QUATUOR

[bufguy]

 I was wondering what people's thoughts are on QUATUOR study which studied HIV positive patients who took their meds 4 days per week and refrained the other 3. The study showed they were for the most part maintain an undetectable viral load. This seems to mimic a study about ten years ago, FOTO, Five days On, Two days Off which showed that patients on Atripla maintained suppression by taking their meds for five days and refraining for two.
A decreased regimen could have a profound effect on the cost of meds for people...20-30% savings plus a lessened drug burden on the body.
What are people's thoughts? Has anyone tried this reduced regimen?

[Ptrk3]

I don't think it's a good idea to start a four-day per week regimen (on Atripla or any other single-pill) until all phases of the study are completed (including withstanding the scientific process/method and required peer review) and the regimen is adopted throughout the healthcare community.

It is my conviction that HIV-positive individuals should work closely with his or her healthcare provider to maintain health and well being, according to the current scientific and medical protocol for the specific individual (individual outliers may always exist who require a specific antiretroviral regimen:  no one should experiment on his or her own and risk treatment failure of an antiretroviral class).

That written, yes, it would be a very good thing, indeed, if the study pans out.  Let's  hope it does!

[Jim Allen]

Hiya

We have a thread on this study. https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=72799.0

4 days a week would make no direct difference to me and, the study so far is too early days for my comfort level given resistance risks dropping two/three days of meds is no pill burden reduction if you are the unlucky sod who ends up resistant, although who knows what the future brings in the meantime I will stay put on 7 days

Jim

i-Base report urges caution over French study only taking ART 4 days a week
@IAS_conference  see: link: http://i-base.info/htb/36517

For days on, three days off is NOT as effective as daily ART: French study results need to be interpreted with caution

[virgo313]

I will take mine daily until a day when Dr advise otherwise.

[bufguy]

Thank You for the link.....I reread the article on the FOTO study from 2009. The study was pretty convincing as to 5 days on 2 days off. The only comment was the small sample size. The results though are pretty extraordinary and it begs the question why wasn't there more in depth larger sample study? And know we see another study that backs it up. Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist but it certainly wouldn"t be in Gilead"s best interest to show that people with HIV could thrive with 30% less meds....Just sayin"

[wardp]

.every individuals HIV vl CD count is different not one size fits all. 4 days a week might make you less compliant also.