POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: badluck on July 10, 2011, 01:32:42 am

Title: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: badluck on July 10, 2011, 01:32:42 am
I am on (Combivir and Kaletra ) since 2 months ago ( 2 pils of Comovir and 4 pills of Kaletra) since that time I am vomiting (throwing up ) once every two or three days .

This is normal side effects? Should I change my med? Did anybody face the same side effects? What I have to do?
BTW before starting med my CD4 was 188 and my VL 79000 after 2 months on the above regime my CD4 370 and my VL undetected.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 10, 2011, 09:03:28 am
No, that's not a common side effect.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: badluck on July 10, 2011, 09:22:14 am
do you think its psychological state ?
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: newt on July 10, 2011, 12:38:48 pm
Personally, I think it could be normal for Combivir.

- matt
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: J.R.E. on July 10, 2011, 01:48:26 pm
Personally, I think it could be normal for Combivir.

- matt



And to narrow it down a little further.  I would guess it's the AZT portion of Combivir.

I was only on AZT briefly, but even that brief period of time, it was a difficult drug for me to handle.  Made me weak, tired, and nauseous.


Are you on any other medication besides these HIV medications?  Do you take you medications with, or without food?




Ray
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 10, 2011, 03:45:45 pm
Personally, I think it could be normal for Combivir.

- matt


And how the hell are you describing "normal" in this case? 80 patients out of 100?

I took AZT for years and never got more than an occasional headache.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Ann on July 10, 2011, 04:04:22 pm
And how the hell are you describing "normal" in this case? 80 patients out of 100?

I took AZT for years and never got more than an occasional headache.

Since when are you the poster boy for normalcy?

I've heard of plenty of people over the years who complained of nausea and/or vomiting in connection with both Combivir and Kaletra.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: newt on July 10, 2011, 04:08:34 pm
Quote
I took AZT for years and never got more than an occasional headache.

Lucky you. Nausea etc on AZT is common enough. If you think otherwise get thee back in the cookie jar.

- matt
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 10, 2011, 05:03:26 pm
Since when are you the poster boy for normalcy?

I've heard of plenty of people over the years who complained of nausea and/or vomiting in connection with both Combivir and Kaletra.

I don't debate that, but a handful of individuals doesn't merit the word "normal": 1 conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or

So put up or shut up... like you've even taken this med.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 10, 2011, 05:04:04 pm
Lucky you. Nausea etc on AZT is common enough. If you think otherwise get thee back in the cookie jar.

- matt


Nausea doesn't always result in vomiting on a daily basis, now does it Matthew?
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: wolfter on July 10, 2011, 05:22:11 pm
This is the only combo I've ever had major issues with.  My doctor assured me the symptoms would lessen over time but they didn't. After 6 months of being constantly sick from that combo, I insisted my doctor change it and I was granted immediate alleviation of those symptoms.

Discuss the different options available with your doctor. 
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: newt on July 10, 2011, 05:38:51 pm
AZT is noted for stomach upsets and even though frequent vomiting is at the extreme end, it's counterfactual to discount the possibility that it is the meds, particularly for AZT and ritonavir as 100s of people here know from personal experience. Especially if this started on taking meds.  Clearly it might be sommat else and this bears investigation, but these meds, stomach, tis a fair point. Give it up and let the OP have his/her thread back.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 10, 2011, 06:28:54 pm
By your own words, "extreme end" isn't by any definition something one would describe as "normal" which is what the OP asked. Certainly I have never discounted that it is something that can occur on this medication. The bottom line is that if a patient is vomiting every other day the doctor should offer the patient an alternative regimen. In that respect it's anything but "normal".

Give it up? Please -- you're chasing tails as much as anyone. Also, please note that "sommat" isn't a word.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: thunter34 on July 10, 2011, 06:49:48 pm
Also, please note that "sommat" isn't a word.

Neither is "O HAI".


 :P
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: newt on July 10, 2011, 06:59:13 pm
Taking AZT is not "normal" in the first place, serious stomach upsets is within the "normal" range of AZT adverse events, and what you just said about an alternative regimen is neither concurrent with the comment you first made, nor reflective of the comments you subsequently made. So give way.

I am glad AZT was sommat easy for you to take.

I agree with your new bottom line about a different combo being a good idea.

