Smoking And Taking Efavirenz

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Get the Facts

Efavirenz (Sustiva)

What Is Efavirenz? Efavirenz is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is also called Sustiva or Stocrin. It is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Generic versions have been tentatively approved under PEPFAR (see Fact Sheet 475 ). Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (a "non-nuke" or NNRTI). These drugs stop HIV from multiplying by preventing the reverse transcriptase enzyme from working. This enzyme...

Ask the Experts

mixture of efavirenz &combivir and i feel light headed

am 24 y old guy attending school and since i started taking my medication efavirenz &combivir which was 2 weeks ago am feeling very light headed its like i smoked a joint ! am having a trouble stying and am not sure if this will ever go away ?...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

You are experiencing what is most likely an efavirenz effect on the brain which is most intense/frequent in first 1-2 weeks and for most patients diminished by week 4 (perhaps 10% still having such annoying side effects after the first month). I... Read more »

Side effects Atripla vs. (Abacavir + Lamivudine + Efavirenz)?

Hello,I am an international student currently studying in the United States but that may eventually have to go back to South America. I was detected HIV last December, and I know the infection occurred last summer. I have been following my viral...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Most patients would do OK if switching from Atripla to efavirenz + lamivudine + abacavir (particularly if HLA B5701 negative). The major issue with starting efavirenz + lamivudine + abacavir is a higher rate of skin/hypersensitivity issues resulting... Read more »

Have been taking efavirenz for 18 months and still get sick

Hi Doc...I have been taking efavirenz for 18 months now and I still feel surt of sick sometimes. I usually start feeling like that after two hours of taking it, and this discomfort can last for two or three hours... I always take it at night, at the...

Response from Nelson Vergel, B.S.Ch.E., M.B.A.

Program for Wellness Restoration

Dave Food increases Efavirenz blood levels and possibly side effects. It sounds to me that your life style does not allow you to take this drug on an empty stomach. There is absolutely nothing wrong in telling your doctor that your life style gets... Read more »

Atripla and smoking marijuana

I just started meds with Atripla (diagonosed 10/06 but may have had HIV for years-low VL) and I do not drink alcohol but do smoke marijuana So far just have the vivid dreams waking me up and some dizziness/loss of balance. Is the smoking marijuana...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Many patients smoke marijuana and take efavirenz containing HIV regimens without much difficulty. Certainly marijuana can heighten some of the brain/central nervous system side effects of efavirenz but that effect is highly variable from person to... Read more »

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Connect With Others

Efavirenz: ways to fight its sleep-reduction.

Posted by BrokenWingedBird, 2 Replies

If Efavirenz (and Efavirenz along)is really wrecking your sleep quality, then the only solution is to stop taking Efavirenz (and substitute it with another drug).

However, there are ways to ensure your sleep is as good as possible.

Important discovery: Read more »

trying to quit smoking

Posted by alive2, 2 Replies

since the 4th of july, i have been trying to get myself independent of smoking cigarettes. although i have yet to kick the habit completely, i have been able to cut down.i used to smoke 2 packs a day, but, now im down to half a pack a day.thats a... Read more »

HIV meds and SMOKING

Posted by Survivor, 1 Reply

Snippett from POZ Magazine... Poz.com

What a Drag: Smoking and HAART Butt Heads

by Nicole Joseph

May 10, 2006Smoking is bad for your healththats not news. But the nearly 70% of people with HIV who light up on a regular basis might be interested to know... Read more »

Taking meds

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

when you take your meds do you get high ? do you get a rush like caffeine or a downer like sleeping pills ? do you feel anything from the pills ?

thank you Read more »

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