POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: Pippet on August 24, 2006, 03:48:47 pm
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Hey ya'll,
I've recieved some great information from this site, and was hoping for a little input. I am new to treatment and had very bad reactions to trizivir. My doc has mentioned starting me on Atripla (truvada/sustiva combo) next week. I work a very stressful job in an industrial environment, and I'm worried about the side effects of Sustiva... Should I request Viramune? What are the side effects associated with that drug?
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I started atripla on Aug. 7, 2006 (First time on meds). The first night was crazy, I guess I had a little hallucination. My second night was fine, I don't have vivid dreams and I don't have problems sleeping. My first week on atripla I felt a little drunk. I no longer get the drunk feeling. Last week, I had a rash for five days and then it went away. But now I have this intense itch all over my body. Sometimes it is unbearable and feel like I'm being eaten alive by bugs. I've been popping benadryl like crazy.
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I just started atirpla last nite and it was very weird. stopped short of hallucinations but had real problems sleeping and felt out of body for awhile.. is it going to get better???
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I started Atripla 16 days ago. Stick with it, the rash should clear (there are good medications the Dr can give you to help that along), the drunk feeling will pass and you should feel fine.
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gg
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I've been taking for about 4 weeks now, just went for my first follow up with my doc. I am taking in the evening as they suggest. It has effected my sleep a little bit, I'm waking up after 5-6 hours of sleep, but I can usually go back to sleep pretty easily for a bit more after that. Otherwise it's been good.
Obviously it effects everyone differently, and if you do have side effects, they often subside on their own. Don't shy away from it out of fear of side effects. Just be prepared to work through some if they come up, and hopefully they won't be severe. If something of concern comes up, just discuss it with your doc and make the best choice for yourself.
I wouldn't want to give up on a great, and super easy to follow drug regimen out of either fear or some temp. minor side effects. I was taking the same 3 times a day drug combo for 14 yrs, and I know how hard it can be to take it on time everytime, over the long haul. So I'd give Atripla a chance, so far I'm pleased. When those test results come back...then I'll know for sure.
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i started treatment on 7/14/06 atripla or a-crippler is what i call it. the first nite i had some pretty intense hallucinations that were like seeing burst of colors and the next morning i was so stoned till about 5 that afternoon leaving about 5 hours before my next pill. i'd felt better for those 5 hours but it was right back to being out of it with the next dose. for the next 3 or 4 weeks the morning hangover was more like waking up from a weekend of bad drugs. i mean really bad drugged filled weekends. i have been clean since diagnosis by the way and skipped treatment about 3 years years. anyways back to the a-crippler. now it seems i wake to pee all nite since starting and once i do that i can't really get restfull sleep the rest of the nite. the dreams keep your mind going all nite so i wake feeling like i didn't really sleep. i hate taking it but fear if i change i will have diarrhea or some other unwanted effect. this is my first regimen so i guess i will stick with it as long as i can. my doc let me go on disability to see if the effects get better over time. i have been undetectable since my first labs and my CD4 is 792
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It's day 11 for me on Atripla - first time on HIV medication after recent diagnoses. So far (fingers, toes and eyes crossed that I stay side effect free) I havn't had any noticable side effects. Do feel a little sleepy in the morning but thats probably cuz I stay up all night reading and drooling over the posts in the I love Porn forum.
I am taking a bunch of other meds for PCP and CMV and fun stuff like that so the little bit of rash I have which doesn't itch could be caused by one of those buggers.
I also take it at night at least two hours after my Ben and Jerrys (the ice cream sorry to say) and maybe thats why I have been lucky so far.
I don't want to hijack this thread - so may start another with this question/comment: I have seen many references to Atripla having two drugs, my understanding is it has three - thus the aTRIPla name, right?
Good luck to us all using this combo - hope the ones with the side effects recover soon.
