Twice a day Reyataz?

Mar 21, 2004

I'm going to be starting Reyataz with Ziagen and Epivir. I want to take Reyataz twice a day like the Ziagen and Epivir. On my last regimen I had fewer side effects taking Viramune/Epivir and Viread twice a day instead of once a day (awkward cause I had to cut the single Viread in half). Is there any reason I can't take half the Reyataz (one pill) twice a day?

Response from Dr. Conway

You are in uncharted territory, my friend.

The Epivir and Ziagen can be taken either once or twice a day. As for Reyataz, it has been exclusively as a once a day preparation. My biggest concern is that if you take it twice a day, the blood levels that will be achieved will not be therapeutic (especially early on), increasing the chance of developing resistance to the Epivir, the Reyataz and perhaps even the Ziagen.

I would put forward two options:

1. Try taking everything once a day (5 pills, soon to be 3 pills when GSK combines the Epivir and the Ziagen).

2. Take the two Reyataz, one Ziagen and one Epivir at night, and the second Ziagen and Reyataz in the morning. I propose this as it sounds as if side effects are a problem for you, so if you take most of the medications at bedtime, you may "sleep through" any side effects that may develop.

Good luck...