Author Topic: Starting Atripla (Read 8293 times)

newbieguy · « **on:** July 28, 2010, 05:57:20 pm »

Hi guys hope everyone is doing ok. Saw my doctor, and agreed to switch me to Atripla. The one pill once a day! I know there may be side effects, as there are with anything, but Im feeling much better about taking only one a day! I plan on starting friday or saturday, so I can be safe at home for the first couple days on it. Hope I tolerate it ok. Will let you all know.

phildinftlaudy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:02:43 pm »

Quote from: newbieguy on July 28, 2010, 05:57:20 pm

Hi guys hope everyone is doing ok. Saw my doctor, and agreed to switch me to Atripla. The one pill once a day! I know there may be side effects, as there are with anything, but Im feeling much better about taking only one a day! I plan on starting friday or saturday, so I can be safe at home for the first couple days on it. Hope I tolerate it ok. Will let you all know.

Hey Newbie-
I've been on Atripla for about 8 months now - side effects are minor (some grogginess in the AM - which I addressed by moving it up to an early dosing time); some vivid dreams (had a good one last night) and two good ones a couple nights ago (one involved a naked Peruvian girl with a knife). But the effects are minor compared to benefits.

Best to you and definitely let us know how it goes.

Realist · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:05:11 pm »

Glad you've managed to change to an easier regime. I too started on a Friday and was fine after a few days, certainly no side effects after a week or two. The dreams can be fun! Best advice I can give is the empty stomach dosing as this does seems to have an affect.

Good luck.

AaronbytheC · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:39:23 pm »

Quote from: Realist on July 28, 2010, 06:05:11 pm

Glad you've managed to change to an easier regime. I too started on a Friday and was fine after a few days, certainly no side effects after a week or two. The dreams can be fun! Best advice I can give is the empty stomach dosing as this does seems to have an affect.

Good luck.

When you say empty stomach, what do you mean? A few hours after you last ate? Say you normally eat dinner at 6 pm, would you be good taking the pill 3 hours later at 9?

Realist · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:04:47 pm »

According to the prescribing info, its suggested to wait two hours but we are all different, so my experience goes a bit like this. If i have a light meal or snack I might pop one within an hour or less and not even give it a thought. If I'm having a rich or heavy meal, maybe higher in fat, I will normally wait a bit longer. Really though the only reason I say this is for no other reason than the effect it has on bowel movements the next morning, it doesn't seem to effect me in an other way if I wait longer or not.

Hellraiser · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:06:18 pm »

The food makes the side effects harsher, if you're not having side effects you don't need to be so careful. If you are having side effects however I would give the medication a wide berth, 2 or 3 hours on both sides.

AaronbytheC · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:45:16 pm »

Good information to know... I'm not on it yet but my doc says it is in my future so long as my genotype agrees

newbieguy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:58:32 pm »

Thanks for the comments to my post guys. I plan on taking it around 10pm at night, and not eating anything a couple hours prior just to be on the safe side. As I continue, Im sure Ill discover if I react more harshly or none at all and I can maybe have a light snack an hour or so prior. Like someone said, everyone is different! Really feeling confident I chose the right hiv medication for me, the one pilla day thing is amazing.

newbieguy · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:59:14 pm »

as a footnote, I have crazy jacked-up dreams anyway, so bring it on Atripla. hit me with your best shot!

hope_for_a_cure · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2010, 08:19:29 pm »

I am happy with it, but I cant compare it to any other treatment. I enjoy the dreams now because they are always something so off the wall that I wake up amused by them. For some reason lately I have been dreaming about being ion a ship.... not sure what thats all about. I hope it is a good and easy switch for you.

in this life · « **Reply #10 on:** August 04, 2010, 07:32:21 pm »

The dreams are not so bad , i wake up laughing a lot. Monday i took my atripla at 630pm by mistake . Never ever again will that happen !!

newbieguy · « **Reply #11 on:** August 04, 2010, 09:36:14 pm »

My plan is to take it a couple hours before bed, but if I suffer the insomnia I might try earlier in the day. Just have to listen to the body!

Mike_Poz_Nash · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2010, 06:24:30 pm »

What was some of the worse side effects you had from starting Atripla.

phildinftlaudy · « **Reply #13 on:** August 05, 2010, 08:12:48 pm »

Quote from: Mike_Poz_Nash on August 05, 2010, 06:24:30 pm

What was some of the worse side effects you had from starting Atripla.

Grogginess/woozy in the morning - sometimes
Some vivid dreams - not scary - just vivid - sometimes
That's it...for me.

