Question:
Dr's, I have been on the Ritonavir and Saquinavir combo. 400mg and
400mg. BID, for the past five weeks. I am so fatigued I can barley move.
Did you hear of anything to combat the protease inhibitor fatigue
syndrome at the conference? I really need some help. I have not had my
RNA run
yet. I am going to have blood work done on the 19th. of this month. I am
hoping to see some results as my RNA last time was 234,000 and I have
been on every combo. but, this one. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Of
coarse what good is having no virus in my bloodstream if I sleep the
rest of my life away? Thanks
Dr. Pavia's Response:
Fatigue can be an awful symptom, and really reduce the
quality of life. Fatigue can be a side effect of ritonavir. If so, it
often goes away over time, so sticking with it for another month or two
is a good idea if your viral load has responded, and you don't have
other single protease options. Other causes of fatigue to look for
include severe anemia, disseminated infections such as MAC, low
testosterone levels, possibly low thyroid levels, and severe nutritional
deficiencies. You may want to make sure you and your doc have thought
about these. Good luck
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