POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: Mike2008 on August 16, 2007, 10:03:26 pm
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Wow here I am. Sometimes it seems so much like a daydream. Wow. How many more of these bottles will I see? Amazing $$.
How lucky am I? VERY!!! I will never forget those who have passed before me.
Does anybody out there have advice or suggestions about Atripla? I will start Friday night, I hope the side effects will not affect my work, but eff them if they do - I'm going on.
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Hi, don't know anything about atripla (in fact... it is not available in Ecuador). Although I wanted to wish you good luck with it, i have a friend in the States who is on it and doing great :)
cheers,
Juan Carlos
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Wow here I am. Sometimes it seems so much like a daydream. Wow. How many more of these bottles will I see? Amazing $$.
How lucky am I? VERY!!! I will never forget those who have passed before me.
Does anybody out there have advice or suggestions about Atripla? I will start Friday night, I hope the side effects will not affect my work, but eff them if they do - I'm going on.
Hey Mike,
A weekend will probably be just fine. I'm taking Sustiva/Truvada which is the same as Atripla.
Take it on an empty stomach before bed. I didn't have any issues other than a slightly drunk feeling the first night and within a week or two didn't notice anything at all, but I was scared at first. I had them sitting around for about 3 days before I finally started em. I was waiting for some big ordeal, but I got all freaked out and prepared for a HUGE NON EVENT : )
You'll be fine. Bunch of my friends are on Atripla and all of them are doing well too.
Wesley
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Hopefully you will do fine. I know some of us couldn't tolerate the side effects and opted to switch meds. After a year I dropped the Sustiva and switched to Kaletra. You'll know if it is not working for you, I hope it's smooth sailing.
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I have been on Atripla for over a year now. I was the first patient in my doctor's office to be on the medication. I have found that the side effects have been very tolerable. I do feel the dizziness about an hour or so after I take it, and some times I get a bit of nausea if I don't get enough sleep. Also, if I have a high fat meal before I take it, the nausea is a bit more noticeable. The best thing I can offer is hope that you will tolerate the medication well. Just take it about an hour or more after eating, try to avoid high fat meals (like fried chicken, hehe) and drink a full glass of water with it. Then, just pop some popcorn and wait for the dreams.
Well, for some, that's the way it is. I don't dream on the medication but some of the other people on Atripla do have the vivid dreams. If you get a rash, watch it for a few days. It normally goes away after a while. Also, the hot flashes are a bit unnerving, but not unmanageable.
Again, I wish you the best. Let us know how you do.
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My experience with Atripla:
I started Atripla (my first HIV drug) on June 8 with a CD4 count of 280 and VL over 200,000. My last labs in early August showed that my CD4s were up to 630 and my VL is undetectable (< 50)! This stuff works! My doctor told me that he thought that my increase in CD4s was great.
Besides the slightly drunk feeling which occurs about 2 hours after I take it sometimes, my only other side effect was a non-itchy rash which started one week after I started the drug and lasted for about a month. At first my doctor was close to switching me to a different drug regimen because I had the rash for a while, but my numbers were improving so much and the rash never worsened, so I told him I wanted to stick with Atripla and see if the rash would subside. The intensity of the redness of the rash seemed to rise and fall, but the rash never got out-of-hand.
So my only advice is...if you get a rash and it doesn't hurt or itch, don't be in such a rush to switch meds, because this drug works well, and it works fast (at least it did my case). Try to wait it out until you see your next lab results. Good luck! Let us know how you're doing.
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Hi all - Thanks so much for all the replys. Well, tonight will be dose #6 and the side effects are almost non-existant. The first 2 days I felt the dizziness but not since then. I guess, since I am taking it at nighttime I sleep through that period. No rash yet, but i am looking.
Everything is going great, although I am anxiuos to see my labs after 4 weeks.
Again thans for you support, I do not know anyone else that has HIV besides you guys, and it great to get feedback from y'all.
Mike
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Hi all - Thanks so much for all the replys. Well, tonight will be dose #6 and the side effects are almost non-existant. The first 2 days I felt the dizziness but not since then. I guess, since I am taking it at nighttime I sleep through that period. No rash yet, but i am looking.
