So many treatments!

[ms3053]

I found out I had HIV on 09/23/2013, and started Truvada and Isentress a few days after because my load was 800+ and my CD4 was around 514, a few months after I was switched to Complera by another doctor and I have been taking it for 32 days. On Monday, my original doctor is changing me to Stribild and said I should have NEVER been have taken Complera because my load was so high when I started taking meds. My load now is 88 and my CD4 is in the 700's. 


I also have TB and a stupid parasite that I have been trying to get rid of.  I am 28 years old.



Is it a bad idea to keep changing meds?  I don't want to develop any resistances.

[tednlou2]

Wow.  That sure is a lot of changes in regimens so quickly.  Do you mean your viral load was 800,000+?  I assume that's what you meant.  I knew it was not advised for those with a vl over 100,000, due to the possibility of virologic failure and then resistance. 

It would be interesting for the more med-expert folks to weigh in, and what info they have on when that takes place-- are you past that point, or could still experience failure, even though it is now almost undetectable??

Whatever happens, wishing ya the best.  Btw, why did you leave original doc for the next and then return?  I think I would want to take a time-out and make sure I'm not switching yet again, when not necessary.  Not saying your doc doesn't know.  I personally have no clue.  He may be leading your correctly.  There are docs at thebody.com, who answer questions, too.  Complera is still so new, that I have had trouble getting info, even from docs. 

[mecch]

Going by your timing, by the time you switched from the first to the second, your viral load was probably quite low or undetectable.  I am assuming you are going to a health service where you will continue seeing different doctors?  Is that the case?

I would say you were pushed around a bit and that is unfortunate but perhaps there has been no risk to your health.  As far as I know, if resistance testing is done in advance, and therefore someone only gets appropriate combos, and if that someone is adherent, then there isn't much a risk of resistance.   


The "original" doc, if you see him again, tell him you would very much like to see some consistency in your treatment going forward and ask if he can get on board making that happen.

[newt]

Well now, docs and docs and opinions.

The caution on Complera is for starting treatment with viral loads of 100,000+ not switching to it when viral load is much lower. In the study comparing people moving to Complera compared to staying on their original combination researchers found no difference in viral load supression (albeit this was switching when viral load wasalready under 50).

Changing meds in itself is not a bad thing, and if you stay on treatment continuously this will not lead to resistance. But docs changing your meds just like that over and over is bad, especially when they don't seem to understand the conditions for their correct use (see above).

Are you being treated for the TB?

- matt

[ms3053]

Yeah, I am being treated for TB as well.  I am on the new med now, and hopefully, this will work until I am old in my 80s.