BIKTARVY SWITCH

[cityboy]

Hi

I haven't been here in a while.  I have been taking Tivicay and Descovey.  My ID doc
had mentioned that I might consider switching to Biktarvy which just got approved around February 2018.  It seems like this would be a little easier on my liver and body overall.  I am concerned with side effects such as headaches and stomach upset which seem to be the main 2 I keep coming across.  I am undetectable < 20 copies and CD4 is around 800.  Would this regimen complicate any other health issues?

If any of you guys can shed some light on a switch to Biktarvy and any side effects, that would be helpful for me to decide.  I have co-pay assistance set up or Gilead and VIIV currrently.  I think Gilead makes Biktarvy. 

Thanks

[Jim Allen]

Not sure what you mean with kinder on the liver, are the counts off is that the reason for the switch?

Just wanted to give you my general 2 cents, that i tend to give that is if you are having problems and you can't manage it and the cause is the meds than I would follow the ID doctors advice and switch. If the issue is not related to anything else than there is no point living with something that does not work for you.

Personally neither Descovey or Biktarvy would suit me because of TAF, it does not work well for me, that said plenty of people are fine with it.

I am concerned with side effects such as headaches and stomach upset which seem to be the main 2 I keep coming across

Did you address the concern with the ID doc and what did they say? Also same as Tivicay if you read up on side effects its one of the main reported ones is headaches ... to be honest its listed for a lot of meds not only HIV ones, do you have  headaches now?

Anyhow hope things go well

Jim

[cityboy]

Not sure what you mean with kinder on the liver, are the counts off is that the reason for the switch?

Just wanted to give you my general 2 cents, that i tend to give that is if you are having problems and you can't manage it and the cause is the meds than I would follow the ID doctors advice and switch. If the issue is not related to anything else than there is no point living with something that does not work for you.

Personally neither Descovey or Biktarvy would suit me because of TAF, it does not work well for me, that said plenty of people are fine with it.

Did you address the concern with the ID doc and what did they say? Also same as Tivicay if you read up on side effects its one of the main reported ones is headaches ... to be honest its listed for a lot of meds not only HIV ones, do you have  headaches now?

Anyhow hope things go well

Jim
[/quote

[cityboy]

I read a couple people say biktarvy was easier on the liver.  I have no liver issues I am aware of.  Self cleared from Hep B about 10 years ago. I have always used TAF since the start of using meds.  So I dont have anything else to compare to.  What reaction do you get from TAF?    I dont get headaches now with Tivicay.       I think my id doc is trying to get me to a one pill regimen.  For me one or two pills doesn't matter much.  I have asked him several questions and the answer I received was that he monitors my livers function so dont worry about it and just go for it and see if you have the reactions that are said to be side effects.  Are these normal responses from an ID doc?  I felt uncomfortable with these responses. 

[Mightysure]

Tivicay and Descovy is a great regimen. The clinical trials they did to get Biktarvy approved compared it to Tivicay + Descovy, so I think i understand why your doc may want to switch...if you're having an issue with it.

when you say "easier on the liver", in comparison to what? I think dolutegravir (DTG) and bictegravir (BIC) havw similar side effect profiles and similar chemcial strictures, so much that Gilead is being sued for patent infringement, so I dont know what you'd gain by switching.

2 pills vs 1? Ehh. It's no big deal for me and I like having copay cards from two companies. I meet my deductible with much more ease!

[cityboy]

Could you clarify what deductible you are meeting quicker with 2 cards for 2 meds?   For me copay assistance takes care of the copay so no benefit for me in med's copay being charged to my deductible bucket for insurance purposes. 

Tivicay and Descovy is a great regimen. The clinical trials they did to get Biktarvy approved compared it to Tivicay + Descovy, so I think i understand why your doc may want to switch...if you're having an issue with it.

when you say "easier on the liver", in comparison to what? I think dolutegravir (DTG) and bictegravir (BIC) havw similar side effect profiles and similar chemcial strictures, so much that Gilead is being sued for patent infringement, so I dont know what you'd gain by switching.

2 pills vs 1? Ehh. It's no big deal for me and I like having copay cards from two companies. I meet my deductible with much more ease!

[randym431]

Been a LONG time since I've checked in here.
Was looking for posts on Biktarvy.
I just started Biktarvy this week coming from Atripla, which I had no issues with, but the doc liked what she was reading about Biktarvy.
So far so good.

[dml1964]

I also switched from Atripla to Biktarvy about 4 months ago. I like it much better no weird dreams and I like be able to take it without food. So i wake up shower take my pill and move on.

[wardp]

Did taf raise your cholesterol ?

[gorka]

Did taf raise your cholesterol ?

in my case it did. i am now taking stating too.  i think am going to get rid of TAF when dolutehravir lamuvidine combo gets approved

[gettingonwithlife]

Hi,

This is a minefield for me... I have just been switched from Atripla to Biktarvy - so far so good but i now have questions.

Is there significant benefits with moving to Biktarvy? How are people feeling different/better from taking Biktarvy instead of Atripla?

Thanks

[Expat1]

A lot of people  have issues with the efavirenz part of Atripla.  In me it caused tedious dreams.  I woke up feeling exhausted.  I also became moody after  being on it after several months.  I switched out the efavirenz with Edurant.  The dreams went away after 3 nights, the moodness was gone immediately. 

The moodiness cause me to be short tempered with friends and family over petty things.  After stopping I felt like I got my mind back.  Granted this is a very subjective experience.  But very glad I stopped the Atripla at 11 months in. 

On the plus side, it got my viral load down from 43000 to 163 in 17 days.  I have been undetectable ever since.  In 7 days  it is 5 years since I tested Poz, I started Atripla the same day.  (No Genotype test was norm in Thailand at that time.)

The switch to generic Truvada and Edurant was easy.  Just had to undergo additional blood tests to make sure the new combo worked.  It did and continues to do so.

[bufguy]

I was on Atripla for over 10 years and just switched to Biktarvy two weeks ago....So far so good...nothing to report.