went for followup today finally with dr

[mikeyb39]

hi all,

it has been almost 3 weeks to get my genome test back, but i got it today... my doctor gave me the option to hold off and see how things go  or go ahead and start meds now, so thats what i did.

dr wrote me a prescription for atripla. if anyone is familar with this pill and side effects i would appreciate anhy info....

thanks

[komnaes]

Hey Mike

Reading back some of your recent posts, if you are sure the infection was recent, waiting a bit should be OK but since your first CD4 result is only 240 you don't want to wait too long to get tested again.

I am not on Atripla but many are in here - by all accounts it's probably the easiest daily med to take and you're fortunately that you have the option to start on this (as Atripla is still not readily available in many countries). You will see at the top scroll down bar of this stage the link "Treatment", between "Prevention" and "News". Chick on the "Drugs" link and you will be taken to a rather comprehensive guide on all meds including Atripla.

Wish you the best, Shaun

[Maelrod]

so I read finally atripla was prescribed to you...so I just took my # 61 atripla, I belive we are lucky to take a pill a day...a good thing happen to me, after 3 weeks on atripla my viral load was on 122000 and dropped to 669 my td4 didnt go up ( stil on 279 ) but my dr said first we need kick off the virus. My personal experimented a high sensation on my first week, I didn't sleep well going to the bathroom at midnight, I'm doing so well now. The only complain is my stomach is so sensible, kind of nausea on the morning (sometimes no every day ) but depend what I eat a night before (that's I belive) so mike you going be fine w atripla I was so afraid in the beginning cuz I was reAding about side effects but not everything you read is true, I had only one long nightmare w my 3rd pill, nothing else. ...the true is no easy those first 2 week after you can handle well ...mike I belive u can do it more than well; you have no choice.

[jkinatl2]

These forums have EXCELLENT lessons on all the drugs, including Atripla. I certainly hope you make use of them!

My own experience was negative, due to the Sustiva element of the drug. But for those who do not have a profound or long-lasting or negative CNS interaction, it seems to really work well.

[nychope1]

Hooray MikeyB!!

Congrats on your smart decision.

My story: On Atripla for a month. First three days were fine. Fourth night was a bitch. I was taking ambien a week prior to starting as well as the first three nights on Atripla. The forth night I stopped the Ambien, so that, with the Atripla was not a good night. I didn't sleep and was depressed the next day. I called my doc and he said it was ok to stop and he would call in new drugs.

A member here who has been on Atripla for four uneventful years insisted I keep going with it a few more days. That was the best advice I have ever gotten here. He was right. The fifth night with no sleep aids was fine.
I don't take any sleep aids. It actually is helping sleep. I have great energy. Wake up feeling alert and strong. It is truly a miracle drug for me.

Well good luck and if you have any questions or want to talk about it feel free to PM me.

Do yourself a favor and don't get caught up reading too much about the bad side effects of Atripla. Look fro the good stories.  It is true some people don't tolerate the sustiva portion well. Most do fine. You're going to have to give yourself a week or so to adjust to it. But fear not... the dreams, if you have them, are not bad. (I dig the dreams I had). 
As some have suggested here... (search Atripla), Try not to eat anything a couple of hours before taking it. That helps in the beginning. And the fatty foods probably should be avoided at night til you adjust. You'll do fine and it is convenient. And it works!  There are lots of alternatives so if after you have given the Atripla two or so weeks and you hate it tell you doc and switch it out.

[Maelrod]

Mikeyb. When  I said we have no choice I mean we have to faith w HIV, thanks god we had a lot alternatives drugs in the market. But try to do your best w atripla don't drop at the first bad side effects

[AaronbytheC]

I'm on my third week of Atripla and so far it's been great!  The only side effect I've had was at day 12 the "Atripla Rash".  It came on like a fire storm and retreated almost as fast!  I think I had about 24 hours of really itchy skin and a rash.  A friend told me to use "Aveeno" bath solution in a luke warm bath to sooth the itch, the stuff really works well.    

Like others have said, the first few days and weeks just error on the side of caution!  Do not eat a few hours before you take your pill and if you must, try not to eat fatty foods.  Avoid alcohol too...  For me I take my pill as the last thing I do before I go to sleep with an 8 oz glass of water and it's worked great.  I've chatted with others that take it an hour or more before bed and they seem to have had some issues sleeping...  If you do your research on Atripla you'll see that it has very large safety margens for the time you take it...  (Like 36 hours!)  My doc said no worries about being to the minute when you take it, just take it at bedtime everyday.  As long as you're within a few hours either way you're good.  This is another reason why Atripla is one of the first line meds...  It's pretty idiot proof for us newbies!  

Once you get your feet wet you can begin to see what works and doesn't work for you...  I've resumed my use of alcohol and eating with no issues.  I talked with a guy who's been on it for years and he told me he sometimes washes his down with a beer!  
In short:  We all react differently to meds, no matter which one it is...  You just have to feel your way through and find what's right for you.  

