Question

Several questions about starting treatment…

30 September 2016. Related: All topics, Side effects, Starting treatment.

Hi, please can you help with the following questions 

i’m on Atripla for a month now, i just got results of my viral load from my doctor which is 176 CD4 was tested 3 weeks ago and was on 574 we started treatment before knowing my viral load. Anyway viral load came back and was 176.
Question 1
i started experiencing hand tremor and which was getting worse by the day i informed my doctor who ran Anaemia blood tested and it came back that i was lower then normal on iron so she’s put me on Neurobion tablets which consist of B1 100mg, B6 200mg and B12 200mg.(for 6months) She also prescribed Ferrous Forte (which is complete iron supplement for 6months) Is there anything else i can eat or take to help with this as it bothers me day 2 of taking these meds and i’m still experiencing hand tremor 

Question 2
First 3 weeks on Atripla had little side effects for me within the first few 3 weeks ( i only suffered insomnia now and again and nose bleed within the first week which stopped) My question is, i have a blister inside my nostril which bleeds when i clean my nose, i’ve spoken to my doctor and she advised that i get any nasal spray to assist with this, will this help? is this a common symptom with Atripla or should i be worried? Im now extremely worried since my iron low could losing more blood the cause complication of my fatigue? 

Question 3
Is it normal that fatigue will start a month later after treatment, as i’m feeling extremely tired throughout the morning, from waking up i start getting better around 12noon? ( i eat healthy and i haven’t started gym just yet ) i don’t want to change Atripla yet as i feel it’s worked good for me 

Question 4
i take smecta to help with diarrhoea especially on days where i go more then twice to the toilet is this ok? This was my doctors recommendation, she couldn’t explain why i have diarrhoea she said it could be from stress.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Hi

Most of these are things that your doctor needs to monitor/treat/discuss. Most of them seem unlikely to be related to HIV or HIV meds – just things that can happen to anyone. IT would be good for your doctor to closely manage any symptoms.

Q1. Tremors need to be managed by your doctor – though often the cause is not known. Unlikely to be a side effect.

Q2 and 3. The blister is unlikely to be a side effect.

Q3. If you are sleeping well, then tiredness is not a side effect.

Q4. Unless the stomach treatment is prescribed for a reason, it is unlikely to be helpful, but ask your current doctor about this. It sounds like your doctor should also look for reasons for diarrhoea as stress doesn’t sound a convincing explanation.