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Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: Ac75088 on May 03, 2011, 09:48:27 pm

Title: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: Ac75088 on May 03, 2011, 09:48:27 pm
I've been poz since 2008 but today my doctor and I decided that it was time to start since my cell count is now below 500..I'll be taking Atripla for the first time tonight and I am scared since I've never taken Meds like this before..I'm afraid it'll affect my performance at work..etc..I even missed out on a friends birthday tonight since I was afraid to drink before ai took it..side effects sound scary..Am I overreacting??
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: mikeyb39 on May 03, 2011, 10:08:41 pm
Hi Ac,
don't try and read too much into the side effects, I worried myself to death before taking my first pill and read all the 'side effects' info and it was a bit of a let-down when i took it.  I was expecting to have some type of catastrophic reaction, but the only thing i got was a little bit of a warm sensation about an hour or so after and little bit light headed.  I do get the vivid dreams but they can be fun sometimes, before i took this med i never really dreamed alot, so its been a fun experience.

The one other side effect i get is a raging hard-on in the middle of the night and serious morning wood.  Some others on this site get the same reaction.  So definitely not a bad thing there, you wont hear me complaining about that.

Everyone is different and some have a hard time with the Sustiva part of it.  some folks get a rash but from what i gather it doesn't happen that often.  I'm certain you will do fine.
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: Ac75088 on May 03, 2011, 10:11:36 pm
Thanks man...I'm trying my best to put my mind at ease..I just got done with dinner so I figure pill time should come in about 2 hours
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: mikeyb39 on May 03, 2011, 10:17:41 pm
yep.  Also make sure you take it with plenty of water, you might wake up a couple times during the night to piss, but the water seems to help alot with the light headedness if you experience it.
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: Ac75088 on May 03, 2011, 10:22:04 pm
Wow..a raging hard on huh? As If I already don't have that every night hehe
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: mikeyb39 on May 03, 2011, 10:28:32 pm
haha, yeah its not an 'official' side effect, but shortly after i started taking it I noticed it and brought it up in a past post and quite a few guys agreed. 
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: Ac75088 on May 03, 2011, 10:34:25 pm
I'm just hoping this pill is nice to me..Nobody at work knows my status, neither does my family..so I won't have to explain any effects that me be showing
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: mikeyb39 on May 03, 2011, 10:43:48 pm
yeah for sure...lol.   Most folks say to take the pill right before you go to bed, but i dont go to bed till almost midnight and get up early. I found that when i took it at midnight, the next morning I was feeling a little drunkish at the beginning, so my doctor talked me into taking it a couple hours earlier before i go to bed and that seemed to do the trick for me.  I know take mine around 9ish and hit the sack around 1130p
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: Ac75088 on May 03, 2011, 10:47:33 pm
I don't go to bed til late too..I had planned on eating an earlier dinner tonight but now that I just ate, I'll probably take it around 11:30 and then get in bed and hold on tight! Btw I am also in Dallas
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: mikeyb39 on May 03, 2011, 10:56:03 pm
yeah I had to adjust my eating habits at night, i try not to eat after 730 ish or so.  There is a big truth on that empty stomach thing trust me.  I made the mistake one night and went to eat a late steak dinner with a friend and took it shortly after I ate,  I was high for hours.  Doc says the fat in the food causes it to enter the blood stream at higher levels. 

very cool you are in dallas, i'm in the carrollton area.
Title: Re: Im starting treatment for the first time tonight
Post by: Ac75088 on May 03, 2011, 11:00:47 pm
I ate a subway sandwich just now and an ice cream sandwich lol..I'm starting to drink water now as u said....I'm in Garland area