POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: TheRoof on November 27, 2009, 09:09:27 pm
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Personally my doctor said when I am on Meds eventually. (Which I'll be talking in two weeks) whether to take meds in the morning or night. She said "Whatever works comfortable for you"
I have heard that if you take meds in the morning you can have fatigue during the day, and if you take it in the night time you might have more occurences of vivid dreams.
Personally from all the people here, when do you usually take your meds at night or in the morning.
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it depends on what meds you're taking. ;)
I take my videx ec first this in the morning as it has to be taken 2hr before or after food, and I don't eat breakfast. At dinnertime, I take viread, reyataz, and norvir; because I need to take the norvir with lots of food so it doesn't make me puke.
you'll defintely need to post what meds you're considering taking to get a good answer. ;) Although your vivid dreams comment tends to make me think you'll be on atripla or sustiva, so you may find some answers in the "atripla with breakfast (http://"http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=12153.0)" thread
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Personally from all the people here, when do you usually take your meds at night or in the morning.
I would hope one would realize that most regimens aren't the once-a-day starter kit offered to the newly diagnosed.
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Personally my doctor said when I am on Meds eventually. (Which I'll be talking in two weeks)
Hi,
Have you already discussed with your doctor the meds that you'll be taking. What are they?
Myself, I take one Viramune and Epzicom at 8:00 am and the other Viramune at 8:00PM
Good luck----Ray
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I take my combination before bed, I dont have any side effects but if I did this would be useful because I would combat them sleeping. And as long as you take them before bed it doesnt have to be exactly on time(that what mr. doctor said) and besides it has become like a night ritual for me. ;D ;D ;D
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I take mine at night mainly because they give me way too much gas for me to feel comfortable taking them during the day while I'm surrounded by people at work.
I've been on the Truvada, Reyataz & Norvir Combo for over a year now, and while I'm a little dissapointed in my lab numbers, considering my history(20yrs HIV+, 2 bouts of PCP, bad adherence to prior combo)I can't really complain too much.
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Nov'08: CD4:255-11% VL:2900
Feb'09: CD4-287-09% VL-<48
May'09: CD4-285-17% VL-<48
Aug'09: CD4-470-19% VL-<48
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The main answer is whether or not the med itself has any restrictions; ie: with/ without food or water, nothing in the belly 4hrs before or after (DdI had this restriction - not sure it's still prescribed), and how often (every 4hrs, 6hrs, twice a day, once a day).
Mim takes her Epzicom and Kaletra with her breakfast. She takes her fiber and fishoil pill about 3pm with a full glass of water and a snack. Then, she takes her last Kaletra just before she goes to bed.
Much easier regiment than when her meds were scheduled 'round the clock.
Mum
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I'm on Atripla. I started taking it at night and, after I got used to it, I moved it to the morning. My morning rouine is more stable than when I got to bed. I take it 30-60 minutes before breakfast and I don't notice anything at all. I also sleep better now than when I was taking it before bed.
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My bf is on Sustiva and Truvada. he takes the Sustiva at night before bed and the Truvada when he gets up in the morning. He does it that way because he found taking the Sustiva and Truvada both before bed made him groggy in the morning. He has to drive first thing in the morning, so he experimented with dosing times and found this method to work for him.
Most meds you can take pretty much what time of day you like, as long as you stick to those times you choose. Sustiva is one exception and is usually taken at night, to avoid being awake and trying to function if you have the CNS side effects associated with it, but some people do take it in the morning.
Ann
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Like others said, you may have drug restrictions... for example Atripla.
Otherwise, put it in your day where it is most stable. For me that was in the morning. i wake up at the same time each day and it's easier for me to remember to take my meds first thing.
I also was worried about side effects. I'd rather be awake if I'm going to have to RUN to the bathroom.
There is nothing worse than when the signal says fart and the action is for something more juicy. It doesn't matter how many times you yell CUT the body won't listen!
lol.
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This is not an easy one for me. While I have only been on Atripla for 2 weeks, the side effects 'for me' seem to be worse 12 hours later and that makes work difficult. I am not sure if that has to do with me eating during the day.... so many things to try and figure out.
It seems Atripla effects people in different ways while many of the other drugs are more predictable... Changing times is certainly something I will consider if the side effects do not improve soon. It certainly is easier to change the time of taking the pill than trying to isolate some of the other interactions that may be the cause of adverse side effects ....
