Starting Eviplera/Complera this evening and have a couple of Q's

[D_H]

Hi All,
I have been positive for around 5 years now and have got to the point of starting treatment. VL: 3000-4000 CD4: 350

I have never taken any treatment before, and am starting Eviplera with my evening meal, but forgot to ask my nurse a couple of questions so I hope some knowledgeable person on here can help!
I know the very basics; must be taken with a meal of 500kcal or more but that is about all.

Does my meal need to be at the exact same time everyday?
Or can I eat at say 6pm one day and 8:30 the next?
Or stick to exact same time for a couple of months, then can have a few hours leeway?

Is it just the meal I take with the pill that needs to be more than 500kcal? Because I don't often eat a breakfast, but will be taking the pill with my evening meal.

Do I take it just before eating? Just after? Halfway through? Or does that matter
(when I say just before or just after, I mean 'just' as in 5-10 mins)

Sorry for all the questions, I am sure they have probably been asked many times before but are hard to search for!

I have read many, many post's of people worrying about side effects so I am well clued up for them, just wondering/worrying about the time's of eating!

Thanks in advance, and hope to hear back from someone soon!

[Delby]

Hi,

Does my meal need to be at the exact same time everyday? 

Answer: No, you have leeway. I work between 30 mins leeway, but i've heard people say you have up to 2 hrs, just like Atripla.

Or can I eat at say 6pm one day and 8:30 the next?

Answer: Covered above.


With regards to number of calories. It doesn't need to be 500 calories. I am for about 350-390 calories. That's sufficient. What's most important is the fat content. Make sure you have at least 12g of fat. Can get this from Almonds, cashews, peanut butter etc.

I take my meds before, inbetween and after. It doesn't matter. It works all 3 ways. What ever you prefer.

Delby

[D_H]

Thanks for the reply!
Well, I had 2 Bacon Cheeseburgers last night, so the calories and fat were well covered there! I was just told 533kcal on the leaflets that I have so was working to that but it is nice to know that it doesn't have to be so many if I don't feel like it (even though I very much doubt any of my evening meals will ever be less than that)

I took my first pill yesterday at 6:45 (UK time) as well as the anti-nausea medication I was given to take for the first couple of days and so far so good!

I didn't have any problems sleeping, no funny dreams
I do have a very slight headache and a tiny bit light headed here and there, but I could just have a headache as it is hot and I haven't drunk much today so far.
And I am feeling slightly bloated and gassy, but it isn't uncomfortable.

Roll on 6:45...

Thanks again for the reply.

[Delby]

Hey DH

Glad to see you're doing well with it. It really is a fantastic ARV. I changed from Atripla to Complera and the difference in side effects is astronomical. I suffered every day for 5 yrs on Atripla and now i'm side free. Yes i get fatigued, but i think that has more to do with the disease and the fact I have terrible chronic insomnia, rather than the meds.

PS Just a word of advise and hope you don't think i'm being 'preachy', but I would seriously look to change your diet. Eating 2 cheeseburgers every night will kill you faster than HIV. You may want to think about changing your diet and eating healthy. Filling your body with that shit on a regular basis will do a lot of damage in the long run!

Delby

[D_H]

Thanks again for the reply, I am glad that I am not experiencing side effects.

Don't worry, I don't eat like that everyday. Only having those as they weren't cooked on the Barbeque we had the day before!

I do need to make a few subtle changes to my diet as don't eat as well as I could do, but it is pretty balanced as it is now. Just need to include a few more fresh fruit and veg!