Author Topic: First Day on Atripla (Read 13598 times)

TNDude · « **on:** March 18, 2009, 11:30:31 pm »

I started Atripla last night and I woke constantly every hour or two. Very vivid dreams and some mild sweating. I guess I knew this was possible, just hoped I wouldn't experience it. Felt pretty rough the first half of the day today. Im about to take it again tonite. Nervous, but hoping it will slowly get better with each dose. I have read on here that the first few weeks can be tough. $:-\$

VL was 106,000
CD4 408

positivmat · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2009, 05:29:06 am »

My first day was similar. My night sweats continue (not like they were b4) but every night nonetheless. I am only on day 22. I can sleep 5 hours now no problem. Don't know if that is atrip or my mental distress (I am prone to insomnia). I am waiting to see if these things go away. There was a dramatic change after the first day though. Good luck and keep me posted.

positivmat · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2009, 05:30:54 am »

Also, cd4 325 v/l 800,000

franfrog · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2009, 07:47:10 am »

Well as I did not start out on Atripla when I was diagnosed 4 years ago, I did start on susiva, which is one part of the atripla combo. I also was up on a constant hourly basis with hallucinations and still continue to have vivid dreams and sweats. It actually lasted a day and got better each day. Now I am on Atripla and since I was taking the sustiva there is no difference, I do continue to get dreams they are not nearly like what you experience the first day or two. I do seem to have days that are worse then others but, nothing that can not be handled.

TNDude · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2009, 12:50:37 pm »

Wow what a difference a day makes! After having such a rough first nite as I wrote about above, my second night (last night) was a HUGE difference. I slept so well. Woke up once I think. And today I feel great, so much better than yesterday.

Fri213 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2009, 06:48:50 pm »

I'm probably going to start Atripla on 4/1. I hope it's as easy to adjust as it seems it has for you.

positivmat · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:22:01 pm »

You.should be fine. The side effects get to be less each day. I actually felt good today I was having trouble catching my breath when I play tennis and today was like 4 months ago. it feels good to know that something is killing the virus. Pm me if u want to talk
Matt

RedbeardNC · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2009, 09:47:03 pm »

Part of that is probably a little panic. The side effects do go away, a lot quicker than I expected. It knocked out my 750,000 VL completely in 4 weeks. Night sweats lasted about 2-3 weeks off and on, weird dreams subsided about a week after that - I only get the weird dreams now if I drink that night. It's all worth it. My CD4s are going up slow but I only had 2 when I was diagnosed. This is an awesome drug - stick with it!

Structure310 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2009, 05:14:27 pm »

Gonna start on Atripla in a little over a week after my big meeting at work. Good to hear what to expect and that the sideeffects tend to go away. I already tend to have bad dreams to begin with without remembering them though.

franfrog · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2009, 07:59:18 pm »

It definitely is a weird medication. I still have weird dreams and ones that seem so real I can not believe it. I was on the sustiva which is in the atipla and did great, now on the atripla and will get results Tuesday to see if it does just as well. I think these medications are unbelievable what they do now. I think you will always have some sort of side effects but just have to learn to deal with them and know that they are going to get better.

WillyWump · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2009, 09:03:11 pm »

I too will be beginning Atripla, as soon as my case manager finds a way to pay for it

Good to hear these stories, makes me more at ease !

Will

jampdx · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2009, 01:02:39 am »

Quote from: WillyWump on March 27, 2009, 09:03:11 pm

I too will be beginning Atripla, as soon as my case manager finds a way to pay for it

Good to hear these stories, makes me more at ease !

Will

Hey Will, you may already know this and be on top of it, but there are many grants and Atripla's website has forms for applying for assistance. Just wanted to pass that along in case you hadn't heard, I hate that anyone has to go without.

myendgame · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:47:43 pm »

TNDude, glad to to hear your sleeping got better. I start Atripla tonight. I'm kind of concerned about the possible side effects but I'm not worried too much...

Imnew2this · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2009, 11:17:17 pm »

Good luck myendgame! First few nights are a trip, LITERALLY, but well worth it to kick viral butt!

TNDude · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2009, 12:41:36 am »

I'm almost 3 weeks in and side effects are minimal. I get dizzy about 2 hours after I take it (if I'm still up). The only other thing I am noticing is increased acne on my face. Anyone else experience this? Does it go away? How do you address it? Over the counter acne creams?

