Switching from Reyataz to Edurant (plus Epzicom)

[sfpvguy41]

I am planning to switch from unboosted Reyataz, which I take with Epzicom (switched away from Truvada due to Osteoporosis), to Edurant.  I am aware of the meal requirement, and since I have 8 years taking Reyataz with food it's no issue.

The reason for switching is to see if I have less gut issues by changing from Reyataz.

I tried once switching to Isentress and couldn't due to problems with bad dreams, sleeping, depression etc... I know Edurant has some of these but less than Sustiva (which is why I always avoided that).  Doc says if I don't like it I can go back to Reyataz.

Anyone have experience with this combo?  Thanks!

[sfpvguy41]

Starting on my first pill today, I will update my experience since there was a deafening silence in response to this combo

[buginme2]

I take Complera (your combo with the Epzicom swapped for Truvada).  I used to take Ateipla.  Complera (Edurant/Truvada) is almost 100% side effect free (for me), your experience may vary. 

Good luck, I'm hope its as side effect. Free for you as its been for me.

The only negative is the meal thing.  You said you are already used to.  That was the hardest thing for me to get used to.  It sounds like such a simple task, yet it can really muck things up. 

[sfpvguy41]

Thanks! So far just a bit of a headache, nothing bad...

[weasel]

    I'm sure you will feel better   sfpvguy41  ,

    The worst 8 years of my life was when I took  Reyataz  .
    I spent hours in the bathroom almost everyday !

    Been on  Prezeista <sp>  now for 6 months a feel so much better in the gut 

     Still have bad days  a couple times a week , But not everyday .

                                  Hoping it works out well for you ,

                                                                  Weasel

   P.s.  HIV : Over 30 years ...

[sfpvguy41]

Day 3, feeling good, from about 2-5 hours after the pill I feel a bit loopy, dizzy and tired and not focusing. But it is not intense and passing.  Feel great in the evening. I am hopeful it gets better! Love he one small pill replacing two big capsules.

[sfpvguy41]

Last night I felt pretty good, easier day. Then I drank about half a vodka cranberry, broke out in a sweat and had to lay down as it seemed to make the effects of the med x3! Good thing I didn't drink in a bar!

Anyone with experience with Atripla or Sustivaor Edurant or Complera...how long before I can enjoy a Vodka again? Obviously not yet...

Thanks.

[sfpvguy41]

By the way Weasel, thank you for your kind words. I already notice a firming of the stool as far as GI tract issues go, which is really nice. Hoping some of my food intolerances might minimize getting off the Reyataz.

I'm posting about this experience to give info to others considering a switch...I want to emphasize I am not complaining...I feel pretty good about the choices I have in meds and that I remain undetectable after 11 years.

Not to change the subject but I have a long term survivor friend who is dying from a strange combo of bone cancer and infection of the colon area. In his day switching or adding meds to fight resistance meant saving his life, but his immune system took a real beating until a combo with Fuzeon finally worked. So for me, a few side effects are a low price to pay...and thankful we have more options.

[sfpvguy41]

Just finishing Day 8, and it was by far the best day yet, I didn't feel so much like I was hit by a truck and unfocused/fuzzy.  Instead just a bit of a dull headache at times, not much to worry about...and I was able to finally get some work done!  I feel more energetic and tomorrow plan to go back to the gym. I have a lot more hunger and feel like I want to eat everything in site, and a bit more sex drive.  Still enjoying a more normal feeling in the GI tract, I hope this keeps up!

I have had lots of problems with bad reactions to food I eat, diagnosed as Histamine Intolerance.  This isn't resolving as I'm having the usual symptoms, but still careful with my diet.  I do feel less bloated.  I am hopeful this will go in a good direction and my food intolerances will improve too.

[wooffman99]

I switched to Complera  from Reyataz, Truvada and Norvir. Night and Day. Complera is so much better for me. No major side effects. I'm back to a normal life again. I feel so fortunate.

[sfpvguy41]

Well it's now going on two weeks and I think the transition is over.  I don't feel much in the effects of the Edurant anymore except occasionally a little foggy/headache feel but it's not really noticeable anymore.  I haven't had any especially weird dreams, a few vivid ones but nothing bad either.  I felt like the first 10 days were slow and a little down/depressed feeling but I think that passed. 

I can drink now fairly normally but it hits me harder so 2 is my limit for now.

I wish I could say some of the things I thought were bothering me from the Reyataz were gone but they don't seem to have changed, specifically the Histamine Intolerance.  GI tract seems a bit more normal, certainly more firm, and I am definitely more hungry!

So now I wait for next labs which won't be til December to see if Edurant's doing better/worse/same as Reyataz...I do expect better on triglycerides and cholesterol.

[sfpvguy41]

I wanted to put a coda on this thread, now that I had my first labs with Edurant after switching from Reyataz.  Interestingly, my cholesterol and trigylceride #s were about the same as they were in Reyataz.  The time those numbers really improved is when I dropped the Norvir booster when switching from Truvada to Epzicomm.  So I blame the bad lipid effects more on Norvir than Reyataz.  I switched to see if gut issues improved and they have a bit, with firmer stools, but not dramatically.

Interestingly, while my CD4s fell in actual #, my CD8s also fell a lot and the CD4% went up to 37% which is in the normal range. I think this is great, because my CD8s have often been high, often over 1000, and that is a sign of chronic inflammation which is supposed to have bad long term effects on aging-related issues.  My doc also said sometimes on changing a med the CD4s drop a bit and restabilize again higher later.

I had a very bad few months work-wise and was very depressed.  Not sure how much of this was from the Edurant, but I think it was partly to blame.  I am now taking 5mg of Lexapro per day (a low dose) and seem to be back to pretty much normal.  As I used to always take Wellbutrin (stopped due to anxiety problems) I am not unhappy about this and plan to continue on the Edurant.  I like that it is one small pill instead of two big capsules (easier to store/swallow) and of course my bilirubin is back to normal. 

So it seems like I'm happy on Epzicomm with Edurant after breakfast every morning, and we'll see how the next labs go.  All in all I'd say it's a wash vs Reyataz, better than Reyataz with Norvir, and the dosage is ok...not a bad choice, but not a big win either so far.