So even though Atripla has been working ace for me, for 2 years now, no side effects apart from a slight rash in the beginning, which went away pretty quick, and now up to 715 CD 4 and undetctable VL!!
I changed to Combivir and Kaletra this morning, had my first 3 tabs after bvreakfast and soon I will be eating dinner and then shovelling another 3 pills down my throat…
I took this decision cos me and my husband (also positive) want to have a baby, and Atripla isn't an option apparently. My doctor told me that if hubby started treatment (which he did 30 days ago) he would bring his VL down and there was no reason why we shouldn't try to conceive naturally…so we will give it a go – I hope!
There is nothing I want more in this world than a child of my own believe me..I'd do anything for it…such as run the (small) risk that I coudl pass it on to them, and change my 1 tablet a day regime to a 6 a day cocktail of one of the first Aids meds to have come on the market?!
I am writing this blog as couldn't seem to get on to the Forums and I am really hoping that one of you (anyone!!) will have some experience of this drug combo. The Pharmacist in the Hospital last night when I collected my prescription actually raised her eyebrows and told me that NOBODY is on this drug (Combivir) anymore these days! I have heard horror stories of the early drugs but unsure hpw much to believe. And yes I know if you read the instructions on a pack of paracetamol the side effects are shocking but apparently there is a really high chance that I am going to start puking and feeling nauseous very soon and for the rest of the time I stay on this combo?!
Anybody know how long I should give it before I can safely say I haven't had any side effects? I am just sitting here waiting to start feeling sick!! I had no side effects off Atripla either so I am hoping I am gonna be resistent!
But with a minimum 15 month period to be on this combination, and also I am resistant to some other drugs and I got the impression from my doctor last night that if I don't tolerate this new regime I may not be able to become pregnant safely…any advice will be much appreciated…
Thankssss!
Thanks jenwho! Just worried that if I am puking constantly I may have to come off them. DId you have any side effects that you remember? I guess it's a null point now as drugs have been modified since then…
You are right though, think I would even tolerate 15 months of puking to have a baby, wild horses couldn't keep me away! And I feel lucky to have such less chance of passing anything on these days, you are one brave lady for sticking to yrou guns back then ! xx
Ask your Doc about truvada and ketra combo.. for me its 2 ketras in the morn..and 2 ketras and 1 truvada befor lala land
Hi tecknique, and thank you for your input… but I have only changed off Atripla as I want to have a baby, and you cannot be on Atripla and conceive it is very damaging to the baby, in fact I have to be off atripla for 6 months before we can even start to try…! So going back on Atripla if I have to will feel like the end of the world for me as it means I will have to tell friends and family that I cannot now have any kids…REALLY don't want to have to do that!!
Anyway it will be a week tomorrow I started new treatment and so far no side effects, I am really unsure how long I would have to be withotu side effects before I can safely say I am not getting any side effects if you know what I mean?! Anyone else have side effects that didn't begin until a month into taking a new drug?! Fingers crossed I stay like this and am ok anyway!!
Hi Katie – this is a pretty old post now, but am new here and just making my way through 🙂 I took truvada and something else (can't remember)…I was also on Atripla previous to that – the Truvada combo worked perfectly, no side effects and a set of twins months later meant that I could go back onto Atripla after they arrived 🙂 My CD4 was/is much higher on Atripla – but that didn't matter, we were perfectly healthy throughout 🙂
Good luck with making babies 🙂 xxx
P.S. Let me know if you think it might be helpful for me to find out the full combo I was on.