from: richva on December 19, 2008, 08:27:08 am

Hi - I'm rekindling this older topic started by David to revisit the Atripla in the morning thing. I hope that's an okay practice around here (as it really is the same topic/question.)

Anyway, after five decent months on Atripla, things started going south in September. Basically, I have been plagued (there really is no other word for it) by insomnia. A variety of sleep aids were prescribed, and I tried them all with high hopes of counteracting the Sustiva and maintaining what has been a terrific response to HAART. You can do the math: It's now December. At higher doses, some helped - but none solved the problem outright.

So, two nights ago I said "screw it" and decided not to take my Atripa before bedtime. Instead, I took it yesterday morning. For a couple of hours in the morning at work I was worthless... but I'd actually slept for about 7 hours the night before! I did the same thing last night, and I've recently woken up after an 8-hour sleep. What a difference! I've taken my Atripla this morning, I'm sipping coffee now, and heading up to shower as soon as I post this.

For me, the drunk buzzy feeling usually hits about 45 minutes after taking my pill and lasts for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I'm hoping that the a.m. buzziness will either wear off a bit as I adjust to the schedule or that I'll learn to function my way through it. My doctor and I have discussed it repeatedly: I've given this a good shot. For me, now, it's either a.m. dosing or a switch in meds.

David, are you still dosing in the morning? Others? Anyone with experiences to share or update?

Thanks, all, and happy holidays.

jughead · « **Reply #28 on:** June 13, 2009, 02:52:30 pm »

Hey Everybody,

I just made the switch to taking my Atripla in the morning. I was having trouble timing my meals around my meds. I was told not to eat anything 2 hours before taking atripla and not to eat for an hour after taking it. This was difficult as I work nights and am not always able to eat at the same time each night.

Anyhow, I gradually started taking it 3 hours earlier than usual each day and now have taken my first early morning dose 8:30 am... I feel kind of lethargic... and a little buzzed but am enjoying the idea of not worrying about what I can eat when...

I'll keep you posted,

Jughead

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