Biktarvy & Juluca - Pending listing on PBS in AUS (want to switch from Triumeq)

[Saammyy91]

Hi everyone!

I have been taking Triumeq for 2 1/2 years and unfortunately have been experiencing worsening mental effects. My depression and anxiety have continually been building and have reached a pretty bad level. After mentioning this to my doctor a couple of times, I decided on a script for Genvoya to get away from Dolutegravir contained in Triumeq. After doing some research on Genvoya, it seems like a decent alternative to what I am taking now, but I wanted to do a little research to see if there is something else available in Australia that I would not need to take with food. I noticed that Biktarvy and Juluca are new single-pills and are both currently pending PBS listing.

https://www.ashm.org.au/report-back/HIVDT18/global-antiretroviral-guidelines/
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/first-two-drug-single-pill-hiv-treatment-approved-australia/170645

Looking at both options, I would prefer Biktarvy as it doesn't have the requirement for it to be taken with food. I'm in two minds at the moment with whether it would be better to wait for Biktarvy to be listed, or switch to Genvoya now and then switch a few months later to a new pill. From the look of the ASHM website, the submission to be listed on the PBS might have been done only recently, so I guess it will probably be a few months before an outcome is announced.

I was originally leaning towards waiting, but now that I've written this post, I think I will probably switch to Genvoya first to hopefully improve the state of my brain.  Wondering if anyone else is in the same position?

[harleymc]

Depression and anxiety are rough.

Certainly it is worth exploring prescription change(s) but also there are a mass of strategies to fight depression and anxiety.

You really need to get a health care plan in place with your GP.   good luck

[bufguy]

As noted in a previous post I will be starting Biktarvy as soon as my meds arrive in the mail. They will replace Atripla which I have been taking for 10 years now. I chose Biktarvy as opposed to to the Triumeq containing Dolutegravir and the absence of any food requirement.
I had no issues with Atripla, so lets hope Biktarvy will be as successful.....My next regimen will hopefully be a long lasting one
 

[Mightysure]

Depression and anxiety are so debilitating. You dont even realize how many facets of your life it touches.

Im curious as to why you went to your meds instead of treating those issues directly? And if it didnt work, then look to your meds to see if it could cause psychological issues?

I'm not sure if Tivicay is known to cause depression. It may have been the transcriptase indicators if anything.

I was on Stribld, then Genvoya, then Tivicay and Descovy and it wasn't until I stopped taking NRTIs that I stopped habing sleep issues..

Hopefully it works for you, but I'm not sure switching to the same drug class while not pursuing psychological trespass is the besr course.

Just my opinion.

[wardp]

If you didnt have anxiety and depression before you started tivicay then sometimes you should suspect your meds. If you have options to switch meds go ahead, you have nothing to lose. Ive been through all these side effects with atripla and tivicay.