NEW DRUG REGIMEN

[caliboy]

After 27 years, and many different HIV drugs - beginning with AZT - I had a drug failure with Atripla (the Efavirenx failed) and I have been switched to:

Truvada (Emtricitabine/Tenofovir)
Ritonavir
Atazanavir

which I will start after supper tonight.

Anyone taking these (as this combination listed above) or separately - who might be willing to describe your reaction(s) to them - either positive or negative reactions - any thoughts would be welcome.

I always face a new meds regimen with more than a little trepidation!   

One of the side effects of Truvada is yellowing of the eyes - jaundice. I do not fancy going about looking like Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation!! XOXOXO

[Miss Philicia]

Uh, no darling -- you can get jaundice from the Atazanavir, not Truvada but at any rate it's usually only for the first 10 days, not the whole time you'll be on it.

I've been on Truvada now for eons, and at most it causes me to fart excessively on some days, but really not very often.  There does seem to be possible bone density issue with the viread component of this medication, so many people are now taking vitamin D/calcium supplements as a precaution.  I figure3 if you've had HIV for 27 years then you're not in your 20's so maybe you are already taking this supplement.

[caliboy]

I am 46 - and I do take d/calcium. So that should do the trick?

[aztecan]

Hey Caliboy,

I was on the very same regimen. I loved it. It was very easy to take and the meds themselves caused no side effects for me - not even a jaundiced eye!

My problem with it is proton pump inhibitors, such as Prevacid, Omeaprazole, or Protonix,  cannot be taken with Reyataz (Atazanavir). It needs the stomach acid to be properly absorved, and my stomach needed the PPIs to prevent me having an ulcer or worse.

So, I had to switch.

But, as I said, the meds themselves were delightfully side effect free.

Regarding the calcium supplements, I take 1,200 mgs of calcium daily along with 1,000 mgs of Vitamin D, at my doctor's behest.

I still take Truvada, which contains the aforementioned Viread, except I now combine it with Isentress.

HUGS,

Mark

[caliboy]

Thanks for your very buoying reply Mark. I took the first dose last night and after day one - I feel okay.

I realize it is VERY EARLY in the game, but your experience with this specific regimen makes me feel very good about the immediate future!

Thanks again Mark!

XOXOXO

[caliboy]

Well, I have been taking the Atazanavir/Ritonavir/Truvada combo for nine days now and all seems to be going well as far as early tolerance of the meds is concerned.

No diarrhea, to real stomach upset, some gas (but again - not a lot) and a very slight yellowing around my eyes - all of which seems to be pretty standard.

I read about this combo in the more appropriate TREATMENT AND SIDE EFFECTS section of the forum - I always seem to post to LONG TERM SURVIVORS because I am Blanche, I am! - in the future, I will be more selective about where I post - however, even on the TREATMENT AND SIDE EFFECTS forum - the news seems to be good.

We'll see what the numbers say in a few weeks and how my Ts and Viral Load reacts.