Reviewer: rob32801, 35-44 Male on Treatment for 2 to less than 5 years (Patient)

Comment:
I'm surprised at the number of side effects that people are reporting in these reviews. I did a clinical study for treatment naive paitents for 2 years with Isentress and Epzicom. When I started I had 254 cd4 and 156,000 viral load. I was undetectable after 3 weeks and cd4 shot up to over 600. It's 3 years later, still undetectable and 1050 cd4. Side effects minor in the beginning, was very tired ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I'm surprised at the number of side effects that people are reporting in these reviews. I did a clinical study for treatment naive paitents for 2 years with Isentress and Epzicom. When I started I had 254 cd4 and 156,000 viral load. I was undetectable after 3 weeks and cd4 shot up to over 600. It's 3 years later, still undetectable and 1050 cd4. Side effects minor in the beginning, was very tired and stomach issues but that passed quickly. My immune system recovered very fast and I had a series of minor bacterial infections and skin issues for a few months, but that all passed. I had a blip in viral load, went up to 55, but quickly back to undetectable. These drugs do make me EAT! I had trouble maintaining weight for awhile, up and down 20 lbs quickly. I have to eat 3500+ calories/day to keep weight on but about four months ago my weight started gaining a few pounds per week. I went from 135lbs to 170lbs today in a few months. I feel fine, sleep well but do have weird dreams sometimes, and my blood work has been fine. Doc and I can't explain the sudden weight gain, nothing changed in the numbers during that period. I have found that I have little tolerance for alcohol now. Overall, very happy with Isentress and my treatment.
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Reviewer: 25-34 Male on Treatment for 2 to less than 5 years (Patient)

Comment:
My VL has been undetectable two years into treatment with this drug. CD4 is slowly rising, but not sckyrocketing. I take truvada in conjunction with this. No major side effects like when I took Sustiva, but I do have problems sleeping still. First Dr I had before I moved said it ws the med and had me on sleeping pills to help. Current Dr refuses to admit that its the drug and wont prescribe a ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
My VL has been undetectable two years into treatment with this drug. CD4 is slowly rising, but not sckyrocketing. I take truvada in conjunction with this. No major side effects like when I took Sustiva, but I do have problems sleeping still. First Dr I had before I moved said it ws the med and had me on sleeping pills to help. Current Dr refuses to admit that its the drug and wont prescribe any.
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Reviewer: 45-54 Male on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
Since starting this medication I have no energy. I am so exhausted that I can hardly do my daily exercise. I've been having to take three hour naps everyday, something that I never did before. I have the craziest dreams I have ever had. I'm depressed and edgy all the time now. I will discuss a different medication option at my next physician appointment and hope to come up with a better choice.

Comment:
Since starting this medication I have no energy. I am so exhausted that I can hardly do my daily exercise. I've been having to take three hour naps everyday, something that I never did before. I have the craziest dreams I have ever had. I'm depressed and edgy all the time now. I will discuss a different medication option at my next physician appointment and hope to come up with a better choice.
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Reviewer: kemitch, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 5 to less than 10 years (Patient)

Comment:
I have been taking this drug for several years and in comparison to AZT, 3TC, Viramune, Zerit and Invirase, a few of the other HIV drugs I have taken before, this one works very well. I haven't had any of the usual sideaffects. I don't have trouble sleeping or vivid dreams which I was afraid I would, had I opted for Sustiva instead. My cd4 came up for the first time in years and my VL has remai ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have been taking this drug for several years and in comparison to AZT, 3TC, Viramune, Zerit and Invirase, a few of the other HIV drugs I have taken before, this one works very well. I haven't had any of the usual sideaffects. I don't have trouble sleeping or vivid dreams which I was afraid I would, had I opted for Sustiva instead. My cd4 came up for the first time in years and my VL has remained undetectible. The only problem I have are occasional headaches from Truvada but have learned to take it at night and sleep through them.
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Reviewer: 55-64 Male on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I was fatally allergic, broke down my immune system, and almost died twice from horrible case of PCP. I had been asynptomatic for 23 years with great counts, t-cells up near 800,etc. This med almost kiked me.My Dr. did no tests before or monitoring after.I am allergic to pennicilin family.72 days in hospital, and I have three more weeks of rehab as I lost 55 pounds, and the ability to do anything ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I was fatally allergic, broke down my immune system, and almost died twice from horrible case of PCP. I had been asynptomatic for 23 years with great counts, t-cells up near 800,etc. This med almost kiked me.My Dr. did no tests before or monitoring after.I am allergic to pennicilin family.72 days in hospital, and I have three more weeks of rehab as I lost 55 pounds, and the ability to do anything for myself.................................
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