Fri213 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 02, 2009, 07:49:14 pm »

I'm about 3 hours from my first dose. I'm a bit nervous. $:-\$

positivmat · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2009, 10:37:07 pm »

Its gonna be fine. I just got tests back from first month cd4 up to 544 from 325 and v/l down to 2,993 from 800,000. You will probably be dizzy tomorrow morning but after that it should get better. Good luck

jampdx · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2009, 11:11:53 pm »

Fri213,

Consider it the most expensive drink you've ever drank.

You'll be fine, don't worry about it. It's not chemo babe. Easy for me to say, I know.

mecch · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2009, 12:00:04 am »

Quote from: TNDude on March 19, 2009, 12:50:37 pm

Wow what a difference a day makes! After having such a rough first nite as I wrote about above, my second night (last night) was a HUGE difference. I slept so well. Woke up once I think. And today I feel great, so much better than yesterday.

Besides some minor sleep problems and anxiety that was unrelated to this specific combination, i felt absolutely terrific the first week. You were treatement naive? So you understand that your virus levels are being cut dramatically down, many times over, every day. Enjoy. Be thankful.

hades01 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2009, 11:54:55 am »

Hi,
I been on atripla for about 5 months and i didnt have any side effects. only about 2 or 3 crazy dreams but it has work for me!
Good Luck to all!

Fri213 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 03, 2009, 12:23:27 pm »

The first dose was uneventlful. I did lay in a half-awake / half-asleep state for a couple of hours but I think that was just my anxiety. I did notice some mild dizziness when I got up to use the bathroom but it wasn't bad. I slept well the rest of the night and woke up just fine. I did feel very, very slightly drunk for about half an hour after I got up, but other than that nothing.

I did dream and I can say it was a weird one but I wouldn't call it vivid by any means. It wasn't disturbing at all. It was amusing now that I think about it LOL. I treated myself to a couple extra hours of sleep too and I feel great!

Structure310 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 14, 2009, 06:32:37 pm »

Had my first dose last night. I have been groggy/dizzy all day today at work. Is this normal? I did have vivid/weird dreams last night, but I slept well for the most part. No other major side effects other than the dizziness that I'm currently experiencing.

Fri213 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 27, 2009, 02:33:55 pm »

The grogginess/dizzyness will ease up after a few weeks, maybe less. I've noticed I'm not really getting the headaches anymore either. I do wish I had a little more energy but I think that will come in time. It hasn't even been 4 weeks for me yet. I take that as a good sign.

Structure310 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2009, 04:04:29 pm »

I do think, as others have mentioned, that Atripla does cause Bruxism (grinding of teeth). I think that this is also a temporary side effect. I have Bruxism (before taking Atripla) and the medication made it worse. I suspect the headaches people report are a result of grinding their teeth at night. The feeling of wanting to grind my teeth has worn off at Week 3 however.

justaguy · « **Reply #24 on:** April 27, 2009, 09:57:08 pm »

My one week update: I'm feeling SO MUCH better. Those first few days were concerning. My energy was low, my lymph nodes were SORE instead of just enlarged, and I just didn't feel like my usual self. After a week, my lymph nodes have actually reduced noticeably in size (after almost a year of being enlarged), and I feel a lot more energetic. I've been taking care not to drink and to make sure I get plenty of sleep, and I can report no weird dreams, no more hangover feelings in the mornings, and I'm happy. Can't wait to get the lab results.

clsoca · « **Reply #25 on:** April 28, 2009, 10:45:51 pm »

It's a bit weird how differrent people experience differrent side-effects. One side effect I continue to experience is ringing in the ears. It's real loud about 2 hours after ingestion and crops up from time to time during the day.

francophile · « **Reply #26 on:** April 29, 2009, 10:57:34 pm »

I started Atripla 10 days ago. The first night wasn't bad, but the second night was. I had a really violent dream that freaked me out (luckily my doctor had warned me this might happen) and the dizziness in the morning was like I was drunk. I have not had a dream again, and the dizziness has been pretty much gone since the fourth morning. Yesterday I noticed that I'm getting the rash, but it doesn't itch (yet). I've been reading these posts since before I took the first pill, so I'm glad this site exists. If I hadn't read the posts (and if my doctor had not prewarned me) I would have lost it. Reading these experiences made it a lot easier.

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Author Topic: First Day on Atripla (Read 13598 times)