POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: nycthreeoh on January 07, 2007, 04:07:48 am
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Hey all...so my doctor has recomended that I switch from my Kaletra/Truvada combo to Atripla. Kaletra/Truvada was my first ever combo and I started in June. I'm doing great with this, vl is <50 and cd4 has gone up in both tests, to 438 but two different docs have told me that it's a good idea to switch...one reason is that long term kaletra has "worse" or "more" side effects than sustiva. wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this and with switching so early.
thx ;)
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i've taken kaletra since 2002 when i was first diagnosed, but have never had any problems, externally or internally.
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Hi,
Like you, I started on Kaletra/Truvada and had a good reaction. This is the preferred combo to start people on because if you are not good at taking your drugs ever day on time at the start of treatment, Kaletra is very forgiving and has not shown to have resistance problems.
The potential problem with Kaletra is because it is a Protease Inhibitor (PI). Some people on PIs have a redistribution of body fat and they show sunken or hollow cheeks. This can be avoided by not taking a PI.
I switched to Atripla and I take it for right before bed. I am happy to report I have no side effects whatsoever. Some people report vivid dreams for the first 2 weeks, but I have not experienced this. My results have been outstanding and I am still undetectible (Viral Load) and now have 718 T cells (up from 250).
Good luck.
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Hey NYC....
I started on Truvada in the morning and Sustiva at night...switched to Atripla at night but my system could not handle all the meds at once....triggered a severe case of insomnia. When I went back to the split drug regimen the insomnia continued so I started taking the Sustiva (600mg) in the morning but the "high" was too much to handle....so after some inquiry at this site and others I now take 3 small doses (200mg) of Sustiva throughout the morning and it works much better. I seem to be the exception with Sustiva...it seems to help, rather than hinder, most people with sleep....but we all react differently.
SOOOOO....my point is that you may want to find out how long you can stay on the Kaletra without any adverse side effects (since it is working for you) AND if you start "dating" Sustiva and it does not work out.... can you go back to the Kaletra? If not then you may want to give Kaletra a longer run before switching. It seems that doctors, in general, want to give their patients the "latest and greatest" when "tried and true" can be a good thing!
Be Well....
Craig
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thanks for the info guys,
I decided to make the switch this weekend and i've taken three doses so far.
I haven't had any vivid dreams or side effects that others have reported and thought it'd be a good time to start because it's a long weekend and it'd give me time to adjust. Tommorow I'm back at work and we'll see how it goes when I'm really concentrating. I am looking forward to great results with my bloodwork next month.
Thanks all.
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HEY NYC....
IT TAKES COURAGE TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE SO I APPLAUDE YOU FOR DOING THAT! I SEE A PERFECT TRANSITION OCCURING FOR YOU AND THROUGH YOU....AND I SEE AMAZING TEST RESULTS HAPPENING FOR YOU!!
BE WELL!!
CRAIG