Second set of labs after starting MK-0518 (raltegravir)

[allanq]

I know several people are thinking of switching from Fuzeon to Raltegravir when it gets FDA approval, so I just wanted to report on my experience.

I got back the results of my second set of lab tests today, having been on Raltegravir since February 12. My other drugs are Prezista/Norvir, and Sustiva. The Raltegravir replaced Fuzeon, which I had been taking for over three years.

The good news is that VL is now back to undetectable (<50). On my first set of labs I had a VL of 59 and was worried that the Raltegravir might not be suppressing the virus. So with this undetectable reading, it appears that the Raltegravir is working and the previous VL result was indeed a blip.

My CD4s went down from 244 to 179, but the % went up from 11.1% to 11.9%.  I'm not too concerned about the drop in absolute CD4s, since they have been around 180 for several years, even when my VL was undetectable.

I am concerned that my cholesterol remains very high after starting the Raltegravir. On my first set of labs after starting the drug, it was 311, with HDL at 30. On this second set it was 289, with HDL of 37. At least it's improving some. I've given up desserts and ice cream in order to help bring down the cholesterol. Today I'm going to buy some fish oil capsules. (I'm already taking Lipitor.) I've done research on the possibility that Raltegravir is causing the rise in cholesterol but have not come up with anything that indicates that the Raltegravir is responsible.

Allan

[Miss Philicia]

Thanks Allan, and good luck with this.  Please keep us updated on your progress.  As you may recall I'm on Fuzeon/Prezista so this is an option for me if I get weary of injections but I'd rather hear first hand accounts about Raltegravir for a while before entertaining this.