Author Topic: Starting Trizivir (Read 5411 times)

gabulldog · « **on:** July 22, 2009, 09:45:36 am »

New to the forum.

My physician just started me on Trizivir and I am seeking some feedback regarding your personal side effects and general info to this med. This is the only medication that I'm taking based on past resistance and/or negative side effects to other meds.

Thanks,

Jim

AboutToStart · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2009, 12:12:46 pm »

I dunno if you already checked it out or not, but the following link contains lot's of info about that drug:

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Trizivir_1583.shtml

Good Luck!

Inchlingblue · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2009, 01:12:22 pm »

If it's absolutely your only option and you have looked at everything then it's fine but, personally, in this day and age, I don't see any reason to take anything with AZT unless you absolutely have to.

The drugs in Trizivir definitely work and if you have no resistance to them you should be undetectable and do well but AZT, one of the drugs in Trizivir has been linked with certain long term side effects (higher incidents of lipoatrophy etc). It's an older drug (in fact it's the very first drug approved for treating HIV back in 1987!) and many other drugs have come out since then that are much better.

if you have already started make sure you stay on it, even if you are considering a possible change, don't just stop taking it or you could develop more resistance.

There is a doctor who is very reputable and answers question online, you can feel free to ask his opinion. Make sure you give him your resistance background if you want him to recommend something, link below.

LINK:

http://www.hopkins-hivguide.org/q_a/index.html?categoryId=9352&siteId=7151

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2009, 01:25:31 pm »

Yeah, I agree. Jim, when you return to this thread it would be useful to know what you are resistant to and the previous side effects that you have had.

But of course, you've already made the decision to commence Trizivir though I'm left wondering what other regimens your doctor offered you or that you considered as an option.

gabulldog · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2009, 01:28:59 pm »

AboutToStart and Inchlingblue,

Thanks for responding. I have researched Trizivir and I am concerned about the possible ongoing side effect of hypersensitivity. Good point about AZT and I will use the link.

Jim in Athens

gabulldog · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2009, 01:47:31 pm »

Miss Philicia,

I have no tolerance or have a resistance to the following: Crixivan, Norvir, Rescriptor, Reyataz and Videx. I just tried Sustiva and Viracept with Combivir and couldn't handle the GI problems. Just started Trizivir on Monday. Any suggestions on meds with less side effects would be appreciated. My main side effect from meds have been chronic GI issues.

Jim in Athens

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:24:06 pm »

Hey Jim, I also have suffered from chronic HIV-related GI issues since ~1997 and have multiple class resistance issues. I think I would have looked into a regimen consisting of Isentress (integrase inhibitor FDA approved Nov. 2007) and Truvada. It's a very side effect free choice IMO.

gabulldog · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:42:20 pm »

Miss Philicia,

Thanks for the info...I actually left word with my doctor about the two meds you mentioned after I did some research. His PA called back and advised he recommended Trizivir. Would you switch and have you found something to help control your GI issues?

Jim

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:57:28 pm »

Yes, I'm on Isentress and Truvada (because of my resistance profile I'm also on Prezista plus a small Norvir booster, but normally Isentress and Truvada is a sufficient combination depending on your mutations from your genotype tests).

As far as my GI issues, I've long taken a rather large amount of loperamide with each dose of HIV meds, but about 4 years ago my HIV specialist started me on a buffered pancreatic digestive enzyme called Pancrecarb which has helped me a lot, both with diarrhea and excessive bloating/gas. Pancrecarb is also covered on my state's (Pennsylvania) ADAP formulary so it's not something "off label" or weird at all, though I've found most people are not aware of it.

Ann · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2009, 08:11:48 pm »

Jim, hello and welcome to the forums.

I've been poz for twelve years, still not on meds, and there's no way I'd take Trizivir alone. You're risking resistance to a whole class of drugs.

Issentress and Truvada is the best option in your situation.

Your health care providers are recommending Trizivir alone? Get new a new doctor before it's too late.

