Nervous about taking Atripla.

[mxpxrwk]

Im going to start Atripla this friday!

Im really nervous and anxious about taking it.

I had a bad experience with bactrium so now taking new meds make me really nervous.
 I had an allergic reaction with bactrium and i got a rash and a fever between 102 and 103 for like 7 days. so now im afraid of taking anything.
I currently take Zoloft for my anxiety which the doctor knows.
would Atripla be okay to take even tho i have read that it causes depression?
any advice?

[StacheBC]

It's not easy starting your first regiment (assuming it is)... since it's not like starting an aspirin regiment. Unless you've been on another combo, there really isn't anything to compare it to.

That being said, my experience was a lot easier then I expected. The first few nights I remember feeling as if I was drunk... not just tipsy, but flat out drunk, if I stayed up after taking the pill or if I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom. A few days later... I would just feel a bit dizzy and off balance. But things did get better as time went by.
Although even in the beginning, I'd always wake up feeling fine.

Now only 3 months later, I can take the pill (on the recommended empty stomach or not) and barely tell if I took the pill or not.

Although easier said then done, try not to stress about it, most people start and continue an Atripla regiment without any major side effects.
If you are on Zolof, you *might* need to get your prescription adjusted, once you have an understanding as to how the medication interacts with you, although in many cases that isn't needed.

I never had a problem with depression myself, although at times (mostly due to work) I could get anxious, and at least for me increased anxiety was not a problem. Actually the opposite happened, shortly after starting I would feel this rush of energy and this sense of well being that I hadn't felt in a long time, that in turn empowered me.

My advise is to work with your HIV doctor, relate to him/her any physical or mental changes. Also keep in mind that under medical supervision you can change regiments... if it really came to that, but although you might hear of some people that didn't do well on this particular combo, most people do extremely well, it's one of the easiest and most effectives treatments on the market.

Will you please keep us posted.

[bnwanna]

Don't stess out!  Many are allergic to the sulfer in Bactrium and if you had that reaction your dr would not put you on Atripla.

I started Atripla Dec 4th and my first night was hell because of my nerves, not because of any side effects.  I laid in bed waiting for the room to spin, for monsters to come out from under the bed and for my entire body to produce a rash.  After 3 hours I realized, wow, what the heck were people talking about?  The only side effect I had was the next day I was a little light headed, but that was it.

Thankfully I've had no issues with Atripla, except for a few weird dreams and I have found it takes me a little longer to fall asleep.  And after 1 month my VL went from 117,879 to 699 and my CD4 went from 114 to 208.  I've also found that it doesn't matter if I snack before taking my pills either.

Everyone is different and I didn't have any of the side effects I've read about, not even the rash I was worried about.   Here's wishing you the best - email me privately if you want to.  Since I'm still new to Atripla we can support eachother.

[phildinftlaudy]

I started Atripla 12/4/09 and was also nervous -- particularly about the side effects I had read about and heard about on here....
I have to tell you that they haven't been bad at all.  I am only slightly groggy in the AM; a few wild, vivid dreams (not nightmares, just dreams) and some stomach cramping in the AM -- which is relieved by hitting the toilet --- which I have to do even more so since starting meds (and in fact since being diagnosed in 09/08). Current cd4 (measured 25 days after starting Atripla) = 540; 30%; with vl = 60
I'm sure you will do fine.  I take mine on fairly empty stomach at 11 PM -- I like to eat late and have my late night snacks so i usually have eaten about 1 hr before taking -- which might be the reason for the stomach cramps in AM, etc.
Keep us informed how it goes.

[aef]

I have been on atripla for 3 years. I am also allergic to sulfa drugs, I also have depression but found that the atripila didn't make it any worse. I don't dream so that never affected me. Now I take clonzapam for sleep.I have Diarrhea but that is from the sleep meds. My labs are good.just hang in there and talk with the dr.

[mxpxrwk]

thanks everyone I will keep you posted. I will take my first pill tonight..

Im currently not taking anything right now... I developed a small rash a few days ago and now it's all over my body. I have been taking benadryl and taking warm baths for the past 2 days.

