Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits > Questions About Treatment & Side Effects
ARVs and weight gain_HELP!
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Silverlakenick:
It's typical; throughout my treatment for HIV/AIDS, the ARV (and antibiotic) side effects I mention are dismissed or downplayed. Inevitably, I then find the very side effects I mentioned listed on both the pharmaceutical company's website and on the FDA’s. I know my body well and have NEVER imagined a side effect. Most recently, I have grown tired of my spare tire and fat redistribution. I am tired of eating impeccably, going on the lifecycle religiously and not making a dent in the weight gain. And frankly, it is not healthy to carry extra weight for all the obvious reasons. I have bookmarked endless recent studies on ARV-related weight gain, the mechanistic reasons for it and the fact it's most dramatic when switching regimens. But I am finding it hard to find the SOLUTION to the dilemma. Which ARV regimen is LEAST likely to result in needless weight gain? I'd like to be armed and request the exact change in meds on next visit.
Jim Allen:
Hiya,
What HIV drug combinations have you been taking, and what are you currently taking?
There is some weight gain for most when starting treatment, and aware that with certain meds, some may experience greater or problematic weight gains and those switching from TDF that had a protective effect to TAF can also gain more weight.
https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/weight-gain-and-hiv-treatment http://www.aidsmap.com/Weight-gain-after-starting-ART-predicts-survival/page/1438184/ https://www.poz.com/article/hiv-may-lead-big-belly HIV May Lead to a Big Belly
Silverlakenick:
Hi Jim, Thanks for the reply! Yes, what you describe is precisely what I've been reading up on (the 'return to health' weight gain on starting treatment, the TDF-to-TAF switcheroo phenomenon, etc.) But again, very seldom is a solution presented in the study conclusions; hence my reaching out for recommendations (from anecdotal experience.) My medical record is too dense to share here (read: longer than 'War and Peace') but the short version (to answer your question in brief) is this: I was diagnosed about 3 years ago and started ARVs a month after discharge, due to the meningitis factor. My CD4 count was quite low on diagnosis, and of course, my viral load was high. So we started with the 'big guns:' Descovy and Tivicay. One of my opportunistic infections was Hep B, so my regimen was dictated by that factor, to a degree. Once I was out of the woods, (became undetectable right away, as is typical, with CD4 a bit slower to raise...) I switched to Triumeq, then Symtuza, I believe. I was on some antibiotics as well, complicating side effects, but ostensibly the regimen changes were the logical ones based on 'tolerance,' without any acknowledgment my side effects were anything but hypochondria...haha! After Symtuza, I believe, was Dovato, which I have been on without interruption for probably over a year now. To answer the second part of your question...my health is awesome. Plenty of complications throughout but at this moment I am off all antibiotics (due to cd4 count maintaining for the obligatory period of time considering my opportunistic infections) and Dovato is the only drug I take. And magically my athralgia, joint pain, weakness, inflammation has resolved! Because my general health/immune function is stable, (CD4 count is not wonderful, but I am healthy) it is time to focus on the undesirable side effects. Yes, I am a gay man, so the aesthetic os ONE concern. But it is simply not healthy to carry extra weight, esp. hard belly fat between the organs and I have had 'fatty liver' at times due to the Hep B. Time to make a dent in the weight; it's frustrating to eat impeccably and go on the lifecycle daily for fat burning and see zero results. I know my body well and have always maintained homeostasis/impeccable health so I know the obstinate extra weight is 100% due to the meds.
Tonny2:
ojo. Hi there!!
Welcome to the forum and I’m sorry about your dx and the side effects you are experiencing with the meds…I wish I had some of your side effects, weight gain, I’m so skinny I wouldn’t mind to gain some extra pounds, but, after 28 years of taking arvs and five years taking antibiotics, the only thing I “gain” due to so many years on antibiotics is toe nails fungus, the ID doctor said it’s not worthy to treat it because med for toe nail is harsh for my liver…back in the days we old timers we didn’t care about side effects, we wanted to live and, lots of us, made it, tho, living with some of those meds side effects, my self, living with neuropathy, but, I’m still alive enjoying life, family and friends…a while ago, I used to have a small tummy pains here thinking it was lipo, I stopped watching tv and scratching my small tummy, I walked everyday with my husband and “voila”, my tummy is gone…anyway, I know we react to meds but, it is what it is, we have to adjust to our new normal, at least you don’t have to deal, like some of our LTS with a hump or that fat you are talking about on your neck, making it difficult to breathe…I hope you talk to your doc and find a way to reduce your side effects…good luck and, please keep us posted…hugs