POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: paulsmithpoz10 on May 16, 2013, 04:51:52 am
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My doc changed my meds to Kaletra+Combovir+Tenofoir. I've been taking it for 3 days now and I've been vomiting since last night. Is this a normal effect of this combination? How long will it last? How can I help lessen this side effect? I really hope someone can help. Thanks!
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Those are exactly the side effects I remember from Kaletra, and they seem to be quite common.
http://www.kaletra.com/information/side-effects.aspx
My doc's solution was switching me to something else.
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Paul, I'm a little confused as to why you switched off nevirapine so quickly when it sounded as though you only had the common (non-lethal) rash that sometimes accompanies this med in the first few weeks to a month.
It normally only lasts between a few days and just over a week. It's only dangerous when it is accompanied by a high fever and blistering in the mouth or other mucus membranes. Why didn't you just wait it out?
Why didn't your doctor have you try taking an antihistamine for the rash to make it easier to handle while it lasted, rather than immediately switching you? It doesn't make a lot of sense, considering there aren't many options available where you live.
You also switched off the efavirenz rather quickly, and for the same (rash) reason. Again, unless your rash was accompanied by a high fever and mouth blisters, it was probably just the usual temporary rash side-effect that is often seen with this med, just like with nevirapine.
As Darryaz mentioned, nausea is very common with Kaletra - and so is diarrhea. Sometimes it goes away in time, sometimes it doesn't. Conversely, the non-lethal rash that commonly happens with nevirapine (and efavirenz) does go away.
Also, why are you on both Combivir and tenofovir? You either need Combivir (plus Kaletra or nevirapine) or tenofovir plus another NRTI, usually emtricitabine (plus Kaletra or nevirapine). You're taking three NRTIs when you only need two.
Can you find another doctor? Personally, I don't think this guy you're currently seeing is all that up on hiv treatments.
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Thanks for the advise Ann. I also asked him if I can take antihistamine along with the efavirenz and nevirapine but he just brushed off that idea. I'm already contemplating on looking for another doctor in our country. Hopefully, I can find a good one.
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Paul, if he switched you immediately because of the rash, in the absence of a high fever and/or mouth blisters (in other words, without indications of Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens%E2%80%93Johnson_syndrome) being present), without putting you on an antihistamine first, then you really do need to look for another doctor.
Another red flag in this guy's treatment of you is putting you on three NRTIs when you only need two.
Good luck, I hope you can find someone who knows what they're doing.
PS - you should be able to find an agency who can recommend a new doctor for you over at aidsmap - http://www.aidsmap.com/e-atlas
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Why such a heavy combo?
You almost certainly don't need the AZT that's in Combivir. 3TC, the other drug in Combivir, plus tenofovir are enough.
And why in this day and age, Kaletra? Is this all that's available?
- matt
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Matt, Paul is in the Philippines and (according to his doctor), this is his last "free" combo available. From one of Paul's other threads (Estiva and Avocomb (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=48205.0))...
Just came from my doctor. Good news and bad news.
Good news: I have another option on my meds. Doc will let me take Kaletra. He said it has the same efficacy as Efivarenz and Nevirapine but less side effects. I just need to take more tablets per day (it's fine with me, as long as I won't have side effects as before). I just need to stop my current meds for 1 week, then I'll start with new.
Bad news: This is the last medicine available for me. In our country there's not much option on meds. If this still doesn't work for me, doc said that I don't have other "free" options. This worries me a lot, since I'll need to purchase my meds in another country. (I know worrying doesn't help, but I can't resist). I'm really hoping that Kaletra works for me.
Paul was only diagnosed in mid-March of this year and his doctor already has him on his third combo, for no obvious good reason.
I can't help but get the feeling that Paul's doctor is a sandwich or two short of a picnic. Or a med or two short of a good combo. :-\