Still having side effects 6 months later

[jontul]

My daily regimen: Lamivuduna and Abacavir 8am and 10pm, Ritonavir and Atazanavir 1pm daily. Some days any or all of these will cause nausea, food or no food ingested. If I drink a beer, even just one, the nausea swells. If I take sildenafil like I did before the regimen started, it's now nausea AND overwhelming fatigue in minutes.

Not to beat a tired drum, but I felt quite fine before the WHO upped the CD4 limits so I would qualify for meds. I didn't have any outward HIV symptoms nor did I feel sick. Now, with the meds, even after 6 months, I feel sick much of the time despite my CD4 escalating beyond the normal range.

It seems I'll live a long life if I take my meds, but at what cost? Quality-of-life is important and I'm tired of feeling worse now than I did before I started treatment and got 'healthier'.

Has anyone else had similar feelings about this?

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Sorry to hear that you not feeling the best at the moment.
Have you spoken to your ID Doctor about your symptoms?

sildenafil - atazanavir has an interaction warning on www.drugs.com
 

Talk to your doctor before using sildenafil together with atazanavir. Combining these medications may significantly increase the blood levels and effects of sildenafil. Depending on your condition, you may not be able to use these medications together, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Contact your doctor if your condition changes or you experience nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears, vision or hearing loss, chest pain or tightness, irregular heartbeat, and/or priapism (prolonged and painful erection unrelated to sexual activity), as these may be signs and symptoms of excessive sildenafil levels. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

I'm not giving you medical advice but if you having problems with this talk to them. A healthy sex life is important but you want to avoid interactions. Your doc should be able to check for interactions and help you and give you correct advice if this is the case. 

Look ill be honest I have not been on the same combination as you however I did want to comment that the first few months starting treatment can be rough as you system recovers, and I'm not saying that to dismiss what your saying it's just something to keep in mind. ill admit it was a challenge for me at times during the first 6-8 months and after that it got better, and my life is back to normal so do speak to your Doc if you have not done so yet.

Don't give up yet and do keep taking your meds.

Jim

[harleymc]

Have you talked to your doctor about switching your regime to once a day or at worst twice a day.
Seriously most of us are rolling along with minimal if any side effects. This shouldn't be happening. Get your doctor to sort it out, or swap doctors.

[mecch]

Would you mind mentioning what country you live in. A treatment requiring 3 dosing times a day is so complicated. 
Also what drugs are available in your country?
Ritonavir and Atazanavir (reyataz) was part of my second combo, about 5 years ago. I wasn't all that happy on it. Protease inhibitors didn't really sit right with me. 
Do you HAVE to be on this combo for some reason?

As for being treated versus being untreated but feeling well. I DO hear you that your treatment is causing you discomforts.  However, remember that the current science is that ALL HIV+ people are better off treated, than not. Even those with good CD4s and feeling healthy. Better off treated. 

The trouble is, getting the best meds available. Because obviously there are still many people in the world making do with not the latest meds.  Not saying that is your case.  But its a common theme on this forum.