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Definitely at bedtime. But like other posters have said, I think it depends what you are taking.
I did try taking my atripla in early afternoon, experienced a heavy stoned feeling a few hours later, and was better able to sleep ... but for a few hours I was totally incapacitated. So I switched the suggested bedtime dose and have been fine with that.
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I take mine with my first meal whenever that is. my schedule changes every week but I will usually eat my first meal with in the same say 4 hour window. Been doing this for 3 years and always undetectable so there must be high enough levels at all times in my system it doesn't matter if I take them 4 hours latter the next day than the day before. I take Reyataz, Truvada and Norvir.
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I take Atripla (currently) at night before bed. I try to be very careful to "comply" with the no food - 2 hour rule. Sometimes that is impossible but the side-effects are limited. Great dreams. A real doosey last night involving my ex-wife's parent's house and 3 undecorated Christmas trees. :)
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I take my Reyataz/Norvir/Truvada with a meal or some snack including fat, or even a glass of whole milk (doctors orders) at 6 PM every night. Well, I try to make it at 6 PM every night, thats when my watch is set to go off, but I have been know to err due to waiting for dinner to finish, etc.
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There are mixed messages. The Atripla.com website clearly states to take it on an empty stomach. Is the only difference side effects or is there a delivery / matabalize with food issue as well? I am on day/night 24 and it has been hit or miss with food right before or none for hours. Not enough data yet to determine side effects or if I should switch. The side effects are starting to thin for me, but still toss and turn at night. My dreams were always vivid, but then I invented ADHD as a child.
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My bf is on Sustiva and Truvada. he takes the Sustiva at night before bed and the Truvada when he gets up in the morning. He does it that way because he found taking the Sustiva and Truvada both before bed made him groggy in the morning. He has to drive first thing in the morning, so he experimented with dosing times and found this method to work for him.
Most meds you can take pretty much what time of day you like, as long as you stick to those times you choose. Sustiva is one exception and is usually taken at night, to avoid being awake and trying to function if you have the CNS side effects associated with it, but some people do take it in the morning.
Ann
Hi there,
Thanks for the advice above, Ann
I've just been diagnosed last week and going onto meds straight away onto Truvada and Sustiva. Info on this site is superb and giving me encouragement at a time when I'm still confused and shocked at the result. Going to discuss your suggestion on timing with my doc on Monday, as I'm in the same situation where I drive to work and concerned at danger if I take at the wrong time. Any suggestions from people whether I should consider some time off work when I first go onto Truvada and Sustiva, or is this unlikely to be needed?
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The first time or two I took Atripla (Sustiva+Truvada) the dizziness when I woke up was unbearable. If I were you I would definitely take the Sustiva component right before bed and you may want to begin on a weekend where you won't have to be at work the next day.
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Scot, the side effects from the regimine you are on are not totally unbearable, some actually handle them quite well. In the best case scenario if you do experience side effects they have been compared to a slight hangover. Some people experience nausea. Due to the unpredictability of all this it is sometimes advised to take a few days off just so one can deal with the side effects without the extra worry about making to work the next day.
If it was me... I would wait till I had a couple of days free lined up... just to help lessen the stress of course. In the beginning, as you get use to all this, I would suggest taking the Sustiva on a empty stomach... it helps lessens the chance of nausea and wild vivid dreams I found. As time goes on you can adjust this as you become more comfortable taking your meds.
Good luck!
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I'm on Atripla and take at night before bed. One time I took by accident during the day (don't ask how I did that) but I felt dizzy and a little disoriented when I did it. Night time works good for me. A few vivid dreams (last night involved something with moving, parents bringing a bunch of food etc over, may have been tied to super bowl party, and being stuck on the 5th floor with the elevator not working). I've only had one nightmare (which involved a giant cockroach - like from Mimic - hoveing over my head) -- woke up quick from that one and shook it off :-) Not the cockroach - the nightmare --- Otherwise, the Atripla at night works for me.
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I take my meds in the morning after I get up and at night before bed.
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Every 12 HRS. that means once in the morning, and once at night time = twice daily
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Unfortunately the days of me deciding whether to take my meds in the morning OR in the evening are gone (Atripla). I now must take meds both morning and night. 2 in the morn, and 3 at night.
-W
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Once you go undetectable and the side effects wear-off, you can take atripla anytime each day. During the period you are detectable it is important to take the 123 pill near the same time each day/night.
I currently take atripla between 12 noon to 6pm each day.