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sleep & HIV meds
Nov 29, 2007

I am taking daily Truvada and Sustiva. I also have severe sleep challenges, so I add sleeping pills which have very limited effect and I suspect make me feel lousy the nest day. Are bleeding gums and a trigger temper perhaps aggravated by the sleep pilss + HIV meds? Mine are lunesta or AmbienCR or Trazadone.

Response from Dr. Horwath

If your insomnia started or worsened around the time you started taking Sustiva, then it may be a side effect. Insomnia and vivid, sometimes disturbing dreams are fairly common side effects of Sustiva. Some people also experience mood changes, such as irritability, which may account for the temper. These side effects are probably not related to the sleep meds.

The bleeding gums can be due to a variety of causes, including poor nutrition and poor oral hygiene.



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