Visual Hallucinations and/or Strange Thoughts

[odyssey]

I've been on Truvada/Norvir/Reyataz for almost 2 months now, and I've been experience mild visual hallucinations and some pretty strange thoughts. The things I see aren't so clear that I mix them up with things that are actually here, but its still pretty disturbing for me. Also, I tend to have weird thoughts, like about spiders crawling all over me and miniature monkeys on giant bananas, etc. Has anyone else gone through stuff like this. I should mention that I have a history of mental differences, as I have Asperger's Syndrome, so my brain is already different, that's why we avoided Atripla in the first place. I plan to call the doctors office in the morning on Monday because its gotten to the point where I can't handle it and I ended up in the emergency room where they prescibed me Ativan to help me calm down. Geez, I hope you guys and gals can read through this ramble. I guess I'm just looking for advice or to see if someone else had gone through the same thing?? Thanks!

Odyssey

[mecch]

well it seems like something is quite reactive with you psychologically. I guess it was wise to avoid Atripla but if it is happening with this combo also, then isn't it the job of specialists to find a working solution. you have your right to sanity even with a HAART combo and your special mind, so why don't you ask all your doctors to help find a solution.

[newt]

Central nervous system disturbance is usually connected with efavirenz, one of the drugs in Atripla, but there are several reports of this happening on atazanavir (Reyataz).

The best solution is always changing the offending drug, if possible, though some people choose to use additional drugs like Ativan long term to manage the situation. 

Good luck to you, hope it sorts out

- matt

[odyssey]

I feel somewhat frustrated because on none of the patient or prescribing information information "leaflets" that AIDMEDS links to on the drug manufacturer websites does it mention anything similar to what I'm going through for any of my drugs. The only CNS (central nervous system) mentioned is depression, and if you ask me, seeing things is a far bit different from depression. So where are these "reports" to be found? Do the companies know this is even happening to people?

[mecch]

I dont know about the reports and all, maybe Newt can fill you in. I had pretty trippy experiences with efavirenz, but not with reyataz.  Sometimes it was like a light acid trip. it wasn't unpleasant at all. The agitation and tenseness that followed a month later was unpleasant.  i think all that qualifies as CNS reactive.  I'm guessing that if you describe this to your HIv doc and your shrink they will take it quite seriously and help find a solution.  
Your exact challenge may not be in any literature. Besides, you said you have a special brain anyway. There's probably not much research on your special case with being HIV and on HAART. 

[odyssey]

I spoke to my psychologist just a little while ago, and he told me to call my ID doc tomorrow morning and describe what is going on and ask to be seen. I feel a little better now knowing there's a plan in place, and other than that, I'll just be using the Ativan tonight to help me get some rest until the morning.