First treatment: Truvada, Prezista, Norvir and Intelence ... any tips ?

[nomatterhow]

Hi!! I finally got Phenotype test results and was suggested to take these 4 drugs from monday, I got them at the pharmacy yesterday  and want to start this monday... my cd4 is : 130 and my Viral load : 70,000, and 4/8 percentage is : 11% ... (is this the right moment to start or can i wait a few more weeks ? )

is there any precaution I should take ? I think I should take them with/after food, but apart from that , what am I expecting to happen the first days?

I am f**** nervous!


Thank you all !!

[nixsmail]

i'm on truvada, prezista and norvir. have been for almost 3 years now and there have been no noticeable side effects. i take them once a day in the evening with my dinner or a snack. i believe that the drugs that require the food are the prezista with norvir, i think truvada can be taken with or without food. my lab stats are in my signature and i was about the same place as you when i started the drugs and really didn't have any hesitation about starting. my cd4 count was falling and load rising so needed to get started. i'm not sure about the intelence that you're scheduled to be on so someone else will have to comment on that. all in all it's been pretty uneventful and is now a habit rather than a bother. you just need to be adherent after starting and get it to be a habit. wishing you well and long life.

[buginme2]

I would start now.  Your CD4 is already very low, what are you waiting for.

I would not expect any major complications.  You may have some mild GI issues from the Norvir.  Its common to have some skin issues flair up (rashes, etc).  Since your CD4 is low you may have some immune reconstitution flare ups.

Its normal to be nervous, its also normal to ask yourself, why was I so fucking nervous? About 2 weeks after starting.

[Rhaegar]

I would definitely start medication now.  I remember reading in the LTS section that it takes a considerably longer time for the CD4 count to recover once it has fallen below 50.  So why wait?

I'm taking Truvada, Norvir, and Prezista and also haven't had any side effects.  I can't speak for the 4th medication though.

Also, nixsmail, may I ask why it took so long for you to get to undetectable?  I'm just curious.

-Kevin

[paulie_tx]

Happy to find this post!!!  I started the same meds a few days ago...appears to be a common treatment.  No side effects.  In fact, I stayed away from Atripla because I didnt want to experience the wicked-dreams, etc.  I'd rather take 4 pills a day and sleep well.

[nomatterhow]

i started my treatment!!! yaaay

no side effects, some rash but i guess thats more bactrim than ART

some belly ache in the evening but then disappears soon... i had diarrhea in the morning but then i reduced coffee and its all better now

i had one glass of champagne one evening , and it immediately burnt something in  my stomach, so i didnt drink anymore

waiting for my blood test to see the tendency and effectiveness of this regimen

i am happy i did the wise choice

[forrest]

Awesome NMH!  Glad to hear it's' going well! 

[paulie_tx]

OMG!!!!  I was also taking bactrim.  Broke out in hives.  Dr. stopped the bactim and told me to take benadryl.