POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: Jeff G on April 07, 2010, 11:26:09 am
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I'm thinking about asking my doctor to change my Hiv drugs to something else .
I'm on Atripla for many years now but I am thinking it my be time to make a change ... maybe . I don't sleep well anymore and require a nap everyday or I will fall asleep at 5 pm and then spend half the night and day awake or in a fog . I have been awake since 4 this morning and am already so tired I can barely concentrate enough to type this . The atripla has worked well for me with undetectable labs and a cd4 count of 500 ish .
I know I could research this stuff myself but your first hand experience on a more user friendly cocktail would be appreciated . I'm a long term survivor but I quit paying attention to treatment options a long time ago , I just am kinda burned out from so many years of ever changing info .
The things I want to avoid are diarrhea and lipo issue's and bursting into flames . Thanks Jeff .
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I've been very happy with Isentress -- no side effects at all. You could switch this out with the Sustiva component of Atripla and keep the Truvada for a new regimen.
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Thanks David . One reason I have to ask is because most all hiv drugs say potential side effects include lipo and diearea . I have a really sensitive stomach to most drugs .
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Thanks David . One reason I have to ask is because most all hiv drugs say potential side effects include lipo and diearea . I have a really sensitive stomach to most drugs .
I'm VERY sensitive to diarrhea issues. I really don't think you'll have such things from Isentress. And as far as lipo goes, I've not seen or heard any of that with it regardless of the package insert -- you know they just cover their ass and put that stuff down on everything.
You've already been on Truvada so if you've not had either of these issues with that then I feel confident making the switch to Isentress will make you a happy camper.
Oh, and I got a decent cd4 bump when I went on Isentress too :)
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Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. The sleep probs may or may not have anything to do with the Atripla. You're having problem getting good sleep at night which snowballs into having to take naps during the day, etc..
Perhaps adding a sleep aid will rectify all this. If it were me I would try this first.
-Will
*edit Typo
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Perhaps adding a sleep aid will rectify all this. If it were me I would try this first.
Frankly I don't understand such reasoning. If his doctor has him go off Atripla in the correct manner there won't be any resistance issues, hence he'll still have Sustiva as an option further down the road.
I don't see the point in becoming a long term sleeping pill junkie due to an HIV med that is known to have CNS issues that can cause long term insomnia.
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Frankly I don't understand such reasoning. If his doctor has him go off Atripla in the correct manner there won't be any resistance issues, hence he'll still have Sustiva as an option further down the road.
I don't see the point in becoming a long term sleeping pill junkie due to an HIV med that is known to have CNS issues that can cause long term insomnia.
Well he's doing so well on Atripla otherwise and he is concerned about the real possibility of new side effects if switching to a new combo, as I would be.
In my case, sleep issues are treated very easily and side effect free, whereas the potential for new side effects (diarreah, etc..) would seem to be harder to fix.
Not only that, but whos to say the sleep issues are in and of theirselves and he may experience them even with a drug change.
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Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. The sleep probs may or may not have anything to do with the Atripla. You're having problem getting good sleep at night which snowballs into having to take naps during the day, etc..
Perhaps adding a sleep aid will rectify all this. If it were me I would try this first.
-Will
*edit Typo
I appreciate your input but like David said I am Leary of sleeping aids . I have found that stuff like that along with pain meds work great for the short term but inevitably lead to you needing more to achieve the same outcome and before you know it you have other problems to deal with .
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Well he's doing so well on Atripla otherwise and he is concerned about the real possibility of new side effects if switching to a new combo, as I would be.
In my case, sleep issues are treated very easily and side effect free, whereas the potential for new side effects (diarreah, etc..) would seem to be harder to fix.
Not only that, but whos to say the sleep issues are in and of theirselves and he may experience them even with a drug change.
That is one of my concerns but I can always go back to atripla . Changing meds scares the heck out of me but somethings got to give here . I am so tired all the time I never want to do anything outside of being at home anymore that I feel life is passing my by .
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I've been very happy with Isentress -- no side effects at all. You could switch this out with the Sustiva component of Atripla and keep the Truvada for a new regimen.
Same here! I am glad that some people can tolerate Sustiva, but I found it to be very toxic. My IDS switched me to Isentress & Truvada and I feel better than I have in years.
Billy
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That is one of my concerns but I can always go back to atripla . Changing meds scares the heck out of me but somethings got to give here . I am so tired all the time I never want to do anything outside of being at home anymore that I feel life is passing my by .
Agreed. Sleeplessness is horrid and can effect everything in your life. Ive been there. You defiantely need to do something, whatever it may be. Good luck and keep us posted!
-WIll
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Well he's doing so well on Atripla otherwise and he is concerned about the real possibility of new side effects if switching to a new combo, as I would be.
In my case, sleep issues are treated very easily and side effect free, whereas the potential for new side effects (diarreah, etc..) would seem to be harder to fix.
Not only that, but whos to say the sleep issues are in and of theirselves and he may experience them even with a drug change.
