SPLITTING SUSTIVA INTO 2 DOSES???

[mrtallguy]

I AM HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH SUSTIVA AND SLEEPING.   I WAS THINKING ABOUT SPLITTING THE PILL IN HALF AND TAKING IT TWICE/DAY TO REDUCE THE SIDE EFFECTS.   I SENT MY DOC AN EMAIL TO SEE IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.  I AM MAKING SURE THAT I HAVE NO FATTY FOOD IN MY SYSTEM 3 HOURS BEFORE TAKING THE SUSTIVA TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECTS BUT IT STILL ROCKS MY BOAT!                        IS ANYONE HERE SPLITTING THEIR PILL INTO 2 DOSES OR KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DOING THAT???

BE WELL!

CRAIG

[J.R.E.]

Hello Craig,

Are you on Atripla, or do you take Sustiva, along with something else?

I found the following link from the body.com, but until you get a more precise answer to your question, I would probably stick with the full dose, until you are informed otherwise.

Click this link :

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Resistance/Current/Q163824.html?h40o



Have a Happy New Year---------Ray

[newt]

No studies aside, people do split the daily 600mg dose it into portions to reduce side effects. 

Sustiva is made in the following doses:

• 600mg film coated tablet (the usual orange bomb)
• 50 mg, 100mg or 200mg capsules

Twice daily dosing, either 300mg + 300mg or, as is more common, 400mg night + 200mg top up before brekkie (as per Dr  Gallant's answer on the John Hopkins site to the question: Can I split efavirenz [Sustiva] tablets safely?).

- matt

[mrtallguy]

HEY RAY AND MATT....THANK YOU FOR THE LINKS!
VERY INTERESTING INFO FROM THESE 2 FORUMS!  THE DOC FROM THE UNIV.OF CHICAGO SHAMES THE PATIENT FOR SPLITTING TABLETS, SAYS THAT STUDIES HAVE ONLY BEEN DONE ON SINGLE 600mg DOSES, AND MENTIONS NOTHING ABOUT THE 200mg DOSING AVAILABLE.     THE DOC FROM JOHNS HOPKINS INDICATES THAT IT IS OKAY TO SPLIT THE TABLET AND OFFERS THE OPTION OF TAKING MULTIPLE 200mg DOSES TO HELP THE PATIENT DEAL WITH INSOMNIA AND AVOID THE HASSLE OF SPLITTING TABLETS.   EVEN MORE SHOCKING IS THAT THESE FORUM POSTS WERE ISSUED 3 DAYS APART! THIS REINFORCES THE FACT THAT THERE IS A WIDE DISPARITY IN INFORMATION AVAILABLE AND THAT WE, THE VICTIMS, MUST EXERCISE DUE DILIGENCE IN SORTING THROUGH INFORMATION FROM QUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO LISTEN TO US AND RESPOND WITH INTELLIGENCE AND COMPASSION.  I WILL REVIEW THESE LINKS WITH MY DOC AND PROBABLY WILL GET THE 200mg CAPSULES.

YOU GUYS ARE ANGELS!!     BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN 2007!!

BE WELL....CRAIG

PS...RAY: TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION....I STARTED ON SUSTIVA/TRUVADA...SWITCHED TO ATRIPLA, BUT TAKING ALL THE MEDS AT ONCE SEEMED TO CREATE (OR AGGRAVATE) MY INSOMNIA ISSUES SO I WENT BACK TO TRUVADA IN THE AM AND SUSTIVA AT NIGHT BUT THE INSOMNIA CONTINUED...TRIED SUSTIVA DURING THE DAY BUT IT CREATED A CRAZY HIGH AND PARANOIA....SO NOW WILL ADJUST THE SUSTIVA DOSAGE/TIMING TO GET IT RIGHT.

[mrtallguy]

>>>>>UPDATE<<<<
MY DOC SAID IT WAS NO PROBLEM TO SPLIT THE SUSTIVA SO NOW I HAVE THE 200mg CAPSULES...I TAKE ONE AS SOON AS I GET UP (5-6AM) THE NEXT ONE APPROX 3 HOURS LATER (AROUND 9AM) AND THE LAST ONE (DEPENDING ON WHAT I'M HAVING FOR LUNCH) AROUND NOON.   THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE MINIMAL AND BY BEDTIME I CAN CRASH WITHOUT INSOMNIA RELATED ISSUES.   HOORAY!!

BE WELL!

CRAIG

[J.R.E.]

Hi Craig,


Glad to hear that things worked out for you and the Sustiva !!


Take Care-----Ray