POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: fauvist01 on November 10, 2017, 08:09:20 am
-
Hello from India !
I have received conflicting advice about taking a Vitamin D 3 supplement with Triumeq.
The HIV pharmacist told me that there was no interaction and it was possible to take this together with Triumeq while the label on the container of Triumeq says ‘ Any vitamin should be taken 6 hours before or 2 hours after’.
It is very difficult to get a response from my HIV doctor as he is very busy and does not reply to my messages.
I would therefore be grateful if anyone on this forum had knowledge about this issue.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Tino
-
Hi Tino and Welcome,
I take a high dosage of vitamin D with Genvoya and have no problems, all meds are different. Pharmacist are usually pretty good, but it's always best to ask your doctor before taking any supplements. Did your labs show you have a deficiency ?
Check out this link in the mean time.
https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker
Why don't you introduce yourself and tell us how you are getting along.
Best,
Wade
-
I think you are overthinking this one, but check with your doctor if you are unsure.
I personally take my Triumeq and Vitamin D3 at different times, so it not really an issue I have to think about.
Jim
-
It's not Vit D that is an issue with taking along with your meds, but it's MULTIVITAMINS that are an issue (or even vitamins containing more than just Vit D).
More specifically it is the mineral elements in multivitamins that can impact absorption of the meds, which is why they say to leave that gap.
If it's straight-up Vitamin D3, there shouldn't be any issue whenever you take it. If you want to be really sure there in case there is anything else lurking in there and want to take a full belt-and-braces approach, then just take at a different time of day.
-
Hi Tino. I am in no way a medical professional. I, too, take Triumeq, as well as some other meds and vitamins. My philosophy is this -- I don't want anything to interfere with the absorption of my ARV. I take my ARV first thing in the morning, alone, on an empty stomach. I take a beta blocker for blood pressure about an hour after, and in the evening, with dinner, I take some vitamins, including vitamin D. I have no side effects to speak of and the Triumeq is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Since starting the medication 4 weeks ago, my CD4s have jumped up 300 points and I am nearly undetectable. It makes for a little more work on my end, but it seems to be working for me to space out the meds/vitamins I take to ensure that my ARV isn't disrupted in any way.
-
You know come to think of it my CD4 was alot higher this ID check and the only thing I did different was change the time of my vitaming. I'm on Atripla for this week but starting next week I will be worshipping the Genvoya God.
-
If you were having issue with med absorption due to some interaction with vitamins (or some other pill), it would impact your VL, NOT your CD4s.
HIV meds do not directly impact your CD4s, they impact your virus.
I have been shoving a handful of pills in the morning with my Reyataz/Norvir and a (smaller) handful in the evening with my Sustiva/Descovy for 12 years. Am UD and my CD4s hover between 800-1000.
Morning: Reyataz, Norvir, Valtrex, Allegra, multivitamin, Sudafed (seasonal)
Evening: Sustiva, Descovy, Valtrex, Lipitor, Benedryl, baby aspirin
Work with your doc and/or pharmacists to be sure there is no interaction with anything you take (many things can), but don't overthink it and remember -- ARV's hit the virus and do nothing for your CD4s. Your CD4s go up because your virus is under control.
Mike
-
I've always had an an issue with taking large pills and water. My gag reflex is intact. Meaning I gag if something big is put in my mouth and have to swallow that. ;) but I find with some of the horse pill vitamins, if I warm up a cup of milk for 40 seconds and swallow the vitamins, they seem to go down better. Cold water seems to make my throat rigid and I have a rougher time. Warm water just don't taste good. Warm milky substance softens the throat and well pills just slither down.