Author Topic: starting atripla tomorrow (Read 12543 times)

brenner · « **on:** March 13, 2011, 04:36:32 pm »

hey everyone, starting atripla tomorrow...will let you know how it goes on a day to day basis. am looking forward to it on the health side of it.....terrified of the side effects, but thats life huh.

any tips and experiences will be most appreciated.

buginme2 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2011, 04:53:49 pm »

Don't worry about the side effects. They go away, and they are not that bad to begin with. Ive been on Atripla since December and am doing fine. I had some side effects but they do get better over time.

Suggestion: They tell you to take it on an empty stomach, about 2 hours after you finished your last meal. They aren't kidding. Especially during the first month until you get used to it I would follow this rule.

Good luck, you will do fine. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

WillyWump · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2011, 05:00:19 pm »

Hi Bren,

It's extremely possible that you may not even get any side effects, if you do it would most likely be the sleep issues, dreams, etc... Nothing to be terrified of. Of course there are other possible side effects but who's to say you will get those. Worst case scenario is that you will ahve to switch to another regimin, which is nothing to be worried about either.

Good luck and knock 'em dead!

-Will

mikeyb39 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2011, 05:18:33 pm »

Hi brenner,

Bug and I started about the same time, the only side effects that i really had was a warm sensation around my ears the first few times i took it, and just to echo what bug said about the eating, its important to take it on an empty stomach, it makes a world of difference, trust me.

i usually eat my last meal around 630p and take my pill at 930p, the first week or so you may get a little light headed, but if you take it before bed then you wont really notice. I do have little more vivid dreams, but nothing bad i just remember then more than i used too. Also these pills are kinda like a Viagra for me in an odd way, I wake up with a boner every morning...lol. So that may be something good to look forward too...not that you need that, but it seemed to be a fun plus...lol.

take care!

buginme2 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2011, 05:21:05 pm »

Ditto the boner effect. So if your med can work against HIV and also give you boner's why would you take anything else?

mbpoz6 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2011, 06:44:35 pm »

Quote from: brenner on March 13, 2011, 04:36:32 pm

hey everyone, starting atripla tomorrow...will let you know how it goes on a day to day basis. am looking forward to it on the health side of it.....terrified of the side effects, but thats life huh.

any tips and experiences will be most appreciated.

Whats up brenner,

I just started Atripla on Thursday. The side effects are very minimal. A bit of dizziness, but nothing too crazy. It's kind of wearing off too.

Hope everything works out for you.

David_CA · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2011, 07:06:06 pm »

Don't worry about side effects; not everybody has them. If you do have any, that doesn't mean that they'll bother you. I'd suggest that you do follow the recommendation of not eating for a few hours before taking it... until you're comfortable with how Atripla makes you feel. I had a few funky dreams from time to time, but they didn't happen too often. After several months, they were rare. If you do feel a bit odd in the morning, I've found that stimulants (ie most likely coffee) and exercise take care of 'em. I've been taking mine in the mornings for about three years now, and my viral load is undetectable, I feel good, and I'm healthy; I bet you'll have the same experiences! Good luck with it; most of us (that I've talked to) do fine on Atripla.

brenner · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2011, 05:03:29 am »

Thanks everyone, for all your words. 6 hours and counting till i get my pills.

brenner · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2011, 01:59:41 pm »

ok...came back from the doc. reactivity results were good. got a months supply of atripla. staring at the bottle right now. 10.30 pm is swallowing time. work your magic bitch. bring that vl down, and work your magic. right now, i feel like i am in a high school party where lsd or something is being passed around. excited, but really nervous. i am holding it together really well, i must say. havent broken down yet since the news of being poz. going through the motions of life as usual..going to work, social events, etc...nothing feels really different right now. once in a while, it hits me, but then i get over it. its here and its not going away. so lets fight it. lucky that i have insurance, great doctors, and friends who are supportive and also going through this and doing just fine, and to all of your posts that make me feel that its going to be ok. so lets do it, bitches.

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2011, 07:49:33 pm »

Hey dont worry about starting Atripla, Ive been on it for 18 months and only had 2 bad experiences during that time as I ate some fatty food close to taking it and staying up and drinking a bottle of wine! That said, If you do take it and find that you have weird dreams or as some people experience insomnia, eat a banana after you take it and go to sleep, the banana has an enzyme that releases melatonin to help you sleep and it with stop your adrenal glands kicking in during the night and waking you up.....you may feel a bit groggy a few days into the regime, personally I have found it to be a wonder drug and I have very bad epilepsy and that causes me more trouble...I went undetectable in 3 weeks from starting it....and have remained that way since Dec 18th 2010. Good Luck wit it!

ppp333 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2011, 09:02:11 pm »

Azrael u mean December 2009? U said u have been on Atripla sor 18 months..just checking..

