Question
Does Atroiza (Atripla) cause eye problems?
16 September 2014. Related: All topics, Opportunistic infections, Southern Africa, Starting treatment.
i have been on Atroiza for a week now. I tested HIV positive last week and my CD4 count was 79.
I take it at 8pm. after taking it i must be in bed because i get dizzy and i have strange dreams which the doctor told me that in time i will be ok, now the problem i have now is last night after taking it my eyes were burning and im always nauseous.
Is this normal?
Answer
Hi
It is good you were diagnosed before your CD4 count dropped much lower and it is good that you are on treatment.
The dizziness and strange dreams are likely to be efavirenz which is one of the drugs in Atroiza. Efavirenz can also cause nausea.Your doctor is right in that most people find this gets easier.
However, eye problems are not reported as a common side effect of efavirenz. They can be a symptom of other HIV related complications though.
Because your CD4 count is under 100 and you have only just started treatment, it is important that you talk to your doctor or clinic. This is because other HIV-related complications can occur at a low CD4 count. Some of these only show when starting treatment.
Please contact your clinic so they can go through the symptoms in more detail.
Are you taking other meds because your CD4 count is low? This is usually an antibiotic called co-trimoxazole (also called Septrin or Bactra) and sometimes TB meds. Your doctor should check you don’t have aide effects to these.
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