Best of luck with it, feel free to PM me if you have direct questions.  It's really not nearly as bad as some would make you think!  

[nychope1]

Washing it down with a beer! Brilliant.

I have to say Tuesday (well Wednesday morning) I got home at 4 in the morning after quite a few drinks, (that damn beer and bourbon). The latest I have taken the Atripla since starting the stuff.
Anyway, I got home and took one then forgot ten minutes later if I took it or not. I had to count how many were there and subtract it from the day I started to figure out if I took it or not. Oy vey.
Then I got a call at 8:00AM that my uncle locked himself out of the house. It was a damn hurricane out in NYC on Wednesday. I had to get up, still tippsy, and drive out to Queens in gale winds and pouring rain.
If there is a hell on earth I was in it.
Good thing about Atripla is I actually don't drink as much! No problems here with it.

[Maelrod]

Lol lol. I never had my atripla w a beer. --I'm alergic to the beers-- but I have few   vodka cramberry before my pill.the thing is you have to take ur pill. 

[AaronbytheC]

I got home and took one then forgot ten minutes later if I took it or not. I had to count how many were there and subtract it from the day I started to figure out if I took it or not. Oy vey.

That's why you need a 7 day pill box!  It's idiot proof for us newbies!!    

I restock mine on Sunday mornings...  I keep the box on the bathroom counter next to my tooth brush...  When is the last time you were so drunk you forgot to brush your teeth?     If there is a pill in the slot of that day I know if I have or have not taken it.

[ElZorro]

Hey Mikey.

I was on Atripla for almost a year, but switched because some of the CNS (Central Nervous System) side effects were driving me bonkers. Now, I'm on Truvada (two of the ingredients in Atripla) and Issentress. Atripla was great from a convenience perspective and I found it very easy to adhere to taking one pill a day. Now, I take two in the morning and one in the evening which has been pretty easy as well. Today, though, for the first time ever, I left the house and realized on the way to work that I'd forgotten to take my meds. Thankfully, I carry spares on me for just such an emergency and didn't have to turn around. 

If you're able to take Atripla, I say "go for it". The thing to remember is that if it doesn't work for you talk to your doctor(s) and switch to something else until you find something that is effective and does work for you. There are a lot of options out there and you shouldn't have to suffer a quality of life compromise for convenience. That being said, to echo NYC, give yourself time to adjust to the meds before making changes. It might take a couple of weeks or months to make an informed decision.

Best wishes and welcome to the Forums!   

[buginme2]

Hey buddy, I'll be in your shoes next week.  Keep us posted on how it goes.  I'm interested to hear about it.  Good luck.  I hope its a non event

[mikeyb39]

hi everybody,
thanks for the feedback, all are great.  This med is expensive thankfully i have insurance. 3 month supply is over 3600 bucks, my copay was 250 and dr. gave me an atripla card that i can use for a year they pay the copay, so my 90 day prescription cost me nothing. 

dr wants me to start taking it on a friday, i have the meds now but havent started yet this is my 40th birthday weekend so i may wait till next friday to start or maybe tomorrow night. 

i will keep everyone posted on how it goes.

thank u all again

[buginme2]

Sweet deal on the copay's.  Question for ya, was there some sort of requirement to get the atripla card?  I have insurance also and my copay for 3 month supply of atripla is also $200.  They just handing out those cards to anyone or do u have to qualify in some way?  I met with (I call her the AIDS lady, but she was a case manager for HIV) and she basically told me I didnt qualify for any state programs, ect but never mentioned copay assistance.

Happy Birthday.  Hope you have a great day

[mikeyb39]

hi buginme2,
my dr wrote me a prescription and he said that he can give me a card to help on the copay, it looked like a typical prescription card with ATRIPLA across it. i went home and called the number on the back, the recording asked about 15 simple questions (didnt have to speak to a person) and it was activated

i wasnt for sure it was going to work with my insurance, but it did, it was real simple. they will pay the copay for a year.  so i would ask your doctor. .you cant be on any other type of gov't plan or etc.

good luck!

[nychope1]

that is something I def should have done is get extra meds before starting. At least a month. That is a great new topic for this forum. New folks should know that strategy.
Just have to be careful that someone had the leeway to do it.

[Roie]

That's why you need a 7 day pill box!  It's idiot proof for us newbies!!    

I restock mine on Sunday mornings...  I keep the box on the bathroom counter next to my tooth brush...  When is the last time you were so drunk you forgot to brush your teeth?     If there is a pill in the slot of that day I know if I have or have not taken it.

I agree 1000000%. Its very important to have a 7 day pill box. At te begining of the week fill it up, and go accordingly.
REALLY HELPS!!!