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Ask the Experts about Choosing Your Meds
My First Meds
May 17, 2008
G'day Doctors, and greetings from Australia!
I have been positive for 4 years, and my last labs were CD4 of 230, CD4% of 18, and VL 230,000.
I have decided to start meds. Its scary, but the alternatives due to not starting meds are more scary!
My specialist has started me on the following:
Truvada and Stocrin (Efavirenz) - taking each once a day, just before bed.
Is this a "regular" type of regimen to start with? I am petrified about side-effects, but have been told that the side-effects from these medications are generally minimal but weird dreams and sleep disturbance can be a problem.
The information insert for the Efavirenz says to take it on an empty stomach, and the insert for the Truvada says to take after food. Is this really necessary? I would rather just take them together just before I go to bed at night.
Thanks for your advice! Your work is appreciated - even far away here in Oz!
Response from Dr. Young
G'day from the States and thanks for posting.
The regimen of Truvada + Stocrin is a very well studied and highly recommended one. Here in the states, Stocrin is called Sustiva and the combination of Truvada with Sustiva is also widely available here as "Atripla". If you search the site for posts about Atripla, you'll find lots of questions and answers about your regimen.
In short, the typical psychological side effects of Stocrin fade in a matter of days; there's no absolute need to take the medication on an empty stomach and both can definitely be taken together (as is done in the coforumated pill, Atripla).
Best of luck,
BY
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