Starting my meds tonight

[shanewest77]

Hi Everyone

Ok... I have to admit after reading some of the posts on Atripla I'm all nerves.
I was diagnosed three years ago with 700 CD4 and 20,000 viral.
Now my CD4 is 300 and 52,000 viral.
I have dealt with mild depression and anxiety off and on, but nothing too serious. 
I'm going into this with mixed feelings and alot of hope.
I would love to hear from anyone who has seen positive results from atripla that have had some
anxiety and depression in past or present.

S

[Iggy]

Shane,

I'm glad you are going into this with a lot of hope, because you will be rewarded with much good.  Anyone who knows me know that is far from new ageist stuff, but an honest assessment that your adding many more years to your life with starting treatment. I'm glad as an ancillary result, we as a community are lucky to have you join us.

Your numbers appear to be pretty good so not much to worry about there and I suspect you'll see a significant climg in cd4's a few months after treatment.

As far as Atripla and certain issues, I think you need to be very forth coming with your doctor about that as well as open to the suggestion of an anti-anxiety med such as paxil if necessary.  Atripla(just in case you don't know) is the first hiv med to cross the blood-brain barrier and as a result causes many to have some issues.

[YaKaMein]

Welcome Shane,
I've been on Atripla for 2yrs now and I've not experienced any anxiety or depression from the drug. It's been an emotional time as expected and I've had usual anxiety from time to time. Early on I asked for something to take as needed [prescribed Ativan (lorazepam0 .5 - 1 mg]. If you have a history of anxiety disorder or depression, it would be helpful to discuss that with your primary care or ID doc. Some are uncomfortable to prescribe [if not experienced]; but, if you have access to a psychiatrist, perhaps your ASO, he/she canassess you and can treat you accordingly.

Keeping a positive attitude, which you have, will do wonders to help you deal with this and any other obstacles you may face.

Let us hear from you.  -YaKa

[David_CA]

Don't let starting Atripla cause anxiety, if possible!     There's certainly enough of that from just dealing with HIV.  Like mentioned above, you'll be doing a lot of good by starting meds in terms of staying healthy.  Hubby and I have been on Atripla since Dec. '06 and have had no emotional issues from it (neither of us have had depression prior to starting either).  I did have a fair amount of anxiety after my HIV diagnosis prior to starting meds.  Most of that had to do with me stressing over keeping my status from my family.  Once I ended up in the hospital and 'came clean' about me being HIV+ with my immediate family and started meds, the anxiety was about 95% gone.  If you do have any issues or problems with Atripla, discuss them with your Dr. and ask about 'em here, too.  I try to look at starting meds as now we're taking control of HIV, not the other way around.

David

[keyite]

Atripla(just in case you don't know) is the first hiv med to cross the blood-brain barrier and as a result causes many to have some issues.

No, a fair few hiv meds cross the blood-brain barrier - even the oldie in the pack, AZT, does.

Shane, good luck with it - my experience of being on the two-pill equivalent of Atripla is that emotional side effects are not a foregone conclusion. You might well be fine, but if you're not, there ought to be plenty of alternative combos to switch to.

[rick21007]

Hey Shane---I have been on Atripla nearly 7 weeks now.  And i do have a history of anxiety and depression.  I take the Atripla in the am first thing when I get up.  It makes me spacey for a few hours but that has been the only side effect.  I am not experiencing any slump in mood or increase in anxiety.   I do work out at noon 5 days a week and I know that helps my depression, anxiety and the spacey feeling goes away.  I take Atripla for both hiv and hep b.  My pre-med labs were hiv vl 83,000 and CD367, HBV vl was 200 million copies.  5 weeks on Atripla: hiv vl 234, CD4 372, hbv vl 82,000.  I expect hiv vl to be undectible next labs in August.  I had started Atripla at night and it seemed to interrupt my sleep but I sleep fine now.  Hope this encourages you.

rick

[shanewest77]

 Cool!!

Thanks to those who replied.
Other than a strange dream in which I followed Heidi Fleiss around demanding she drink more water then laying
naked on a beach in Israel I feel great (a little dizzy though).
Cant wait to share my numbers next month!

Thanks Again

Shane 

[YaKaMein]

Gosh I miss that first couple of nights on that Sustiva ... woo hoo ... what a ride 

I still have fun and interesting dreams .... but it's never like your first time, right??