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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: tryingforhope on December 22, 2006, 12:15:08 pm

Title: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: tryingforhope on December 22, 2006, 12:15:08 pm

I started Viracept and Combuvir on Monday. I have been taking the meds on time but this morning I noticed that I have just been taking one viracept twice a day when I should be taking two. Of course the people in my clinic are gone today for a holiday break so I have no answer from them.
I am assuming that since I was underdosing from the beginning that I should be okay taking the right dosage now and not casue problems with the virus...

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: thunter34 on December 22, 2006, 12:22:46 pm

Yep.  Best thing you can do right now is immediately start taking the proper dosage of your meds.  I'd say to take this opportunity to thoroughly double-check all the advice surrounding your medicines...as in, suggested times of dosage, take any of them with or without food, etc. 

You can not only do that research from the bottles and the info sheets that should have come with the prescriptions, but from right here on this site also!  Just look up that the top left of the screen here for 'Lessons' and 'Drugs', etc.  Plus, any further questions can always be addressed through your thread here!

Congrats on catching that early on!  I would still suggest that you advise your doctors about this at your first opportunity!  I keep my team up to speed on everything like that- just to have it all on record & to be proactive about my health.

Hope I've covered this well enough for you. If not, I'm sure additional posts will be added here shortly.

Happy Holidays and stuff!

Tim

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: AlanBama on December 22, 2006, 12:42:13 pm

Don't panic.   All of us who have been on meds any great length of time have made a mistake now and then, just make sure you begin to take it correctly as soon as possible.

Once back in the early 90's I discovered that I had been taking twice as much Biaxin as was actually prescribed for me....it scared me to death, but it was no big deal (I had been doing it that way for 2 or 3 months!)   We're only human, we do make mistakes.

Hope you have a happy holiday.

Hugs,
Alan

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: tryingforhope on December 22, 2006, 12:47:38 pm

Thanks guys! I panicked for a momment especially when I called the clinic and got the answering service!

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: Christine on December 22, 2006, 03:24:43 pm

Don't panic. Just start taking the correct dose. Talk to you doctor after the holidays just to let them know.
Christine

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: Coffeechick88 on December 22, 2006, 04:05:26 pm

Good job on catching that so early.  Yeah just start the correct dose and make sure they know.  When I first started meds for about a month and a half I took one Reyataz capsule instead of two.  Just one day I happened to be looking and the bottle and I realize "Crap!  I am taking the wrong dosage"  I did wonder why I had so much extra when I had that first refill.  I just started immediately taking the right dose, made sure my doctor knew, and all was well.

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: Eldon on December 22, 2006, 08:23:39 pm

(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o134/forfun_06/TaiwanDance.jpg)

Yes, I AM Supporting You

Hey Hope...

I LOVE that screename you chose, it is so fitting. In any case, there are some HIV cases where the Doctors start their patients out with a lower dosage of their medication. However, in your case, it should not be a problem with you taking the right dosage now. Your body will need to adjust as well.



Enjoy your Holiday Season.

"Don't You Dare Give Up, Don't You Dare Give In... Cause it is ALL within you to WIN!"

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: latinscorpio75 on March 03, 2007, 03:58:16 pm

It still boggles my mind to know that no studies have been done on lowering the dose for those of us who have been taking heavy doses of the medications for prolonged periods of time (and we wonder why we have so many freakin' side effects!!!!!!!!!!!!!). 

I don't believe that someone with a very high viral load needs as much medication as someone who has been undetectable for 10 years! 

I haven't been able to get a straight answer from any HIV specialist.  They all say that "the medication should be taken as directed" period like a script they've rehearsed over and over again. 
I wonder if no studies have been conducted because of the impact that the new findings will have on the pharmaceutical companies and their revenue from these very expensive medications.
Would love to hear what you guys think on this matter.

Mario

Title: Re: Need some advice from the med pros
Post by: J.R.E. on March 04, 2007, 06:20:44 pm

Hello Mario,

I think what you are referring to is TDM. Therapeutic drug monitoring. I may be wrong. Matt( Newt) is the one that is probably more knowledgeable on that issue.I believe, He has brought this issue up before.
Perhaps this link may give some information, but I do understand what you mean :

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/408259_5


Here's another link :

http://www.bhiva.org/guidelines/2005/HIV/monitoring.html


PS: you will have to create a user name and password to view the article



Ray