Question
What are the side effects of TLD?
6 January 2022. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE, Side effects, Starting treatment.
Hi guys, I recently had sex with someone who was HIV positive. The next day I went to the clinic and they gave me PEP. I am currently on TLD but I am experiencing a stuffy nose, dry mouth and sore throat. I have little red spots on my legs, like a rash I don’t know if this are side effects or not. Please help.
Answer
Hi, how are you?
TLD is a combination medication. It includes dolutegravir, Lamivudine and tenofovir. As such any side effects are attributed to these medications. Stuffy nose, dry mouth and a sore throat are not a side effect. It is possible to cause a skin reaction and this should be checked by a doctor – the rash on your leg.
The common side effects for dolutegravir include: anxiety, depression, diarrhoea, fatigue, flatulence, stomach discomfort, headache, nausea, skin reactions, sleep disorders, vomiting.
The common side effects for lamivudine include: tummy pain, anaemia, lack of energy, diarrhoea, dizziness, fever, flatulence, headache, insomnia, nausea, low white blood cells, skin reactions, vomiting.
The common side effects for tenofovir include: abdominal pain, anaemia, tiredness, diarrhoea, dizziness, fever, flatulence, headache, insomnia, nausea, low white blood cells, skin reactions, vomiting.
These are the common side effects as listed by the BNF. You should note that while these are all common, they are not common together. It is also common for side effects to only be experienced in the first few weeks of starting medication while your body gets used to it. Common also means that it can be experienced by as few as 1 in 100 people.
Josh.
Hi Walter, no this does not mean you have HIV. Being on treatment means that your partner is looking after her health and yours.
Treatment works by suppressing HIV and when the viral load is low enough it is impossible to pass on HIV via sex. This means there is no risk of transmission when not using a condom.
This is called U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Have you spoken to your girlfriend since finding this medication?
Recently found pills in my gfs bag LTD have not asked her wat are they for n we have been hit raw for 2years now. Does this mean am also infected
Hi Jay, this is nothing to worry about. Being on PEP will not protect you from every infection. It is completely normal to still get a cold while on PEP. It does not mean that PEP has failed or that you are seroconverting.
More information about PEP can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
I’m on PEP for 23 days now and I just got cold today I’m so worried now what those this mean please