So what happens when you change meds ?

[bmancanfly]

I'm about to change meds.  Currently on Viramune/Truvada.  Drug company dropped the co-pay assistance for the Viramune,  and with a $150 a month co-pay for a 20 year old (non-preferred)  drug I decided to switch to Tivicay.  Had no problems with Viramune and would prefer not to switch but it is what it is.

I was curious what happens when you stop one of the three meds in your combo and replace it with a new one.  I would assume it takes a while for the new drug to reach the proper levels.  So isn't the person on a two drug treatment for a while until the new drug reaches a therapeutic level?

More curious than worried.  I want to make sure I have an undetectable VL at all times for mine and the safety of others.

[Miss Philicia]

I would assume it takes a while for the new drug to reach the proper levels.  So isn't the person on a two drug treatment for a while until the new drug reaches a therapeutic level?

No, it doesn't work like that. Nothing should happen to you.

[Jeff G]

You are undetectable on your current combo so you should be able to remain undetectable when you change combos .

[bmancanfly]

Thanks for the feedback.   I wanted to make sure there was no potential risk to my partner.

[Miss Philicia]

Thanks for the feedback.   I wanted to make sure there was no potential risk to my partner.

Are you implying that you are having sex without condom use or PrEP? In that case I suppose theoretically there is a risk, as you will not know with 100% certainty that the new medication is working -- that is just plain common sense. In that case you might wish to alter how you have sex until you have your first post-switch lab work performed.

[Jeff G]

I agree with Miss P 100 % . Use condoms for anal sex until you have no doubt you are consistently undetectable .

[bmancanfly]

I only have sex with my partner who is poz and on meds.  I just feel more comfortable knowing my VL is undetectable.

[Matts]

I read somewhere that Tivicay needs 5 days to reach a constant therapeutic level.

[eric48]

Of all arvs viramune is the slowest to wash out. Sometime measurable as far as 1 month after cessation

[BKKKevin]

I read somewhere that Tivicay needs 5 days to reach a constant therapeutic level.

So to be on the safe side tell your partner you have to only have blowjobs for a week...

Long and slow... Doctors orders!...

[bmancanfly]

Luckily,  the BF rarely needs much in the way of coercion in that regard. 

However,  this Tivicay experiment may be short lived.  The most common side effect is insomnia.  And I haven't been able to get a decent nights sleep for nearly a week.  I was worried about this since I don't sleep well under the best of circumstances but this is by far much worse than normal.

I woke up at 2am and was wide awake,  as has been the case since the second dose of Tivicay.  I took a Xanax which usually is like a baseball bat to the side of my head (lights out).  But it had no effect.  Waited an hour and was still wide awake so I took an Ambien.  After another hour I finally dozed off.  But pretty much every night has been like this since I started Tivicay.   Very disappointed,  especially since I had no sides with Viramune.

I'll give it a while longer and see what happens,  but not sleeping is a real drag.

Unless I can get some sleep on Tivicay,  paying a $150 copay for Viramune doesn't seem like such a burden anymore.