Best combo?

[Ihavehope]

What is the best combo that you recommend or your doctors recommend? Atripla? Sustive/Truvuda? Need advice. I wanna hear what your doctors and you have to say.

[Jeff1959]

I don't know how pertinent my opinion is since I just started, but I went along with my doctor's recommendation of Truvada + Sustiva.   He said if I do well on this combination, I could switch to Atripla, which is basically the same thing in a single pill.   The reason he started this way was in case I did have an adverse reaction, he would keep me on the Truvada along with something else or the Sustiva and something else.   Anyway, I'm still a novice about meds, but hope this helps.

[J.R.E.]

The best combo, is one that will get your viral load undetectable, in the shortest amount of time, with the least amount of side effects. Depends on what tests your doctor may do, and the results of those tests, to decide which combo to put you on.

Ray

[cubbybear]

I totally agree with Ray in that it doesn't matter what the combo is, as long as it supresses your virus with the most minimal side effects.  What someone may consider "the" best combo, someone else might not be able to tollerate, or they may be resistant to it.

[mrtallguy]

IF YOUR DOC WANTS YOU TO START THE TRUVADA/SUSTIVA REGIMEN THEN, AS JEFF STATED, YOU CAN CHANGE ONE IF IT DOES NOT AGREE WITH YOU.  I AM ON TRUVADA/SUSTIVA AND THAT BITCH SUSTIVA HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.  I WAS ON THE TWO DRUGS FOR 5 MONTHS AND THEN WENT TO ATRIPLA BUT MY SYSTEM COULD NOT DEAL WITH ALL THE MEDICATION AT ONCE SINCE I DEVELOPED INTENSE INSOMNIA.  NOW I AM BACK ON THE TWO AGAIN BUT I TAKE THE SUSTIVA IN THE MORNING...INSTEAD OF ONE 600mg PILL (I COULD NOT FUNCTION WITH THE DRUNK/DIZZY EFFECT) I TAKE 3x200mg CAPSULES, AT LEAST 3 HOURS APART, TO SPREAD OUT THE EFFECTS.   WORKS PRETTY GOOD ALTHOUGH I'M THINKING THAT IT IS CONTRIBUTING TO A SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF DEPRESSION.  EVERYTHING ELSE IS FUNCTIONING NORMAL.   ONCE YOUR DOC DETERMINES YOUR REGIMEN JUST KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD THAT YOU WILL GO THROUGH....BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS....

YOU'LL MAKE IT!!

BE WELL....

CRAIG

[budndallastx]

Ray's answer is essentially the same as my Doctors.  The best combo is the one that works for you.  The first combo may not work for you since you're a unique individual so open dialog with the physician will help you get to your goal.  If you have side effects be sure to let them know since they'll have seen these before and know what to do about it. 

Good luck !

[AustinWesley]

I don't know how pertinent my opinion is since I just started, but I went along with my doctor's recommendation of Truvada + Sustiva.   He said if I do well on this combination, I could switch to Atripla, which is basically the same thing in a single pill.   The reason he started this way was in case I did have an adverse reaction, he would keep me on the Truvada along with something else or the Sustiva and something else.   Anyway, I'm still a novice about meds, but hope this helps.

Hmm,  thanks Jeff!   I hadn't considered that, but it makes sense.  I'm not on meds either, but I figured I would originally just go with Atripla unless something else came along.   Now, I'm thinking that this may be a better idea.