The Thing About GAS

[contagion]

I recently began Tivicay and Truvada. I was on Stribild but it made me mad gassy (from the rear end!) so I had to switch. Before that I was on Atripla which made me mad dizzy.

Now I'm better on Tivicay but it still makes me gassy. I had GI issues before HIV so I'm not new to this. But certainly don't remember it being this bad before I started meds. I told my doctor that the switch from Atripla to Stribild to Tivicay/Truvada would still give me gas coz of the common component - tenofovir. I read that Tenofovir is known to cause gas.
My doc seem to somewhat agree but didn't give me any real solution. I spoke to him briefly about Tivicay / Epsicom. He is hesitant to change so many times so quickly - and so am I.

Has anyone had issues with gas and found ways to resolve it?

[Jeff G]

I suffered from horrible gas and bloating that I thought were med related but I have found my gut issues were caused from being infected with H Pylori . I was having a heck of a time reticently with tummy pain and gas and finally it got so bad I went in for an endoscopy and found out I had ulcers that were caused by H Pylori . I was treated years ago for H P and remember now that I had instant relief from the gas . I just finished a 10 day course of meds for H P and the gas is gone again . I am on Truvada/Intelence and assumed the gas was from the Tootvada as I called it .

My point is your gas/gut issues may not be from meds so I would explore all the possibility's before I considered a med change if this is your only reason to want to change at this time . Best of luck .     

[Miss Philicia]

Have you tried something like Beano -- it reduces as in the GI tract hence reduced released gas from the body.

Personally I use a prescription for Creon (pancrelipase) which is for another reason related to when I had wasting issues that messed up the pancreatic/digestive enzymes in my body but the end result is a reduction in flatulence.

While Jeff could certainly be correct that you it's not the meds, there's certainly a larger chance that it is from truvada. It's a very known, very common effect -- but it's a matter of degrees in how much you're farting. I'd still go with trying something OTC like Beano first before upping things to an entirely new level like seeing a specialist.

[Jeff G]

Since the OP had gut issues before HIV I agree he should explore all his options including consulting his doctor before adding supplements .

[contagion]

I've had GI issues (irritable bowels) for at least fifteen years but never have I had this problem with so much gas. Since I've had GI issues I have tried the entire gamut of supplements from probiotics, enzymes, beano and gasX. Beano helped a bit, but still it was quite bad. Both my HIV specialist & my gastroenterologist don't seem to care.

I guess when I see these doctors they don't fully understand how severely it is effecting my daily life. Perhaps I should tell them how much fun it is to feel like a balloon every-time you eat or have to visit the bathroom six times a day to set of small explosions.

Thanks for the reply guys. For now I guess I will restart Beano, take otc enzymes, eat sensibly and see what happens. My doc ordered a test to see if I'm allergic to Epsicom  but he would ask me to make the decision if I want to change meds again.

[Bizkits]

I too had a problem with gas/bloating when I first started taking truvada/tivicay but it seems to have pretty much resolved itself now after a couple of weeks. I still get gas occasionally but I'm pretty sure that's just because I'm always just full of hot air .

[deprivedlol]

I recently began Tivicay and Truvada. I was on Stribild but it made me mad gassy (from the rear end!) so I had to switch. Before that I was on Atripla which made me mad dizzy.

Now I'm better on Tivicay but it still makes me gassy. I had GI issues before HIV so I'm not new to this. But certainly don't remember it being this bad before I started meds. I told my doctor that the switch from Atripla to Stribild to Tivicay/Truvada would still give me gas coz of the common component - tenofovir. I read that Tenofovir is known to cause gas.
My doc seem to somewhat agree but didn't give me any real solution. I spoke to him briefly about Tivicay / Epsicom. He is hesitant to change so many times so quickly - and so am I.

Has anyone had issues with gas and found ways to resolve it?

[deprivedlol]

Try greek yogurt...does wonders for me.  I have a nervous stomach to begin with and I'm sure all these years of meds have a lot to do with it too, but it just about disappears when I eat yogurt daily

[zach]

i had gas for a week, gone now, no other side effects to speak of, into my sixth week overall on truvada

[contagion]

My life is essentially controlled by my GI symptoms. I saw a GI doc who was useless. I might just switch to Epsicom.

[spiritualhgangster]

My life is essentially controlled by my GI symptoms. I saw a GI doc who was useless. I might just switch to Epsicom.

Any luck finding a cure? We are in the same boat.

[contagion]

I've since switched to juluca. I still have issues with gas..I guess I've just sort of learnt to live with it now. It has been much lesser. Helps to find your nutritional triggers. There are obviously a gamut of gas causing veggies/fruits to avoid. Personally carbs are a big trigger.