Inchlingblue · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2009, 08:26:24 pm »

Trizivir can be taken alone but it's definitely not ideal nor preferable. Reading the OP's posts does lead one to the conclusion that this doctor is not the best choice for the job. It's pretty easy to set up a regimen for a newbie with no resistances but when things get more complicated it's very important that someone very knowledgeable be at the helm.

from aidsmeds:

For HIV-positive adults beginning anti-HIV drug therapy for the first time, Trizivir—used without other HIV medications—is listed as a "possible" treatment option by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in its treatment guidelines. This means that it can be used, but because of lingering concerns about effectiveness and/or safety, it is considered to be inferior to "preferred" or "alternative" drug combinations. The use of Trizivir without other HIV medications is only recommended when a preferred or alternative protease inhibitor (PI)- or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimen cannot be used because of side effects or significant drug-drug interactions. To learn more about these recommendations and options, click here.

LINK:

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Trizivir_1583.shtml

gabulldog · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2009, 10:39:44 am »

Thanks for the info. I really so appreciate all the positive feedback.

I have a call into my doctor to discuss other options.

Inchlingblue · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2009, 02:57:20 pm »

Quote from: gabulldog on July 22, 2009, 01:28:59 pm

I have researched Trizivir and I am concerned about the possible ongoing side effect of hypersensitivity.

Jim in Athens

Jim: when I first read this I was not sure what you meant about "ongoing side effect of hypersensitivity," but I am hoping that your doctor tested you for Abacavir/Ziagen hypersensitivity. If he/she regularly treats HIV patients then it is likely that you were tested for this since it is standard procedure for anyone starting on ziagen.

from aidsmeds:

Approximately 5 percent of people who take Ziagen are allergic to it and can experience a "hypersensitivity reaction." This can be serious and may require that Ziagen therapy be stopped. A hypersensitivity reaction usually appears during the second week of therapy, but it can take as long as six weeks to notice any symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever and rash, followed by headaches, stomach upset, feeling tired, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms usually get worse over time and it is important that you report them to your doctor immediately.

An inexpensive laboratory test is available to look for an inherited gene, called HLA-B*5701, that has been linked to the hypersensitivity reaction in HIV-positive people taking Ziagen. While not all people with this gene experience an allergic reaction while taking Ziagen, most do. In turn, if you are tested and found to have this gene, Ziagen (or other medications containing abacavir) should either be avoided or used with caution. If you and your doctor are thinking about starting Ziagen or another abacavir-containing medication for the first time, be sure to discuss this genetic test.

LINK:

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Ziagen_1589.shtml

gabulldog · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2009, 05:58:37 pm »

Inchlingblue,

No, my doctor didn't perform any test on me before starting Trizivir and I did have an allergic reaction. He now wants to start me on Sustiva (which he took me off of five weeks ago), Insentress and Viramune.

Anyone have any thoughts about this combo? I am limited because of resistance.

I have decided to go to a specialist since I'm concerned about the way my treatment is being handled. I voiced my concerns to my current doctor and I'm not satisfied with the outcome.

Jim in Athens

Inchlingblue · « **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2009, 07:01:24 pm »

Jim:

Is this doctor an HIV specialist? Maybe you can start a thread (or search existing threads) asking for recommendations for good HIV doctors in your area?

You can also check the website for the American Academy of HIV Medicine (aahivm.org) where you can do a search for doctors based on location (zip code, name of state).

Keep us posted. Are you currently taking anything at all or did you stop all meds?

Inchlingblue · « **Reply #15 on:** August 09, 2009, 03:18:25 pm »

I just came across two Q&As regarding a patient in Atlanta being prescribed Trizivir. Assuming these questions were not asked by the OP, is there some sort of problem with doctors in Georgia still prescribing Trizivir? WTF?

This is part of the doctor's response:

Where do you live? If you live in the US or EU, I'm wondering about why your doctor or healthcare provider has selected this now-outdated regimen.

Trizivir had it's time in the past, but has been shown to perform less well than today's combinations of two NRTIs with either a NNRTI or PI.

LINKS:

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Meds/Current/Q203206.html

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Meds/Current/Q203221.html

newt · « **Reply #16 on:** August 14, 2009, 05:24:22 pm »

Quote

Sustiva (which he took me off of five weeks ago), Insentress and Viramune

get a new doctor

It might work, but it's a terrible tax on the liver, and to say the least, an imaginative choice, resistance or no resistance.

- matt

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Author Topic: Starting Trizivir (Read 5411 times)