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 Ndlovu, TLD does not cause pain in your feet. Has anything else changed in the last few weeks that could have caused this? and for how long have your feet been painful?
Hi. I ve been on Tld for 2 weeks from today and my feets are so painful undernearth is that the effects ,also i was having headache but i am okay
Hi Christina, have you been experiencing insomnia since starting TLD? Have you mentioned this to your doctor? As you are still having trouble sleeping when taking TLD in the morning, it may be appropriate for you to switch medication depending on what is available in your country.
TLD does not cause the pain you have mentioned. You will need to speak with your doctor seperately about this as it will not be linked with your treatment.
Hi im taking my tld in the morning but still experience insomnia
I have shoulders pain n heels pain what can be the problem and also my feed are swelling
Ive been on tld since 2020
Hi Samuel, thanks.
Are you HIV positive? I ask because TLD is sometimes used as treatment and sometimes for prevention.
If you are HIV positive, then it would be good to know your CD4 count.
If your CD4 count started very low – ie less than 100 or less than 50, these symptoms might be related to another infection. This makes it important to tell your doctor straight away.
Please tell your doctor anyway though, becasue I don’t know your history.
Please also do this is you are HIV negative and using T:D as prevention.
Am on TLD for 2 weeks now, but I have been coughing plus flu symptoms and a blocked nose since i start dem.
Kindly help :)
Hi Moyo, as these symptoms are all over your mums body she should speak to her doctor. How long has she had these symptoms for?
Hi, any remedy for skin reaction when taking tld, it’s been two months taking them and my mummy has developed some genital warts some rashes on almost every part of the body
Hi Tracy, yes you can change the time for your medication. Please see here for information regarding changing skin colour: https://i-base.info/qa/803
Hi…I’ve been taking tld 7am but I feel its too early…is it okay to change the time? also I have been noticing dark spots on my arms and legs…is there a remedy for this?