I began atripila march 8/07. I was always thin at 5'9" 1501bs now on 4/10 lost I'm 138, ( very visible. with loss of appetite. Doc. says normal. What can do to increase appetite other than pot ( educator) Help. what are other causes. He mentioned a tipe of opposite anemia? which he said was complicaticated to explain.

Many patients gain weight the first year they are on treatment so your experience is interesting and somewhat perplexing. Efavirenz and less often tenofovir seem to decrease appetite in a small sunset of patients. Marinol can be used to stimulate appetite in some settings. Megace is sometimes used but I reserve for patients with AIDS who are losing weight despite numerous interventions. Hormone and nutritional evaluation (thryoid, testosterone, dietician consult)can be helpful to sort out potential contributing factors. If I conclude that one of the HIV drugs could be contributing then a plan to methodically switch meds is considered (ie a boosted PI for efavirenz, abacavir for tenofovir). KH