POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: frenchpat on July 29, 2007, 07:49:56 pm

Title: Switching meds and PN (peripheral neuropathy)?
Post by: frenchpat on July 29, 2007, 07:49:56 pm
Hi everyone,

just before I switched from the dual regimen of Zerit and Epivir I had been on for nearly two years, I started getting, occasionally, tingling/shooting pains in my feet (right one mostly). Not every day and not constantly.

I switched to Ziagen-Viread-Kaletra last December and hoped those sensations would go away with the switch. Not only they haven't but they've now gotten worse. Over the last month I quite suddenly started to experience numbness around my heels and feet external sides. None of this is really painful but the weird, uneven sensation of touch I get from the feet when in bed makes it hard for me to go to sleep (just an example). The novelty and irritation of having yet another side effect to deal with surely plays a part too.

After searching / reading about PN here, I am wondering if anyone here has a similar experience with one or several drugs included in my combo and if someone managed to nip PN, or slow its progression down by switching some of the meds/ adding some supplement or dietary change. I am a bit reluctant to switch again as my combo seems to work well, despite the fact that ever since the switch a humpette (thanks Mark!) has started to appear on my back and my abs are slowly drowning in fat.

Considering the fact that I've been hiv+ for just about 5 years I seem to have picked the fast lane for sensitivity to side effects. This is quite frustrating (and frightening at times), definitely a learning process.

any advice is welcome

Pat