Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 06:27:25 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772963
  • Total Topics: 66312
  • Online Today: 741
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 3
Guests: 155
Total: 158

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging  (Read 6571 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline scotty54

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« on: September 26, 2012, 11:24:46 am »
Hey all.  Swapped out Atripla for Complera more than 2 weeks ago.

Noticed initial improvement in the first 5 days.  Sleep improvement, less brain fogginess and less of that head spin.  Now it seems the Sustiva seems to want to hang in there. Maybe the rilpivirine is not that different than the stocrin??

History....6 yrs Atripla....good labs....but in last 6 months or so.....sleep had become more and more difficult and it seemed I was never falling into that deep level of sleep that makes one feel fit. ??? Ambien use increased...altho was not out of control.

Perhaps just need to tuff it out.  Complera seems a better fit (pending labs of course.)   Have any of you had similar experiences with Atripla/Complera switch?

THX :)
I may not agree with you, but will always defend your right to disagree.

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2012, 11:39:55 am »
Scotty,

Stocrin (aka Sustiva, aka efavirenz) is in the same class as rilpivirine (aka Edurant) and the two share some side-effects. From the Edurant information page I just linked you to:

"Edurant can cause depression or mood changes. Be sure to contact your health care provider immediately if you are feeling sad or hopeless, feeling anxious or restless, or have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself.

Common side effects of Edurant include trouble sleeping (insomnia), headache and rash."


Be sure to click on the link and read the rest of the information.

It may be that you're just not suited to take meds from the NNRTI class, and it may be that you just need to give it more time. If things don't start to improve in the next few weeks, talk to your doctor about it.
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline scotty54

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2012, 12:09:39 pm »
Hi Ann...and thanks for your response.  It is a good point that NNRTI's might not be for me.  Sustiva was tolerated well for a number of years though.

Hope to see continued improvement.  Lack of good deep sleep turns me into a bear.

Will continue my homework.
I may not agree with you, but will always defend your right to disagree.

Offline JFYPoz77

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2012, 07:29:46 am »
Hello!

I recently switched meds from Atripla to Complera and I have been experiencing very abnormal symptoms (lost of appetite, insomnia, extremely tired and lacking motivation to do anything, and a big one- lost of my very high libido).

Has anyone experience the same and how long does it last?  Should I switch back?

Offline scotty54

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2012, 02:36:21 pm »
Hi JFYpox77,
To better understand your situation.....Why did you initially make the switch?
How long were you on Atripla? Labs?  How long have you been on Complera?

If you have been on Complera for only a few days or couple of weeks...I would probably stick with the Complera longer.  You may being going through a phase as your body adjusts.  Having said that....you are only substituting the stocrin (sustiva) for rilpivirine (edurant.)  As Ann pointed out they are in the same class (NNRTI) and work on the virus similarily. 

I made the switch due to sleeping abnormalities and little less cognitive snap.
I have seen some improvement on both of these factors (albeit slowly.)  I made the switch about 5 weeks ago.

I did not have the tiredness/lack of motivation/libido issues.  They are all important issues that you might want to address with your specialist.

Hope it helps a bit.....and best of luck to you.....keep us updated
I may not agree with you, but will always defend your right to disagree.

Offline WindySkies

  • Member
  • Posts: 113
  • Tested + 10/11/12
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2012, 12:15:05 am »
I was under the impression that Complera could only be taken by individuals who had not been taking any other meds before?

Guessing I'm wrong?

I haven't started any meds yet, and won't know what is going to be recommended until I get my first set of labs next week.  I have been reading up as much as I can about meds so I'm confused by this now.
10/11/2012 Journey Started
10/17/2012 First Labs: VL=57,645  CD4+=730  37%
10/31/2012 Started Complera
11/30/2012 Labs: VL=80  CD4+=929 40%
12/24/2012 Started Stribild

Undetectable since 1/15/13 CD4+= Over 1,400 and 49%

Offline JFYPoz77

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2012, 07:55:32 am »
To: scotty54
Thank you very much for your response and to answer your questions I made the switch from Atripla to Complera because once I take Atripla I am out like a light.  I have been on Atripla since the start of my treatment 2 years ago now, and determine that in order to wake up at my normal 6:30am and not feel tired nor dizzy I would have to my Atripla at night at 9:17pm.  That being said you can imagine what that has done to my social life but I did not mind trading that for my health however now that my evening duties for work have increased I thought I needed something that would not knock me out once I took it, and my bf started his treatment on Complera and experience little or no side effects.  So I thought perhaps the switch would be an easy one, but it has not been for the last month so my doctor is going to take me back to Atripla and I will have to find a way to take my Atripla close enough to my normal time slot without me falling asleep in mid conversation with a client!

thanks again for you advise and sharing your experience - it helps to be able to talk among ourselves about this and how it affects each one differently or in many ways the same!

Cheers,

JFY

Offline scotty54

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2012, 01:43:50 pm »
Hi WindySkies
No you are not wrong.  Complera is exclusively recommended as a treatment for people starting HIV treatment for the first time. 

Many of us that have had HIV for a number of years may develop resistance and/or not able to tolerate some of the side effects.  Choosing a new regimen has worked well for many.....but should be a careful consideration BTW you and your doc.

In any event it sounds like you are doing some research.....and wish you the best.

Sending link about Complera.....in case you havent seen.

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Complera_2646.shtml
I may not agree with you, but will always defend your right to disagree.

Offline Miss Philicia

  • Member
  • Posts: 24,793
  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2012, 01:45:42 pm »
Just because Complera has only (THUS FAR) been approved for treatment naive patients, that does not in any way prevent a physician from prescribing it "off label" if he/she feels this is warranted.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline scotty54

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2012, 05:06:15 pm »
Thanks Miss P..........well put.

I was recently prescribed Complera......and this old goat certainly aint naive  :D :D
I may not agree with you, but will always defend your right to disagree.

Offline scotty54

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2012, 07:16:26 pm »
Hey JFYpoz77
Sounds like you have a plan.  Let us know how the transition goes.
What a pain to have libido/motivation and sleep difficulties.  Wish you improvement.
I may not agree with you, but will always defend your right to disagree.

Offline Anqueetas

  • Member
  • Posts: 116
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2012, 05:23:32 am »
Hang in there Sustiva take up to eight weeks to completely clear from your body.
ARS, hospitalized for very high fever-July 2011
diagnosed HIV positive - October 16 2011
CD4 460 19.5% VL 49000 - late October 2011
CD4 625 19.5% VL 50030 - January 2012
CD4 369 19% VL 69000 - March 2012
Start Sustiva+ Truvada - April 17 2012
CD4 524 24.5% VL UD - August 22 2012
Switch to Nevirapine+Truvada
CD4 490 26% VL UD - November 2012
CD4 539 29% VL UD - February 2013
CD4 621 28% VL UD - May 2013

Offline scotty54

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
Re: Atripla to Complera....Sustiva still hanging
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2012, 10:53:08 am »
Thanks for the info Anqueetas.  And hang in there....it has.  Been over 7 weeks and Sustiva is only now gradually subsiding.  Some return to deeper sleep and a little less mental haze.

Hope the Intelence/Truvada is a better fit for you......noticed you ditched Sustiva also.  Best regards. ;)
I may not agree with you, but will always defend your right to disagree.

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.