Should I worry about this? Im not on any medication yet so i don't know how i would have an allergice reaction.. did anyone have this happen to them?

why is it that ever since my hiv + results in November I feel like i've been getting sick more often

[esper]

Hey, hope your first night went well!!  I started this regimen  last Dec 11, really pretty side effect free....I actually think most people get on this regimen with not too much problem....dreams / morning fog-head seem most common, some people get the rash which mostly goes away (but should check with your doc if you get something), some headaches. And seems lots of people get on with no problems at all!!!  Hope you're one of the latter....good luck, and do keep us posted.  good luck. esper

[luckyone]

hey,ive been taking atripla a little over a month now,in that time my vl has gone from 65,700 down to 412 cd4% from 32% to 35% the medication is great as far as results. As faras side effects they were minimal compared to the end result,i did get the rash around day 8 it lasted about a week looked worse than it actually felt,but again in my opinion not a big deal just a small inconvinience for a great end result so far. if you get the rash just see your dr. and most likely he or she will give you some benadryl.Good luck and let us know how you make out luckyone. PS. whats up esper

[esper]

Hey Luckyone, sounds like your doing ok too, that's great.  I sent you a PM last week checkin' in.

mxpxrwk, sure you'll do fine with this. by the way, I had some skin problems which had gotten worse before I started the meds, and they have all improved or resolved completely since I started.  good luck. esper.

[ruralguy]

My experience with atripla has been fine.  I went undetectable in only a few weeks.  After 4.5 months my CD4  nearly doubled.  Other than the first few days waking up with sort of a hangover, I had no side effects.  I do think you should take it on a empty stomach so I switched to taking in first thing in the morning and I have -no- side effects, none.

I was very nervous in the beginning but, in the end, it's been just fine.  I feel totally normal.  One thing you read about as a side effect is increased cholestrol, but mine, which was never a problem, actually declined.  So, relax....you'll be fine

[hereinny]

Ok, all i can tell you is this.  I am a total mess when it comes to all this stuff.  If 1 in 1000 people have the slightest complication, I'm convinced it will happen to me.  Here is the deal:  My first couple days taking Atripla were really kind of nerve racking.  I felt nauseous, dizzy and just like total crap. It went away very quickly. I was on a normal routine in a matter of days. Of course that didn't make me any less anxious.  Now my worry was that god awful rash i heard so much about.  I was so worried about it that I got what i thought was a rash and it was sunburn.  Just when i got over that, then the real rash kicked in.  That lasted from start to finish for about 10 days tops.  No big deal at all really.  again, it was more in my head than anything.  After about 5 weeks on Atripla, my life was as normal as ever.

My point is this, you are going to have some side effects.  You're also going to get through them. If you really spend the time and read up, you'll find and nearly everyone has an adjustment period. Just try to start at the right time when your life is free of as many other complications as possible.

As far as support goes......Write your experiences on here every chance you get.  If nothing else, it give you something to do.  Its almost like writing a letter and not mailing it.  I did that and i kept getting responses from someone who proceeded to bitch me out for worrying so much. I got so pissed at him that i forgot all about why i was here in the first place. LOL

Bottom line is this.  You have to do what you have to do.  Your gonna be just fine. Even if Atripla doesn't go great for you, (which it most likely will) you'll find something that does.  The only thing i should warn you about is if you do get a rash and it gets close to your eyes, nose or mouth, get in touch with your doctor.  My doctor first said maybe i should stop the Atripla, this was after 4 weeks on it.  I said i didn't want to,  I wanted to see if i could push through the rash.  It all worked out fine.

BTW,  i went from 217,000 VL to undetectable in less than 8 weeks.  I have been on it for 8  months and although i still feel it a little bit, my side effects are no worse than a caffeine rush. (too much coffee)

As far as depression goes, keep up the antidepressant and you will be fine.  I have been taking one for years and the Atripla did not effect me at all in that regard.

Good luck and hang in there.  Shoot me a private message if you have any questions.

[mxpxrwk]

Sooo I finally got on meds and my CD4 count went from 94 to 145 and VL went from 700.000 down to 1300 in a month... Im  on Truvada, Reytaz and Norvir... I didn't really have any side effects a little nausea but im doing good......

Best news I got from my doctor...

[Hellraiser]

Glad to hear it man, this really is a wonder drug.

[mxpxrwk]

I was so happy I went to celebrate with my boyfriend... I laughed and almost cried cause i was really happy... my doctor was all happy to see such great results... the forums help and my social worker helps alot

[Bruce]

That's terrific congrats! just hang in there and keep taking the Atripla.

I've been on it now 5 weeks and have been very lucky with practically no side effect except a little dizziness the first week, which has now gone completely. We have all heard horrific stories about the side effects and we all expect they will happen to us too. HOwver the reality is that most people do not find it hard to adapt to Atripla at all. Chill and go with the flow and you will soon come out the other side with great lab results and feeling sooooo much better!

Take care

Bruce