 - matt
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 10, 2011, 07:10:10 pm
Taking AZT is not "normal" in the first place

Agreed, and since he's taking it with Kaletra I made the assumption that he's in a non-EU, non-US environment with less treatment choices. So in that respect if my assumption is correct it could be kindasortasommat normal.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: badluck on July 11, 2011, 01:20:29 am
I am from Middle East I don’t have a lot of choices to change my combo, so I think I have to take the same combo regardless of the mentioned side effects.

So I don’t know what to do, I will try to take my combo without food or to take any other med beside my combo to help my stomach.

My stomach is very tired. My Dr said you have to get used to this side effects , I don’t know if this is right ? 
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 11, 2011, 07:51:23 am
It's true that in general your body gets used to the medication during the first 1-4 weeks and side effects either disappear or are greatly more reasonable. But you are having what I'd call a more severe reaction if you are vomiting every other day.

One of our members here swears that nausea can be tamed by taking a fresh lemon, slicing it, and then when you are having nausea to hold the lemon up to your nose until the feeling passes.

If it's the AZT in combivir causing the nausea, and seeing as how you are in the Middle East, what other NRTI class medications are available for use? Is Epzicom available?
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: J.R.E. on July 11, 2011, 08:05:08 am


So I don’t know what to do, I will try to take my combo without food or to take any other med beside my combo to help my stomach.




You may want to try experimenting with the food, and see if that gives you some relief. But continue mentioning this to your doctor.  Have you lost any weight?

Are you taking other medications?  The reason  I ask, is to see if there may be some interactions between those other meds/herbs/etc,  and the Kaletra.

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Kaletra_1559.shtml

The following medications should not be taken while you are being treated with Kaletra:
Acid reflux/heartburn medications: Propulsid (cisapride)
Antibiotics: Rifadin (rifampin)
Antimigraine medications: Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine (ergotamine) or D.H.E. 45 (dihydroergotamine)
Pulmonary hypertension medications: sildenafil (Revatio)
Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins): Zocor (simvastatin) and Mevacor (lovastatin)
Antipsychotics: Orap (pimozide)
Sedatives: Versed (midazolam) and Halcion (triazolam)
Enlarged prostate: Uroxatral (alfuzosin)


Ray
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Ann on July 11, 2011, 08:31:01 am
Also, please note that "sommat" isn't a word.

It is where we live and it's normal for people to use it. :P



Badluck, you may want to look into whether or not you may be able to obtain a different combo via mail-order. There are plenty of mail-order pharmacies out there who will ship generic meds at a fairly low cost. If you are able to get mail-order meds in your country and your doctor is willing to issue you prescriptions for other meds, that may be the way to go. Good luck. Constant nausea - with or without the vomiting - is a horrible thing to have to live with.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: J.R.E. on July 11, 2011, 08:51:39 am
It is where we live and it's normal for people to use it. :P




LOL,... Yes , I've used it." I can't wait to go mountain hiking so I can get to the sommat."   ;D
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 11, 2011, 09:31:07 am
It's a sad day when the English can't speak English.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: badluck on July 11, 2011, 09:37:23 am

Thank you for your support , i appreciate it :) :) :)
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Ann on July 11, 2011, 09:56:51 am

LOL,... Yes , I've used it." I can't wait to go mountain hiking so I can get to the sommat."   ;D

Ray, you're such a card. ;)

It's a sad day when the English can't speak English.

Like an American would have any idea what proper English sounds like. :P



Thank you for your support , i appreciate it :) :) :)

Honey, that's what we're here for. That and throwing the occasional light-hearted barbs at each other. ;D

What do you think of the mail-order meds idea? Do you think you could afford it and do you think your doctor may help you out?
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 12, 2011, 07:00:19 am

Like an American would have any idea what proper English sounds like. :P

Hey, you're the one with the fake Manx brogue, not me.
Title: Re: any body hade the same sideeffects?
Post by: Ann on July 12, 2011, 09:05:19 am
Hey, you're the one with the fake Manx brogue, not me.

Nothing fake about my accent, oh Bald One. I often get mistaken for southern Irish, and occasionally Canadian. Rarely do people realise I'm a Yank. I was asked last night by someone I just met "where is that odd accent from?" (http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/dash1293_2010/Emoticons/019.gif) My daughter definitely has a Manx accent though - or to be more precise, a Peel accent. Yes, even on this tiny Rock you can often tell what part of the island a person was raised in.