POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: Themepark on September 10, 2011, 10:58:23 pm
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Hi guys,
Just started Truvada(TDF/FTC) for a month and Kaletra/Aluvia(LPV/RTV) for the last 10 days (switched from Stocrin). Here in Bangkok, many have told me that this is not an usual combo., at leaste for the social health program, but since I am on private hospital the doc. suggested me this. For what I found in the latest AIDSinfo Guidelin, this is listed as an alternative regimens.
Would be great if you guys can help sharing your experience on this combo, side effect, and effectiveness....I have noticed that it might cause some problem to kidney and cholesteral lever. But so far I am in a good control for that.
Many thanks in advance.....
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I've been on that combo before and it was for around a duration of five years. It was fairly standard in the US at one time. I had no kidney issues and only a marginal rise in cholesterol, though I've know of others who had significant rises in lipid numbers. It just varies from patient to patient.
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It was one of the standard US treatments in 2006, when I started on it.
I had cholesterol problems with the Kaletra -- not huge, but they would go up 50 every four months, I'd increase the statin dose and it would go back a bit for the next test, but then it would keep rising again.
Some people have diarrhea on Kaletra, although I found it controllable with a change of diet (eat foods that have a lot of soluble fibre -- apples, pears, nuts, etc.) If the diarrhea persists you might need to look at immodium or some other constipating agent.
I didn't have significant kidney problems with Truvada, but I do have osteoporosis which Truvada probably contributed to. You might want to ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels to be sure you are getting enough vitamin D.
Good luck with this
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Thanks you guys for the advise. I guess here the variety of treatment is still limited. But things are moving towards a good direction. Although I am not a sporty guy, luckily I am pretty much good in choosing what to eat. I should try to do my very best then.
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