Truvada/Efavirenz

[going_gone89]

Hi, I've been having a pretty hard time with Truvada/Efavirenz combo lately and was looking for some help.
I've been on them for a little over two and a half years and for the past couple of months I've started developing some side effects, initially it was just night sweats once in a while and later turned into some mild reflux coupled with light burning sensation in my stomach and hot flashes which have been the worst of it as they prevent me from sleeping.

After consulting with my doctor they gave me omeprazole, aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide and metoclopramide, they tried a couple other things but all they did was make me dizzy.
I've also removed irritants from my diet. I don't smoke or drink and I drink plenty of water.

Reflux is pretty much gone but I still have a lot of trouble sleeping due to hot flashes and some stomach discomfort regardless of what I eat. I had bland rice without anything on it last night and still had issues.
I'm skipping lunch today in hopes that might help. Obviously, I'm very depressed especially over the lack of sleep.
I asked the GP I visited if changing medication might be necessary at some point and he was quick to shoot me down. I have yet to consult with my HIV specialist and I'm concerned they may be similarly inclined.

I understand wanting to be conservative when switching regimes but if I've expressed significant discomfort which I've yet to experience relief from, I don't think I should feel crazy for considering other treatment plans, right?
Is there something else that needs to happen? Am I just being sensitive?
I can already feel this post becoming long-winded so I'll stop here, I just don't really have anyone to talk to and I've been keeping this and a lot more in for a while. Anyway, thanks

[Jim Allen]

I split your post as it not on topic for the other thread.

Jim

[mecch]

Hello
It is certainly very frustrating.  Why don't you give us more information. What country do you live in and what combinations of HIV molecules are available to you? 
When I had Truvada/Efavirenz I eventually had the Central Nervous System effects and it was not fun. They moved me to protease inhibitors and they screwed with my stomach, turned me a bit sallow in color and eventually I was allergic.  I wasn't really 100 side effect free until Isentress and now Triumeq. 
So sad to say solutions for you might depend on you ability to access other meds.

[bocker3]

I'm wondering why you think these issues are being caused by your meds?  If I am reading this correctly, you've only been experiencing them for a couple of months, so you had 2+ years on these meds without these "side effects".  I have been taking your combo for over 11 years and have not experienced these issues -- doesn't mean that you aren't, as everyone reacts to meds in their own way.  However, I'm not seeing how you are connecting the meds to these symptoms.

On another note -- I'm not sure how the medical system works in Mexico, but my feeling is that if you want to explore changing meds, your doctor should be willing to have a discussion about it.  Of course, your GP may simply being inclined to NOT be the one to change your HIV meds and would rather you have this discussion with your HIV specialist.  I would not approach that discussion with any assumptions on how he will react.  I would, however, be ready to talk about why you think the meds are related to your symptoms.

Good luck in sorting this out!!

Mike