changing sustiva to viramune

[sanitex]

As you could knew that i have been suffering from anxiety disorder
before i was diagnosed  to hiv+ adding that the combo which i'm taken also contributed
more,now i decide to change to viramune and truvada to see if my panic could reduce.
as i can see that the anxiety is getting worst even when driving  on the  highway.

my question are ,can i take it once at the bed time?could i drink at least moderate like i used
to with sustiva,truvada?
can i still have unprotected sex with my partner and eat the same like before ?
what will be my chance of resistance with my partner?

[rmgjunk]

Hey Sanitex,

I switched from sustiva to viramune, because of anxiety too, about six months ago.  My experience has been positive so far.  I did have a rash about a month into treatment, but it resolved.  The only (mild) side effect so far is drier skin.

I take mine twice a day, but several people take it once daily.  My doctor is comfortable with it both ways, but since I take combivir which is twice daily anyway, I take both meds at the same time.

I drink moderately and don't have any problems.

As for reinfection/resistance issues, viramune and sustiva have very similar profiles.  Usually a strain will be either resistant to both or susceptible to both, so whatever behavior works with sustiva should work the same with viramune.

Of course, you should discuss all this with your doctor.

[]s
Roger

[gregftl]

When i first tested poz back in may 2000 i started taking combivir and sustiva. The sustiva was awful. Had horrible nightmares that kept me up all nite. So a few months later (around sept 2000) I switched to viramune. Been on the same meds since. No side effects. You have to be careful with the viramune b/c of it's possible toxicity on the liver. I take mine twice a day i suggest you do the same. For the first 4 days i took it.... my doctor only had me take 1.....once a day to see how it would affect my liver then if there were no side effects go to 1 twice a day.

[J.R.E.]

You can take Viramune at any time ( with or without food.)  I've been on it now for 7 years . I was started on it. I take one pill at 8:00 am and one at 8:00 pm.


http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Viramune_1616.shtml


What is known about Viramune?

    * Taking Viramune is a two-step process. For the first two weeks (14 days) of treatment, the dose is one 200mg tablet once a day. Two weeks after starting treatment, the dose of Viramune is increased to one 200mg tablet twice a day. Following this schedule—which you should do under your doctor's guidance—can reduce the chance of developing a rash or other side effects.

[eric48]

I have collect  quite a bit of info here on viramune:

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=33062.0

Not everyone can stand viramune (liver/rash...), but those who can are adamant about it.

Cheers

Eric

[Buckmark]

I made the switch from Sustiva to Viramune about 3 years ago.  I felt that Sustiva was aggravating my depression (which was already aggravating enough), the "vivid" dreams were getting just too intense and crazy, and it made me intensely drowsy about an hour after I took it.  It was a good decision for me, and fortunately Viramune has kept my viral load under control well, my drowsiness and weird dreams are gone.  I'm still working on the depression, but that's another story.

You do have to be careful when you start Viramune, to check for an allergic reaction / rash.  And then on an ongoing basis you need to be careful of its effect on your liver.  I had elevated liver enzymes for about the first year (alkaline phosphatase, I believe), but it has come back into the normal range.  It is my understanding that Viramune is not approved by the FDA for once-daily dosing, only twice-daily.  But I know some people take it once daily.  How should you proceed?  Get educated on the subject, like you are doing right now, and then talk to your your doctor.

Cheers,

Henry

[eric48]

Hi,

Once a day extended release Viramune has successfully passed mandatory trials and on its way for approval.

It is the same medicine but with a retarded release which will allow:
- its manufacturer to sell it at a higher price ;-)
- doctors to be more comfortable about once a day (since it will be approved)

It is common knowledge that many doctors allow patients to take their Viramune (which is approved for twice a day) as 2 pills at one time. I personally would feels comfortable doing so after, say, one year on the approved twice a day, since one's body needs to be adjusted to viramune

My doc commented that since he approve the 2 pills at one time, he also considers that it is therefore more timetable tolerant than other meds (again, those allowances are to be considered after some time)

Cheers

Eric

[mecch]

What doctor gave the OK for unprotected sex on any combo?