Atripla & Ambien, Lunesta, etc.

[andysdaddy]

My bf just started Atripla on Tuesday & other than having some really vivid dreams & waking up in the morning very irritable, he's not really had any side effects yet (knock on wood!).  My question is about combining sleep aides with Atripla & if this is ok. 

As I said before, he's having vivid dreams...when he sleeps.  He's not the most sound sleeper in the best of times & before he started this he'd sometimes take a 1/2 an Ambien or Lunesta at bedtime.  He doesn't go back to see his doctor again for a few weeks but I'm wondering if it's still ok to give him one to help him sleep?  Or, are over the counter meds ok for this?  If it's ok, when should he take them...with the Atripla, before, maybe wait a bit & then take it?

Thanks for any input!

[max123]

hi daddy. while your boyfriend isn't going to see his doc for a few weeks, it would probably make sense to play it safe by waiting it out another night and calling the doc's office tomorrow to ask that question. i'm sure that one of his/her nurses could either answer the question or get the answer from the doc. good luck.

max

[macv]

hi mate, My fella started sustiva and truvada and then went onto atripla in january, he has had the odd tylenol pm and the odd zopiclone but ask your doc first. I just asked him and he doesnt have any side effects any more, only the odd dream very rarely, but he doesnt even get dizzy or feel stoned any more. Hope your fella does good. take care

[Inchlingblue]

This site has a personalized drug interaction report:

http://www.aidsmeds.com/cmm/

[GNYC09]

It is fine to take a sleeping pill with Atripla.  I take Atripla with Ambien (or Sonata) on occasion.  These pills helped me sleep through the crazy Atripla high I experienced during my 1st month on Atripla.

[AboutToStart]

My Dr said it's perfectly ok to take Ambien CR together with Atripla though it appears on the drug-drug interaction list (like many other drugs that are ok to take).

Strangely, I did not need any sleeping pills help on my first month as the Atripla would just knock me out and made me sleepy (though I dreamt quite a bit). After the first month, side effects subsided, dreams deminished, and Atripla no longer knocks me out for a good night sleep. I started taking Ambien (CR) again but even still I feel very fatigued. I suspect the Atripla is now actually interfering with my sleep and am considering switching to morning dosing as some of us recommended on here

Good luck!

[andysdaddy]

Thanks for the info everyone!

[guyinwa77]

I had the same question.  I've had insomnia for years and have taken about everything for it - right before I started Atripla I took temazepam.  My PCP was concerned about the BZD's and Atripla - but apparantly not all BZD's are contraindicated while taking Atripla.  I have taken both Lunesta and generic Ambien and been just fine - I will probably use generic Ambien just because it is much cheaper then Lunesta.  You may want to just start with a half pill to start with because there may be some additive effect to the sedative properties in Atripla in some people - just a suggestion.

[RobertFL]

Hi Guys!


I ask to my about to get something to help me sleep because I have problems to sleep taking Atripla and he recommends Melatonin 3mg. Less toxic to the body.

Robert