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Author Topic: Thinking About Drug Holiday due to Side effects  (Read 3615 times)

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Offline Bunny

  • Member
  • Posts: 121
Thinking About Drug Holiday due to Side effects
« on: March 31, 2012, 06:32:16 am »
Hi Friends,

Presently I am on (3TC+NVP+AZT) combo and CD4 is 485( as on Feb-12). After I suffer with P.N I was changed to this combo since last three months. Even with this combo I am not tolerating side effects like sharp pains in thighs, butts,  neck and back pain. I have many sleepless nights in these days. Terrible firing sensation in my feets. I am not able to take turn on my bed if i do so I am not resume my sleep all the night. Headaches in evening time worsen. All these symptoms are slowly increasing. 

My Hb Levels are slowly decreasing 14.3,13.8,13.1

I have discussed all these side effects with with my doctor, every time he says (3TC+AZT) is not caused P.N and he always promised that I am not going to disabled. I am getting these combo for free from NACO, Indian Govt which is supplying by HETERO Lab.


So many blood tests I was suggested like heavy metal, Syphillis(VDRL), Vitamin B levels, X Rays, all are normal 
MRI ( Spinal+Lombard+Dorsal) scan also normal except in between c5-c6 discs having some pressure, c6 nerve roots abuts, my neuro surgeon says no need to take any action for this

Now I am thinking to stop this combo for some time(1 to 2 month). After all these symptoms are settling down I wish to try my luck with some another combo. Please suggest me how many days can I stop my drug? is it recommended?.If I stop can i catch any O.I? I have a history of Herpes Zoster in the past and diagnosed with acyclovir.

If it is not recommended please suggest me a wise drugs which are available in India with tolerated side effects at affordable price ( around Rupees 5 to 6 thousands).

And also please suggest me a good HIV specialist in Pune, Maharashtra, I want to change my present HIV Doctor. I have no parents to discuss all these things please suggest me any community in Pune, Maharashtra area. sorry for so many questions.

Sorry for my English.

Please friends help me

« Last Edit: March 31, 2012, 06:34:46 am by Bunny »
March 2019 - CD4 - 863

Offline mikeyb39

  • Member
  • Posts: 980
Re: Thinking About Drug Holiday due to Side effects
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2012, 09:39:04 am »
hi Bunny,
I just wanted to lend some support, unfortunately I don't know much about medicines in that respect.  I'm sure others can give better information on that. I understand how irritating this is. My doctor took me off all meds except two and I got better for a while then it flared back up again.

I went back to my HIV doctor again he basically told me i have this PN issue and it could take long time to get back to somewhat normal, but it may never get back to the way it once was.  its very discouraging because it messes up your life. I no longer am able to do the things i used to do.

In the meantime I take supplements which seem to help quite a bit and I'm taking the Lyric 300mg/day.  i don't get the shooting pains and pins and needles like i once did, but my feet are still bothersome with the slight numbness in areas and just soreness on the bottom of my feet like i have a sunburn.

I don't know how folks deal with this for a long period of time, it seems like no-one wants to talk about it if they have it, so the support is not easily found.  I wish you luck and that it gets better.  I too at one point thought about stopping meds all together, but my doctor assures me that nothing I'm taking now has issues causing PN, so I'm going to stick with what I got.

11/02/2010  cd4-251, vl-591000
12/09/2010  started Atripla
02/18/2011  cd4-425, vl-800
06/10/2011  cd4-447, vl-70
10/10/2011  cd4-666, vl-80
01/05/2012  swiched med (prezista,norvir ,isentress, )
02/10/2012  cd4-733, vl-UD  Viread removed
06/10/2012  cd4-614, vl-UD
12/14/2012  cd4-764, vl-UD
09/01/2013  cd4-785, vl-UD
03/06/2014. cd4- 1078, VL-UD
09/05/2014  cd4-850 , VL-UD
09/05/2014 switched meds isentress, prezcobix -still only two antivirals
10/14/2015  cd4-600 , VL-UD

Offline spacebarsux

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,350
  • Survival of the Fittest
Re: Thinking About Drug Holiday due to Side effects
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2012, 09:48:08 am »
Hey Bunny,

Sorry you're having a hard time with these outdated Indian-Govt. drugs.

Here is some info:

1. AIDS Healthcare Foundation is an NGO based in Delhi that supplies the latest modern generic ARVs to HIV positive people completely free of cost. This is their weblink:  http://www.aidshealth.org/services/india.html 

It'd be worth ringing them and asking them if they have a branch in Pune or Mumbai.

2. Also, a very helpful place is the Delhi HIV NGO, Naz foundation. http://www.nazindia.org/ You might want to check with them if they have liaisons in Maharashtra.

3. Finally, you may consider contacting the people over at Indian Network of Positive People. http://www.inpplus.net/networkcontacts.html
They may be able to give you some Maharashtra-specific information. Pune and Mumbai have lots of HIV-specific NGOs that can suggest good HIV doctors.

As for the price of HIV generic drugs, there's some good news.  :)

- Viraday (once a day pill) is manufactured by CIPLA in India and is available on prescription at a cost of Rs. 3100 (approximately) a month.

- Vonavir manufactured by Pune based Emcure Pharmaceuticals is available at Rs. 2500/- a month. (Vonavir has the same components as Viraday).

Viraday is a modern ARV drug and which is known to cause far fewer side effects than these older drugs.

Another Indian forum member is on Vonavir and is happy with the results. Here is the link: http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=36965.0

Hope this information helps.

Best  :)

Spacebarsux (Who can't get his head around the fact that the Indian Govt. Hospitals prescribe AZT in their free first line treatment inspite of the fact that India's the leading manufacturer of generic ARVs  >:()

PS- I would also urge you to not discontinue or change medication without the supervision/advice of an HIV specialist.

Take care.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2012, 09:57:45 am by spacebarsux »
Infected-  2005 or early 2006; Diagnosed- Jan 28th, 2011; Feb '11- CD4 754 @34%, VL- 39K; July '11- CD4 907@26%,  VL-81K; Feb '12- CD4 713 @31%, VL- 41K, Nov '12- CD4- 827@31%

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Thinking About Drug Holiday due to Side effects
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2012, 06:37:16 pm »
The PN is from d4T (Zerit, stavudine) right? Give it time. It takes time to recover from this, if you recover.

A break won't really help with the PN.

Since your Hb is rising the AZT is prob not doing you bad.

If you can, swap the AZT for tenofovir. This won't help with the PN either, but it is a safer drug than AZT, provided your kidneys are OK.

Good luck

- matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline Bunny

  • Member
  • Posts: 121
Re: Thinking About Drug Holiday due to Side effects
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2012, 04:53:41 am »
@Mikeyb39,Spacebarsux,Newt

Thanks to all for your kind suggestions.

@Newt                       
Yes, P.N is from d4t, the worst drug  I ever used


March 2019 - CD4 - 863

 


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