Remind me again how much you personally know about Isentress side effects, as well as how many other people you know that have taken this medication since it was FDA approved?
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Remind me again how much you personally know about Isentress side effects, as well as how many other people you know that have taken this medication since it was FDA approved?
Zero and Zero. I fail to see where I indicated otherwise. I was making a general statement about switching to any new combo, nothing in my posts is specific to Isentress.
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Thanks for the replies guys . I will talk to my doctor about Isentress asap .
Now Now guys no need to fight over me there is enough to go round here .
But if you guys wanna leg wrestle I will blow the winner .
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While folks like Isentress... which is cool...
I'm on Truvada Reyataz Norvir with good results so far. A good lipid profile and durable and once a day dosing in the morning, or whatever time you would choose.
So essentially you can do the same thing as the Isentress, Keep two of the components of Atripla that are in Truvada and put in the Reyataz and the Norvir. (You do have to boost).
So there are more than on option.
I think I have a slight diarrhea issue which I manage with fiber and glutamine and yogurt. Everyone is different of course and has different issues.
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Yeah, I was going to suggest that as well as Prezista, but they both require a Norvir booster and that does sometimes cause a little diarrhea for those of us that get it easy, so I just passed on suggesting it for this particular person since he specifically stated he didn't want any of that. Of course, neither of these are anything like the explosive-D one gets from Kaletra or Invirase.
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I think I tried Norvir a long time ago and had uncontrollable diearea . I was drinking and doing lots of coke back then though .
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I think I tried Norvir a long time ago and had uncontrollable diearea . I was drinking and doing lots of coke back then though .
Yeah, but back then they were using Norvir as a primary protease inhibitor class med. Nowadays it's just used as a "booster" for other PIs, so the dose is very, very minimal in comparison to over a decade ago. Totally night and day in terms of diarrhea, so if you ever need to go this route don't let your past experience frighten you... promise?
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The things I want to avoid are diarrhea and lipo issue's and bursting into flames . Thanks Jeff
You are too cute sometimes ;D
Based on what I have read, and a recent conversation with my ID doc, I think that La P. has given you the right advice (especially when we consider your D-concerns and the effects that Atripla may be having on your sleeping patterns). I'm one of those lucky ones who is not affected in any way by Sustiva, but if I ever have to worry about changing my line of treatment I would be interested in Isentress.
Good luck with the change if you decide to go for it.
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Thanks guys for taking the time to advise me .
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Ultimately the point is remarkable that folks are basically saying that there are combos out there that we are "happy" with.
Certainly you know it wasn't always that way.
Sure there are long term unknowns, but from a day to day dealing with sides, i can honestly say, I really feel no different after i take my pills every day. No stomach distress. Headaches. Rashes. No Yellowing. Pretty much feeling, "normal".
The slight looseness I have occurs in the afternoon and depends on what i eat... I used to do the fiber and glutamine in the morning but now switched that to the evening. (I don't remember why.) So I think I'll just put the fiber and glutamine back in the morning ritual. Just today i could feel a bit coming on, so I got the fiber (Heaping Teaspoon) and glutamine out (5 grams) mixed 8 ounces of cold water and drank it. problem solved.
I've never had an "explosive" issue to date with the combo, but I do take steps. There are methods to manage sides if it comes to that.
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I just got off the phone with my clinic nurse . My CD4 count is 612 and viral load 49 with my percentages 22% . These are the best labs I have ever had .
I discussed my desire to change my combo from atripla to isentress and truvada with her , she is emailing my doc to see what she thinks . All in all a good start to a rainy Thursday morning here .
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I just got off the phone with my clinic nurse . My CD4 count is 612 and viral load 49 with my percentages 22% . These are the best labs I have ever had .
I discussed my desire to change my combo from atripla to isentress and truvada with her , she is emailing my doc to see what she thinks . All in all a good start to a rainy Thursday morning here .
My IDS told me that the Isentress would be easier on my liver than the boosted Meds. I take it and the Truvada with or without food which is nice because I work second shift and eat at odd times. Having to wait two hours before and an hour after taking Atripla to eat really screwed up my meals.
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My IDS told me that the Isentress would be easier on my liver than the boosted Meds. I take it and the Truvada with or without food which is nice because I work second shift and eat at odd times. Having to wait two hours before and an hour after taking Atripla to eat really screwed up my meals and caused me to drop six pounds in two week.
Sorry for the double post, I was tring to edit :)
Billy
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I have horrible lipid issues so I'm really interested in the possibility of making the change to isentress as miss P . advised .
I do have controlled hep B infection but the truvada will be in place to help with that .
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Hi JG, I'm on Truvada plus boosted Reyataz plus Isentress, with no side effects beyond occasional yellowing from the Reyataz. I'd like to drop the Reyataz but my doctor is reluctant to mess with a so-far successful combo, and I'm taking his advice.
The only downside to Isentress is remembering to take it twice a day.