Kevin
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it's 3 drugs. but since they mixed viread and emtriva = truvada then add sustiva = Atripla (A-Crippler)
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I was on Sustiva, Epivir and Viread for 5 years and just last month start w/Atripla never side effects, thanks God. For me it works better to take it at night before bed make me sleep like baby. Good luck
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I have been on Atripla as well as anti-biotics after I was diagnosed with advanced HIV and PCP/Thrush...the first night I had VERY vivid dreams...no rashes but I do have itchy skin on legs/back.
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Great combo... I'm also on atripla... before I was on kaletra, zerit and I had the runs everyday for 3 years but, my numbers were great... I finally had to change drugs and atripla is the best... I'm employed in the arts and I think vivid wild dreams are an added asset but, I've always had vivid wild dreams... oh well... keep with this combo so far its the best... one pill in the evening.. its great!
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THIS COMBO HAS BEEN GOOD AS FAR AS BRINGING MY VIRAL LOAD TO UNDETECTABLE AND CD4 COUNT FROM 400 TO 725, HOWEVER IT MADE A MESS OF MY SLEEP. RECENTLY I STARTED TAKING IT IN THE MORNING AND WAS SURPRISED AT THE "SUSTIVA BUZZ"....NO WONDER I COULDN'T SLEEP! IF IT CREATES SLEEP ISSUES THEN TAKE IT WHEN YOU FIRST GET UP AND THEN FOLLOW WITH ALOT OF COFFEE TO COUNTERACT THE "BUZZ"....(I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ONE "UPPER" CAN COUNTERACT ANOTHER "UPPER" BUT IT DOES) UNLESS YOU WANT A NICE HIGH....LOL....THE BUZZ CAN BE A PROBLEM IF I AM DOING DESK WORK (MENTAL CONCENTRATION) SO I FIND IT BEST TO BE AS ACTIVE IN THE MORNING AS POSSIBLE AND AVOID ANY FATTY BREAKFAST FOODS! I USUALLY DRINK A PROTEIN SHAKE FOR BREAKFAST WHICH IS FAT FREE SO THAT WORKS WELL. IF YOU WANT THE RECIPE LET ME KNOW!
BE WELL!
CRAIG
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[]Last night was my first night on Atripla after a year of Sustiva and Truvada. It wasn't fun. I was hallucinating all night, and not in the "fun" that Sustiva was at the beginning. Today I've been queasy and groggy. I hope it gets better[/b].
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I'm on the components of atripla and have had few side effects after the 6th dose. I take it with ativan at night and I sleep fine. They tell me to watch the ativan because it is addicting. Just taking it while I get used to the meds. I don't think I could handle taking them in the morning, even with lots of coffee.
rob
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I am starting Atripla in a few weeks. I am already well adjusted to my usual Sustiva/Truvada combo.
The one pill formula is what my doctor suggested just to ease confusion.
As I understand it, it has the same components as the Sustiva/Truvada combo. Is that correct? Or shud I prepare for other sides?
RobT
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Evening RobT -
As far as I know it does have the same components. It's made up of favirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg)
Good luck - hope it works well for you.
Kevin
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Hey RobT....
It is just a combination of Truvada and Sustiva but in my case TIMING was everything....I did well when taking the Truvada in the am and Sustiva at night....but when I started taking the Atripla (hence both) at night then my system reacted with intense insomnia....and it did not go away after I went back to the 2 meds so it was a permanent change. So now I take both of them in the AM but I have to take the Sustiva in 3 doses
(3 x 200mg) spaced 2-3 hours apart so it does not hit my system too hard....taking one 600mg dose all at once in the AM was not a good idea at all....the dizzy/drunk feeling was scary. I seem to be alone in this situation in that no one else has indicated prolonged insomnia issues....but like everything else with HIV if your current regimen works I would say don't mess with it.
Be Well....
Craig
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Hello everybody, I have been on Atripla for 2 weeks now. When I wake up I feel groggy- you know real drowsy..I hope this will go away soon cause I cant really get going for a good hour to hour and a half. Ive have also been getting diarrhea, and some itching of my skin. I hope all of these go away soon. time will tell. Wish me Roscoe.
