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Ask the Experts about Strategies for Treatment-Experienced HIVers
switch to Truvada
Jan 29, 2007
Greetings, and thanks for a great forum.
I have been on ARVs for 5 years (Sustiva, Retrovir, Videx EC) - VL < 50, CD4 - 450 to 650. I am starting to experience light headedness in the mornings and forms of loss of memory retention.
I am considering switching to Truvada and Sustiva (a) as this is once a day and can be taken at night, and (b) there are no food restrictions.
What is your view?
Thanks again, Franc.
Response from Dr. Daar
As I often mention on this site, it is impossible for anyone to make good recommendations regarding changing treatment without having detailed information regarding past therapy. That being said, if this is the only regimen you have ever been on then you likely could switch to any one of a number of highly potent treatments, including Truvada and Sustiva with good success.
Truvada and Sustiva certainly can be taken once a day at night. It is generally recommended that sustiva not be taken with a high fat meal, but other than that food restrictions are limited. What is not clear to me is what is causing your new symnptoms of headache and loss of memory. These problem need more thorough evaluation since there is little reason to believe that the proposed change in treatment will improve these types of symptoms.
Best,
Eric
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