Hellraiser · « **Reply #14 on:** August 05, 2010, 08:47:29 pm »

Dizziness, Fogginess, those both tapered off to acceptable levels within a week. A year later I can take the pill at any time and while I can feel it's effects they are completely manageable.

djayp · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2010, 02:04:06 pm »

good luck newbieguy - I just started Atripla as well and am barely passing the 2 week mark. My experience with side effects seems pretty much the norm (very grateful for this treatment). Occassional grogginess in the mornings and definitely vivid and strange dreams. Like mentioned by others, I too like the dreams. It's actually something I sort of look forward to at night since I am also somewhat of an insomniac. Now I sleep just fine!

Mike_Poz_Nash · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2010, 03:13:48 am »

Has anybody else had the feeling like they have what feels like alcohol in their lungs, like a hang over but without the fun of getting one?

Hellraiser · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2010, 07:28:07 am »

Quote from: Mike_Poz_Nash on August 08, 2010, 03:13:48 am

Has anybody else had the feeling like they have what feels like alcohol in their lungs, like a hang over but without the fun of getting one?

I've commented before that on occasion Atripla will make me feel as if I have cottonmouth/dry eyes the next day when I wake up. If that's what you're referring to then yes.

PS: Welcome to the forums.

newbieguy · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2010, 07:08:23 pm »

I havent started yet, waiting for finals to end this week

Ive always tolerated most medications well, so not too worried about this one. I know if I can deal with the Sustiva I will be ok. It will be a change to not be eating as much in the evenings, but I def plan on drinking even more water than I do now!

c78 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2010, 07:53:45 pm »

Quote from: Hellraiser on August 08, 2010, 07:28:07 am

I've commented before that on occasion Atripla will make me feel as if I have cottonmouth/dry eyes the next day when I wake up. If that's what you're referring to then yes.

I have that pretty frequently (almost every day) on Atripla myself. I usually take the pill with a full pint glass of water right before bed, and still wake up feeling completely dried out!

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2010, 08:35:23 pm »

A lot of HIV meds do that, it's not just Atripla. It's for this reason among others that it's important to regularly see a dentist, and that the dentist be aware that you're HIV+. If you're mouth tends to be too dry it's also advantageous to use a saliva stimulating toothpaste and mouthwash like Biotene. Dry mouth may lead to an increase in cavities and an increase in bacterial growth.

lost_boy · « **Reply #21 on:** September 04, 2010, 05:26:54 pm »

Hey guys, just meant to say thanks for all the info you guys posted on these two theads by Newbieguy. I'm going to be starting Atripla in the next week or two (ok... tenofovir and efavirenz combo, if I have got that right, before moving onto one pill a day after a few months). Really useful, and reassuring, to see what you've all said.

Concerned I won't be able to drink alcohol quite so much though :-/ I mean, a regular weekday night out drinking session for me would be about 4 pints or so, bed by midnight. Weekend more so... (I mean, I should probably be more concerned about this let alone having HIV, but I do exercise regularly too. I'm not out of shape!).

Hellraiser · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2010, 12:17:53 am »

Quote from: lost_boy on September 04, 2010, 05:26:54 pm

Hey guys, just meant to say thanks for all the info you guys posted on these two theads by Newbieguy. I'm going to be starting Atripla in the next week or two (ok... tenofovir and efavirenz combo, if I have got that right, before moving onto one pill a day after a few months). Really useful, and reassuring, to see what you've all said.

Concerned I won't be able to drink alcohol quite so much though :-/ I mean, a regular weekday night out drinking session for me would be about 4 pints or so, bed by midnight. Weekend more so... (I mean, I should probably be more concerned about this let alone having HIV, but I do exercise regularly too. I'm not out of shape!).

Why are you taking Sustiva and Truvada separately first? Also you can drink all you won't and it won't effect your meds side effect levels (Ignoring liver toxicity).

Jeffreyj · « **Reply #23 on:** September 06, 2010, 12:57:51 am »

Good luck with the Atripla! I have a friend that started it a month ago, and aside from a weird dream or two, he's very pleased that there are no other side effects.

OK, I had a dream last week my head was cut off, and I was carrying it under my arm to the hospital.

I'm not on Atripla! So just saying!

(ME thinks it's time for shrink visit)

paulfrancis · « **Reply #24 on:** September 29, 2010, 02:15:13 pm »

I'm from Manchester England, Hope you feel better when on Atripla, I've been on Atripola now for 3 years and just started with the side effect but NO Dreams , well not yet anyway [and I dont Drink and No Sex for 2 years]

Quote from: phildinftlaudy on July 28, 2010, 06:02:43 pm

Hey Newbie-
I've been on Atripla for about 8 months now - side effects are minor (some grogginess in the AM - which I addressed by moving it up to an early dosing time); some vivid dreams (had a good one last night) and two good ones a couple nights ago (one involved a naked Peruvian girl with a knife). But the effects are minor compared to benefits.

Best to you and definitely let us know how it goes.

next2u · « **Reply #25 on:** September 30, 2010, 03:00:38 am »

have you talked to your dr about these side effects? if you dont mind me asking, what are they?

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