Horrible Allergic Reaction to Atripla - TheBody.com's Bulletin Boards

Hello All,

I was diagnosed HIV + on July 5th, 2011.

My doctor and I decided to move immediately and aggressively against the virus and she prescribed Atripla.

I did OK for the first week or so. Then I broke out in a rash that while not very sightly, was not a big bother either and I resolved to stay on the medication hoping that my body would eventually acclimate itself to the Atripla and that the rash would simply go away - I wanted this medication to work and was very determined.

Well, the rash developed into hives - awful, red blotchy hives covering my entire body from head to toe. Eventually, the skin that was not hive-covered was a pale red color and it looked like I had a bad sunburn. It was itchy and very painful and impossible to sleep more than a few hours at a time - if that.

I was running fevers at night, as high as 102f.

It got worse in this way over a weekend and I could not see my doctor until Monday. Still, I soldiered through taking my doses even though my skin was on fire and I felt horrible, thinking that I cannot stop and give this damned virus even one opportunity to mutate.

I got through the weekend by taking hot oatmeal and epsom salt baths, taking lots of over-the-counter antihistamines, but getting almost no sleep.

Really, I should have been in the hospital, but the company I have worked for for ten years canceled our group health insurance policy recently - God Bless America - so I wanted to stay out of the hospital at nearly all costs short of death.

Anyhow, I finally stumbled into my doctor's office. She was not on duty (it's an urban health center) but they did have a nurse practitioner examine me. She called an HIV doctor at another of the health center's facilities and after hearing what was going on, directed the nurse practitioner to take me off the Atripla immediately.

That evening I immediately felt better since I had not taken a dose of Atripla.

The next day, I saw my doctor. She said "Well, you're allergic to Atripla." Duh....no kidding Doc, is that your professional opinion or just a guess?

She suspects that the culprit is the Sustiva. And now she wants me to take a few weeks off and try something else, probably Truvada and Isentress.

What I want to know from the group is this: Has anyone had a similar experience with Atripla? What happened? What medications to you switch to?

Also, Truvada is also a component of Atripla so there is at least the possibility that I am allergic to Truvada as well.

Is there anyone on here who has taken Truvada and had it result in hives and fever?

I have a history of adverse reactions to medications. I am allergic to penicillin and now Atripla.

To be honest, I am scared to death that I am allegic to HIV medications in general....my doctor says this is not at all likely and that they will find some medication combination to keep me alive but I confess I am very rattled...

And help is appreciated.

MikeInPhilly

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