Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
The participation of Dr. Renslow Sherer in this
Forum is made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant
from Abbott Laboratories.
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Atripla for AIDS treatment
Mar 9, 2008
I recently got tested for HIV and unfortunately for me, My test gave me viral load 100,000 and CD4 145, my doctor put me immediately under Atripla, and gave me sulfamethazole 800, 1 tab 3 times a week. I am scared because I have read every where that I have AIDS and I understand AIDS is the last stage of HIV, Do you think ATRIPLA will help me or should I seek for another treatment or Doctor?
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Response from Dr. Sherer
Yes, this regimen should help you. In recent trials after one year, over 80% of patients had an excellent response with a viral load below detection and a rise in CD4 cell count of 100 cells/ml, and after three years, 67% of people were still well controlled. About one half of patients have central nervous side effects like dizziness, headache, and vivid dreams. Fortunately, most of these resolve in 4-6 weeks. If they happen to you, you should talk to your doctor about them, but only 2-3% of people in recent trials had to stop their medications due to side effects.
You should stay on sulfamethoxasole until your CD4 cell count if over 200 for 3-6 months.
Your most important action from this point forward is to take every dose every day as prescribed without fail, and don't miss any of your doctor appointments. If you do this simple thing every day, you have nothing to fear.
I urge you to talk to your doctor about your concern and these responses.
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