Reyataz/Norvir/Truvada side effects

[Bob]

Hey guys! I'm new to this site and don't know all the etiquette yet, so I apologize if this topic is too redundant. (I searched the forums but only found bits and pieces of answers.)

I started this combo in January after an eight-month meds break while my doctor tried to figure out why a couple of my liver enzymes were high. I wasn't really aware of any side effects at first, but in the last couple of months I'm really aware of bloating and gas (and occasionally diarrhea, but not much). I'm guessing Norvir (100 mg) is the culprit, because my partner just started a mostly different combo that also includes Norvir, and he's got the same issue.

All the info I've seen so far indicated side effects eventually would subside, but I'm still bloated after four months on this combo. I take my meds in the morning with breakfast: corn flakes with blueberries, a banana and non-fat milk. I'm starting to wonder, based on what I've read today, if including more fat with breakfast and meds would help with the gas.

I realize everyone responds differently to meds, but any experiences or advice would be appreciated. Thanks, and I look forward to learning a lot about HIV and meds on this site. Cheers!

[Hellraiser]

Maybe someone else can confirm but I'm pretty sure Truvada (with it's miraculous side effect profile) makes you gassy.

[newt]

I suspect what Hellraiser said is true, it's the tenofovir in the Truvada.  However, could be any of the meds (except perhaps the emtracitabine in Truvada, this would be unusual).  Food, like a real meal, tend to make ite less so, and it does pass with time (trust me I know personally, and so do my colleagues...)

The alternative to Truvada is Epzicom/Kivexa (abacavir + 3TC) which does not cause bloating, but may increase your risk of heart attack (whether this is important depends on your baseline risk, 1% to 2% means not much difference but 5% to 10% maybe it does).

- matt

[Bob]

Hey guys, thanks for the information!

I hadn't even considered the Truvada before, but now I learn that my partner also is taking that drug as well. So maybe it is the Truvada instead of the Norvir. I've taken Viread before, didn't have this problem, but maybe taking it with the other component of Truvada is what's causing the gas. Anyway, gonna see my doc next week, so I'll ask. In the meantime, I'm going to change my daily dose to evening meal, which is larger than breakfast.

Thanks again!

[Miss Philicia]

The tenofovir contained in Truvada made me quite gassy until I began to take delayed-release, buffered pancreatic enzymes daily, and now I rarely have any issue in that regard.

[BM]

Maybe newt could comment on this, but it's my understanding that Viread/Truvada should be taken at the same time as Reyataz and Norvir to lessen the effect tenofovir has on Reyataz blood levels (i.e. to ensure trough levels aren't too low).

[leatherman]

Truvada should be taken at the same time as Reyataz and Norvir

one of the purposes of this combination is that it's a once daily dosing. (and no one discussed splitting up this combo) There isn't much sense to even trying to spilt only three pills into multiple dosing times.

leatherman
(who recently switched from videx ec to truvada to move to only dosing once a day)

[BM]

(and no one discussed splitting up this combo)

Oops, you're right. I misunderstood what Bob said.