Intro + Biktarvy, not UD. Switching options?

[tommy78209]

Hi ,  so is DTG    tivicay?  Im currently on Biktarvy, no longer keeping me undetectable and big weight gain.   I was on atripla and genvoya both were keeping me undetectable. moved for a less toxic med.  If tivicay is dtg, Than because im on biktarvy which has bictegravir   they would not recommend i switch to tivicay.  im worried about which med to switch to.  Any help on where i could look to get advice on which med would be best.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

As you are a new member and the post is regarding issues you are facing I have split it into its own thread to work as your forum introduction. 

So Tivicay is the brand name for DTG that's correct. Not sure why you could not switch unless there is resistance to integrase inhibitors? Were you having issues and that's why you switched from Genvoya to Biktarvy? 

About Biktarvy is not keeping your VL suppressed, sorry to hear that although, is it just a single blip or low-level viremia?

Not sure if it's helpful but here is a link to the drug charts: https://www.poz.com/drug_charts/hiv-drug-chart

Jim.

[tommy78209]

Hi Jim, Thank you for responding to my post. The switch from Genvoya to Biktarvy was only done as a reduction in toxicity. I was undetectable until I started using biktarvy, I was undetectable for a few months on biktarvy then over the course of 3 lab test about 20 copies appeared. now last test 70 copies.  I guess im trying to see if others have had to made a switch due to the med no longer keeping them at undetectable and if they did which med did they change to and were they able to obtain undetectable status again.  Im asking my doctor to order the geno type test.    I guess its really just a guessing game as to what I should switch to. Im looking at dovato and others.  I have the hiv med list printed out.  Would the geno type test tell me if I had a resistance to a integrase inhibitor?   Thank you,Rey

[Texland]

Hi Rey,

I'm taking Descovy and Tivicay. I was on Biktarvy and also had the sudden weight gain. It was also causing other side effects and I wanted off. My (now former) doctor switched me to Dovato. Right away I went from UD to 50, then 70 then 120 viral load. After changing to a new doctor, she switched me to Descovy and Tivicay. Because I've been on meds around 25 years, I had already taken one of the drugs in Dovato. She brought that up on our first phone visit. On the current combination, I went right back to undetectable. There are other combinations of meds, talk to your doctor.

A genotype test only works when there is a high viral load. I wouldn't recommend letting it get high just for a lab test.