Resistance Question.

[Ihavehope]

Recently found out I am resistant to NNRTI class drugs therefore that limits my choices of drugs. I have the option to take nukes and PI. If these drugs become ineffective in the near future does this mean that fuzeon is the next option for me? I understand new classes of drugs are in the process of coming out, but until that happends what is the next step after resistance to a PI or Nuke? I understand that PI's can be replaced with another PI but does the PI loose some of it's effectiveness since one PI already failed? Having a resistance to a class of drug, what are the other implication towards my health? Does this mean it is a more rapidly growing virus?

[Miss Philicia]

You have a lot of options until you reach the fuzeon stage, and even considering that the new medications that are in phase 4 trials and will hit the market within 6-months would prevent that.  Please relax.  And no, it doesn't mean the virus is growing more rapidly, just that the doctor has to pay closer attention to what they give you. 

Why are you worried about PI's failing you when you have no resistance to them at present?  You're simply inventing things in your head to go wrong before they do... don't fall into that type of thinking.

[budndallastx]

Philly is right ...!

I was initially on Sustiva / Epzicom and had a horrible reaction to the Epzicom.  Thinking it was the Sustiva, the doc had me continue on the Epzicom until the Sustiva was out of my system.  Unfortunately, it was the Epzicom and I had to totally stop.  I sat at home for the rest of the week freaking that I would quickly develop resistance to the NNRTI's and worried I was never going to be able to tolerate the nukes leaving me without any options.  There are a wide variety of options available especially if you're just starting out.


Again, stop stressing because it isn't productive for anyone but Pepcid sales at the drug store.

[Cerrid]

Hope,

I understand that it needs a lot of mutations to develop a resistance against a PI, so you really shouldn't worry too much about this now. PIs may have a few undesirable side effects such as increasing lippos and stuff, and you have to take them twice a day, but they are effective and work well. Just relax a bit, there are plenty of options you can choose from.

[Double M]

Hi,

I was going to start on Truvada/ Sustiva until I had a resistance test and that showed not only resistance to all NNRTIS but also varying degrees of resistance to the NRTIS as well. I stated on boosted Reyataz and the best of the Nukes available to me (Kivexa/ Epzicom) and went to un-detectable in two months and been that way for over a year now.

So basically if you have all the PIs and Nukes available to you then there with good adherence there’s no reason you shouldn’t be taking the same combination in 10 years time and if you look at how the meds have come on in the last 10 years that should be pretty encouraging!

Lloyd

[Miss Philicia]

Adherance is what will be key, you have much less wiggle room to screw up with this issue.  Just keep this in mind, IHH.  And I know everyone when they're first starting meds swears up and down that they'll never ever contemplate missing a dose -- well, it DOES happen.  And once you miss one, it's easy to write off missing two as long as they're separated by a few days... it's a slippery slope so just always keep in mind that with a resistance you need to always be on top of this.