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Yeah,
I need to give myself time to wake up. And I definitely need to have my full 8 hours sleep to function without too much effort the next day. I am taking it with ativan, and even though I am still in the strongest side effect phase, I can get up and pee without bumping into anything and feel alright. I tried last night to take it without the ativan and woke up a few hours later and could not go to sleep until I took the ativan. At this point, I don't know if the ativan dependence is psychomatic or a real addiction. Whatever it is, it helps me sleep through the night. I have heard that ativan is a very mild form of valium, but is still addicting.
rob
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I began taking Atripla 12/20/06 and thus far (3 months) into it have been pretty OK with it. I did have a rash, but that cleared up after a couple of weeks. It did not itch and was just on my upper torso. I got super dizzy the first month or so but that is now manageable so that I could even drive while experiencing the dizziness. It's now just a little lightheaded, i suppose. I think that I did experience some difficulty in concentrating back in December and in the first part of January, but was able to focus well by drinking a single Starbucks Doubleshot in the AM to cope. (i've always focused better with coffee anyway). I can't say that I've had the acid-trip dreams that some people report...but I can say that my dreams have been stronger....much stronger than in the past. I actually like the dreams...it's like watching TV for me. So much so that the reason I don't want to get up in the morning is because the dream I was having was so vivid and wanted to complete it!
I have noticed that if I stay up after taking my Atripla, about 1.5 hours in, I will get a little excited and 'high' and that goes away after awhile. I've been careful to have good water intake during the course of the three months because I've noticed my urine a little cloudier than it was before going on the med. This makes sense to me as this is how the materials are excreted. I would advise people going on Atripla to carry a bottle of water with them and make sure they drink a gallon during the day so as to ensure that your kidneys are properly hydrated and flushed.
I have also observed that my depression has increased. I am prone to mild depression anyway...but it has become more pronounced since starting this medicine. Personally, I am choosing not to run the course of starting two drugs at once (Atripla + an antidepression med) at or near the same time, so i'm working through it the hard way...by talking with family, trying to spend my weekends visiting friends and family, and keeping a positive mental attitude. This is perhaps my hardest challenge as I live alone and am single. I talk to my dog a lot and have begun a concerted effort to find a boyfriend. :-)
In summary, for me at least...
1. Physical side effects (headache, rash, weakness, mental cloudiness) disappeared after 3 weeks
2. My dreams are more vivid, but this is something that is working well for me
3. I make sure that I get at least 8 hours of sleep daily so I feel like I have enough energy...honestly, I feel like I have MORE energy after having started treatment
4. There is the problem with depression. This one I am continually watching. If you are prone to depression you may want to fully analyze your options before going on this med, which utilizes Sustiva
5. Drink plenty of water....at least a gallon a day is recommended. Your kidneys are predominately responsible for flushing the med out of your system. Make sure they are properly hydrated. This goes a long way to promoting general wellness also.
Best of Luck to you!!
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I had tried to drink grapefuit juice to counter the effects of the morning Atripla. I hoped it would knocked out the drug in my system.
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yeah grapefruit juice is suposed to be bad for your liver when taking Sustiva and a bunch of other ARV's......i'd ask your doctor about it.
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yeah grapefruit juice is suposed to be bad for your liver when taking Sustiva and a bunch of other ARV's......i'd ask your doctor about it.
Totally! And when he asks his doctor he should print this out and bring it. This is from the AIDSMEDS Check My Meds interactive function (https://www.aidsmeds.com/cmm/index.php?)
Moderate Drug-Food Interaction: Atripla (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir)
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* The interaction is due to efavirenz which is a component of efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir
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MONITOR: Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of some orally administered drugs that are substrates of the CYP450 3A4 isoenzyme. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. The extent and clinical significance are unknown. Moreover, pharmacokinetic alterations associated with interactions involving grapefruit juice are often subject to a high degree of interpatient variability. MANAGEMENT: Patients who regularly consume grapefruits and grapefruit juice should be monitored for adverse effects and altered plasma concentrations of drugs that are metabolized by CYP450 3A4. Grapefruits and grapefruit juice should be avoided if an interaction is suspected. Orange juice is not expected to interact with these drugs.