Everything is going great, although I am anxiuos to see my labs after 4 weeks.
Again thans for you support, I do not know anyone else that has HIV besides you guys, and it great to get feedback from y'all.
Mike
Hey Mike,
Really glad to hear it. I doubt you'll get any "rash" either. I'm glad you dropped back in to let everyone know you're doing well. I don't know what your numbers are, but the stuff works.
Great News!
Wesley
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Hi,
I've been on Atripla for 37 day's and I am so glad I've not had the side affects that many people have with this stuff. I think I had a very vivid dream the first day. No rash or anything like that.
The only thing me and my Doctor talked about is the GAS and I mean GAS! My Doc said that HIV positive people who are on some medications will MAYBE start having large stomachs, due to gas, or bloating. And a build up fat around the waist.
So I have the GAS and the bloating and the funny feeling in the stomach at times. He said that he will not change my meds because this should pass. I am eating about the same before I found out in November 2006 about my HIV.
I was 175 to 180lbs and I gained a little. He also told me to start taking B 100% complex AND Selenium 200 MCG I still take my Century multivitamin and my Golden Seal Extract a standardized herb.
I think what is so hard for me and I'm scared I don't want to get a cold. I'm In Orlando Fl but the in and out of the air cond: rooms doesn't help in keeping a summer cold at bay!
But other then that I still haven't had any type of sex since November 2006 not that I don't want to have any, but I'm just scared! you think about everything hurting someone and all that stuff.
I talked to him about it and he says when your ready you'll do it just be safe.
This site has been the best thing to happen to me since November 2006. I have learned so much about my HIV and everyone has been GREAT!
I wish everyone the very best :)
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Hi,
Forgot to share my numbers!
Had a rapid test done on 25 November 2006 came back in the middle. Went to the Health Dept on 26 November 2006 for the text.
On 12/19/2006 Viral load was 2,700 T-cell 403
02/27/2007 V-Load 34,000 T-cell 347
STILL NOT ON MEDS YET.
4/19/2007 V-load 65,900 T-cell 258
Caught a very bad cold!
5/29/2007 V-load 62,500 T- cell 177
STARTED THE ATRIPLA. After 30 day's
8/13/2007 V-load 111 T-cell 352
So my Doctor was very pleased! He said that the next time I should be Un-detectable.
I HOPE SO!
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I am beginning to think about starting meds. I wait for further test results very soon.
In the meantime, I am wondering:
What is the standard procedure for tests after starting medication? For example, how often will you be tested to see if the drugs are working?
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I have a 30 day prescription and I am going to have blood work done and discuss side effects.
For me my CD4 & vl are okay I need the HIV to lay off killing my blood platlets, they should be a minimum of 140 and mine are around 20 or lower.
And luckily side effects are not an issue.
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I am beginning to think about starting meds. I wait for further test results very soon.
In the meantime, I am wondering:
What is the standard procedure for tests after starting medication? For example, how often will you be tested to see if the drugs are working?
Hi! I have been on a couple different med combos and my doctor has always tested the same way. After starting the meds I would go back after a month to get bloodwork. Then a month later go for more bloodwork. If everything is going ok and the meds seem to be working then I just go every 3 months. Hope this helps!
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I have to say Atripla was a God Send to me.
I had Dark Urine the first few days, then that went away. Rash ensued, itching etc. But in a couple weeks Everything was back to normal except the dreams. My dreams are more vivid and better than ever! I am trying to be positive here under the circumstances :) I do tend to twitch during my sleep, which didn't happen before, but don't know if that is a side effect or not, or maybe part of the dreams?
Overall, I wish you the best and don't think you should have a problem, I don't have the side effects of the typical drunk feeling after 1 to 2 hours. Further, I now take it around 5-6 PM nightly. It works best for me due to my work schedule, and eating habits.
Stay away from Grapefruit!!! supposedly it is bad and counteracts the medication.
Aside from the fact if I didn't have insurance, I would have to sell my body for the pills, refinance my mortgage and sell everything I own and mooch off the family, I am fortunate.
Let us know how it works out for you