Since David reminded me . . .

[aztecan]

I hadn't thought about it until today, but March is the anniversary month of when I started meds.

Yep, just 14 short years ago, I took my first dose: Saquinavir, AZT and Epivir. I had to take 17 pills a day and they had to be taken with 8 ounces of grapefruit juice.

Ah, the memories of the pants, underwear, seat covers and bed linens I ruined thanks to that combo.

At least it didn't make me resistant to the PIs like it did so many others.

There is a bright side to everything.

HUGS

Mark

[Inchlingblue]

That's inspiring.

Why the grapefruit juice? I thought I had read somewhere that grapefruit juice raises the levels of some meds. My neighbor offered me grapefruits and I turned him down in case it affected the levels of the meds. Now I'm regretting it, I love grapefruit.

[Miss Philicia]

That's inspiring.

Why the grapefruit juice? I thought I had read somewhere that grapefruit juice raises the levels of some meds. My neighbor offered me grapefruits and I turned him down in case it affected the levels of the meds. Now I'm regretting it, I love grapefruit.

I could be wrong, but my bet would be the saquinavir.  When it first came out in 1996 the first formulation had absorption issues which led many to develop resistance issues (like me, made me resistant to the entire first generation class of PIs).  Roche reformulated it a year later or so.

btw, I don't think grapefruit effects any of the meds you are currently on, no I.  I don't eat them a lot just to be careful, but one every so often.  I'd personally not be paranoid about it unless you plan on eating two every day, but I've not even had a doctor mention this topic to me for close to a decade.

[alliance]

Mark -you're amazing. Congratulations!

[Hellraiser]

For Atripla:

It is recommended that you avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine, as it could alter the blood level of the medicine.

I'm not sure which component the grapefruit juice interacts with, but on thebody.com someone asked and they said it was fine as long as you were eating/drinking grapefruit/juice in moderation.

[RapidRod]

Ewwww Mark grapefruit juice would have gagged me but I guess that is no different than one of my meds that have to be taken with a Pepsi or Coke.

[CallMeSid]

Mark.

You're a trooper!  I admire your tenacity!

Wishing you the best,

Sid

Not to hijack the thread, but additional information on grapefruit/grapefruit juice and its interaction with some HIV (and other) meds can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drugs_affected_by_grapefruit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CYP3A4

[WillyWump]

Mark.

You're a trooper!  I admire your tenacity!

Wishing you the best,

Sid

Not to hijack the thread, but additional information on grapefruit/grapefruit juice and its interaction with some HIV (and other) meds can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drugs_affected_by_grapefruit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CYP3A4

Well the list in the first Wikipedia link lists Norvir as having a "minor interacton" so I guess my decision to stay away from Grapefruit is a good one, although i love them so...nothing better than a big Ruby Red with sugar on it Everytime I pass them in the market my mouth waters. As Philly says its probably ok to have one every now and then, but my thought is why go down that road.

Back on topic (if just for a moment)... Mark,  you and the other "Long timers" are my heros as I know us newbies have it relatively easy compared to those who had to endure the meds of the 90's. Yall paved the way for the easier drugs we are given now. My hats off to yall

-Will

[YaKaMein]

Well said WillyWump! Hats off to the many LTS who have survived and endured, esp Mark on his anniversary. -YaKa

[Okealyshire]

Well the list in the first Wikipedia link lists Norvir as having a "minor interacton" so I guess my decision to stay away from Grapefruit is a good one, although i love them so...nothing better than a big Ruby Red with sugar on it Everytime I pass them in the market my mouth waters. As Philly says its probably ok to have one every now and then, but my thought is why go down that road.

I'll add my congratulations, too. It's indeed heartening to read the stories of the long-term survivors here.

Regarding the various Norvir warnings... my ID doc explained that the interaction warnings were all based from the time when Norvir was used as a primary PI. If you're taking only a single 100mg capsule for its boosting properties, the warnings don't apply. I love ice-cold grapefruit juice in the morning; my doc said to drink up and enjoy.

[tednlou2]

Congrats on your good health--I know it hasn't been all roses.  Not to get side-tracked on this grapefruit thing, but I was just hearing on the news something about licorice candy affecting meds.  I may have been half-asleep and heard that wrong.

Anyway, here's to many more years of health!  All you guys help to ease my fears and give me hope.

[skeebo1969]

  Alyways admired you Mark, congrats on the good health and thanks for sharing your experiences through the years.

[Theyer]

Mark----You made me think off something that proably should be remain buried, frighten by a handfull off Pills to take the following would pop into my head every time

Have no fear on Saquinavir---sing song chorus Ala cheesy radio ad

HUGS back to you
t

[Assurbanipal]

Wish you many more anniversaries

... and the occasional ... well chosen ... switch

to easier and easier regimens.

[aztecan]

Thanks gang! 

Just to clarify, the grapefruit juice was used as Philly said:

I could be wrong, but my bet would be the saquinavir.  When it first came out in 1996 the first formulation had absorption issues which led many to develop resistance issues (like me, made me resistant to the entire first generation class of PIs).  Roche reformulated it a year later or so.

I was drinking 24 ounces of grapefruit juice a day. I also had ulcers and problems with acid reflux.

I switched two months later, in May 1996, to Crixivan. That is probably why I avoided the resistance problems that Philly encountered.

I stuck with Crix for 11 years, but that's another story.

HUGS,

Mark.

[David_CA]

I'm not sure which is a 'worse' anniversary - an HIV diagnosis now or the early meds.  Either way, I'm glad that you're celebrating another year, too.   

[AlanBama]

Congrats on the milestone, honey!  March is one for me also -- completing 23 years of living with HIV/AIDS.  As I boldly go forward into year # 24, I have so much to be thankful for.  Sure wish I could get a "do over" on the whole decade of the 90's, with the meds we have today.   We've certainly paid our dues, haven't we?

hugs,

Alan   

[aztecan]

Congrats on the milestone, honey!  March is one for me also -- completing 23 years of living with HIV/AIDS.  As I boldly go forward into year # 24, I have so much to be thankful for.  Sure wish I could get a "do over" on the whole decade of the 90's, with the meds we have today.   We've certainly paid our dues, haven't we?

hugs,

Alan  

Hey Alan, Congratulations on the Milestone! It is amazing what we've been through. Sometimes it still leaves me dumbstruck.

At least you are still as handsome as ever.  

I would love to get rid of the hump, the chipmunk cheeks and the turkey neck, but, what the hell. I really don't have room to complain considering what others, including yourself, went through.


HUGS,

Mark

[mewithu]

You all are very lucky you didn't have to go through what some of us did. My case was really bad I almost died in the hospital I waited way to long to go to the hospital. I almost lost this life very early. I thought I was just having really bad headaches. No, it was the big one ,AIDS.  DIdnt even know it till I woke up from a coma like state two months later in the hospital and it wasn't fun after that. Believe me, No fun at all. Jerry