Azrael2012 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2011, 02:56:18 pm »

yup......diagnosed Nov 07, and started meds 18months ago...still on em

brenner · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2011, 07:14:23 am »

DAY ummm....lost count...hang on.. 25...

ok... still no side effects. put on 4 pounds since starting, which is great as i had lost about 20 pre diagnosis and was not fitting into any of my clothes.

my kaposi sarcoma lesion is fading, but i am still not sure if thats just my head saying it...doc thinks so, but hes not sure either. but i feel better and better each day, and the fear and shock that i had before is fading like my ks. i just feel psychologically better knowing what the reason for my malaise was pre dxd, and knowing that i am fighting it back.

Cant wait to get my new numbers tomorrow. Will post them up when i get home from the doc.

Any questions? please just ask...will be happy to answer.

Ann · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2011, 07:49:16 am »

No questions here - just wanted to say that it's great that you've having such good results with no side effects. It sounds like you're in for a pleasant surprise when you get your labs tomorrow.

brenner · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2011, 07:57:40 am »

thanks ann. lets see whats awaiting me at the clinic....but will post whatever i get. its still early in the meds realm, so im not expecting a miracle right now.

thelovedones · « **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2011, 09:18:48 am »

Hey,

Just saw this. So glad to hear you're feeling better, especially psychologically. That counts for so much.

My fingers are crossed for you. Best of luck on your numbers

brenner · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2011, 09:38:43 pm »

hello everyone. so its been around 8 weeks since ive been on atripla. seems to be working its magic. vl dropped from 292,000 to 690 and my cd4 jumped from 257 to 690. im a bit confused, as i thought the cd4 numbers creep up slowly. is it normal for it to jump up that high so quickly or is it a blip or what? any thoughts? ann? matty?

much love.
b

Assurbanipal · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2011, 07:46:00 am »

Hey, congratulations -- it looks like Atripla is treating you well.

A lot of people see a good increase in tcells right off the bat. I know after I got out of the hospital with pneumonia (when I had a count of 22) my tcells went back up to a little under 50 before I started the meds. After 2 and a half months they had jumped almost to 300.

So... what are you doing to celebrate?

Be well
A

brenner · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2011, 08:40:10 am »

thanks...really happy about the results, but shocked at the same time. feeling great and will have a nice beer tonight.

skeebo1969 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2011, 12:23:57 pm »

Quote from: brenner on May 30, 2011, 09:38:43 pm

hello everyone. so its been around 8 weeks since ive been on atripla. seems to be working its magic. vl dropped from 292,000 to 690 and my cd4 jumped from 257 to 690. im a bit confused, as i thought the cd4 numbers creep up slowly. is it normal for it to jump up that high so quickly or is it a blip or what? any thoughts? ann? matty?

much love.
b

Congrats on the awesome results. Your results are not necessarily abnormal, just means your body, and the virus, are reacting as intended to treatment. Great feelings none the less, enjoy that beer tonight.

brenner · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2011, 09:38:41 pm »

So just an update on my meds, while on the topic. After about a month of taking them at night, around 10.30, i decided to take them in the morning around 9 am. This just made it easier to take the pills wilth brushing my teeth. I tend to have irregular sleep habits, always have...so it made more sense to take it in the morning. I spoke to my doctor about it and he gave me the green light. I can function normally, no dizziness or anything. so thats that.

phildinftlaudy · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2011, 09:41:34 pm »

Quote from: brenner on May 31, 2011, 09:38:41 pm

So just an update on my meds, while on the topic. After about a month of taking them at night, around 10.30, i decided to take them in the morning around 9 am. This just made it easier to take the pills wilth brushing my teeth. I tend to have irregular sleep habits, always have...so it made more sense to take it in the morning. I spoke to my doctor about it and he gave me the green light. I can function normally, no dizziness or anything. so thats that.

Sounds good -- for so many people, Atripla is a very accomodating medication. I have heard of others who take it in the AM. I am still a PM person with it - between 10 pm and midnight - but, I probably could do the AM thing without any negative effects --- but then I might miss out on some of the dreams.

Glad it is working out for you.

hope_for_a_cure · « **Reply #22 on:** June 04, 2011, 07:02:31 am »

Good to read that Atripla is working well for you. The main thing (regardless of when you take the pill) is to keep the virus in check. Congrats!

Quote from: phildinftlaudy on May 31, 2011, 09:41:34 pm

but then I might miss out on some of the dreams.

Those dreams have been on the mild side for me this week for some reason.

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Author Topic: starting atripla tomorrow (Read 12543 times)