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I'M REALLY APPRECIATING THESE FORUMS! I've been on ATRIPLA for two weeks. I stopped the insomnia by taking it earlier in the day, between lunch and dinner, and then I slept like my normal self. What started as a serious dizziness subsided to a buzzed feeling and now it's hardly noticeable - it kicks in almost exactly 3 hours after I take it and lasts for under an hour.
BUT THIS MORNING I HAVE DEVELOPED A SECOND SIDE EFFECT: THE DREADED RASH!!! It began on my wrists, and I thought I had touched something. By this morning, it had spread its spotted self up my right and left arms.
Anyone know of any natural treatments for this besides Benadryl? Has anyone experienced this rash for more than a week or so?
XOXO
p.s. what's this about grapefruit juice??!! I love that stuff, and now I'm reading here it's a NO NO w/ Atripla.
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The rash I got went away completely by the 6th day with no Benadryl or anything.
The leaflet that came with my bottle of Atripla told me not to drink grapefruit juice as well. You can read about it if you do the Check My Meds on the Cool Tools part of this site. Other citrus(oj...) juices are still supposed to be ok.
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The leaflet that came with my bottle of Atripla told me not to drink grapefruit juice as well. You can read about it if you do the Check My Meds on the Cool Tools part of this site. Other citrus(oj...) juices are still supposed to be ok.
Blkred: It's best to read your Atripla leaflet and clarify with your doctor. ........ I think it's like this: If your viral suppression and cd4 counts are "not living up to your expectations" while on meds and you're a grapefruit juice drinker, then ask your doctor if there's a connection. Better yet, ask your doctor. Period.
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Hello everyone... I was on Truvada/Sustiva for about a year and a half. When Atripla came on the market I immediately switched to it... and LOVE it. After reading lots of posts on this website, and other sites as well. I think people's immaginations get the best of them. Atripla is the combination of Truvada & Sustiva. Sustiva does, at the beginning, cause vivid dreams. Mostly because there are small amounts of THC in it..... the same active ingredient in marijuana. That's why so many people say they feel "light-headed". That side effect is something that either goes away, or you just adjust to it. I have no problems with my meds and LOVE taking on 1 pill a day. I take mine around 8pm and have no problems.
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BUT THIS MORNING I HAVE DEVELOPED A SECOND SIDE EFFECT: THE DREADED RASH!!! It began on my wrists, and I thought I had touched something. By this morning, it had spread its spotted self up my right and left arms.
Ok, HELP! Two weeks into Atripla I develop the rash on my arms. This morning I notice it has spread to my lower legs. I know the rash is a side effect and most are saying it goes away, but is it common the rash to begin TWO WEEKS AFTER TAKING IT? And where else will it spread? I plan to return to work next week.
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Blkred: It's best to read your Atripla leaflet and clarify with your doctor. ........ I think it's like this: If your viral suppression and cd4 counts are "not living up to your expectations" while on meds and you're a grapefruit juice drinker, then ask your doctor if there's a connection. Better yet, ask your doctor. Period.
I am what they call TREATMENT NAIVE. This is my first HIV med and my first two weeks taking anything like it, so until I see my doctor we won't know about what if anything this drug is doing.
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The rash I had started on day 10. I don't think 2 weeks into it is abnormal at all. And my rash spread in the same way as yours, blkrd. It spread Everywhere below the neck for me. It started to clear up basically by the time it had spread everywhere and was gone within a week.
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The rash I had started on day 10. I don't think 2 weeks into it is abnormal at all. And my rash spread in the same way as yours, blkrd. It spread Everywhere below the neck for me. It started to clear up basically by the time it had spread everywhere and was gone within a week.
THANKS, POZinBAMA! Encouraging words. I had just gotten back into lap swimming and now have to wait until my skin clears up. It's probably safe to get in the water, just aesthetically unpleasing.