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 Matthews, FDC is a generic version of Atripla. TLD is a newer combination that most people are being switched to. When switching to TLD there is some risk of weight gain. This is due to dolutegravir. This drug increases appetite and over 2 years has the potential to increase body weight by 10%.
How much weight have you gained and over what time? What time are you taking your treatment? It is better to take this medicaiton in the morning so any side effects will have worn off before bed and will have less impact on your sleep quality.
What have you tried to lose weight? and have you had a discussion with your doctor about what you can try?
As both of your viral loads and undetectable and both on the same treatment, there is no risk of sleeping together without a condom. You are both protected from reinfection.
I’m on arv for 10 years now,I’m gaining a lot of weight,I’ve tried to loss weight it does not help
Ever since I’ve been switched from FDC to TLD one year ago ,I’m getting headaches every time I sleep,sometimes I wake up,because of headaches,is not nice.
Iam facing another problem,my partner is also on TLD arv,He refuses to use condoms
Both of or viral load is lower than detecteble
Hi Jo, where was this splash? What fluid splashed and where did it go?
TLD does not raise BP. Especially after a month of stopping treatment, any side effects caused by TLD would have stopped. When was the last time you checked your BP before this reading?
As your BP is still up after treatment have you gone back to see your doctor about what else to try? have you done regular BP monitoring at home?
I started TLD as a prep after fluid splash on the 1st of dec 2023 and ended on the 28th of the same. However few days after I checked my blood pressure and it was 150/90 never been high, it’s almost a month after completion of the prep and my blood pressure still remains high even after a week use of amlodipine/lisinopril.. i am a nurse and 23years old
Hi Ajayi, how much weight have you gained? and has this been over the last 5 years or have you noticed a significant change in weight more recently?
TLD can cause an increase in weight by increasing appetite. This weight gain often levels off within 2 years of starting and can usually be managed with diet and exercise. How long have you been trying to change diet and exercise? Weight loss can be a slow process and it doesn’t always look like it’s working.
As with any weight gain, it won’t go away by itself. Has anything changed in your life that could have contributed to this e.g., other illnesses, change in work/lifestyle, stress…etc.?
Have you spoken with your doctor about possible ways to try and help lose this weight?
Good day sir ,
I have been on tld since 2018 I have increase in weight , try on exercises and reducing my food but I am not seeeing changes .
Will the weight eventually go on its own .
I don’t know what I can do pls help
Hi Bassey, what medication are you taking and what side effects have you noticed?
After 4 years it would be very unlikely for your symptoms to be caused by your treatment. At 4 years your body would be used to the treatment and your body reacting differently after 4 years would be unexpected. Has anything else changed since you have noticed these symptoms?
Can side effects come after 4 years of taking the medication?
Hi Racheal, how long have you been taking TLD? and when did you notice heartburn?
There are so many causes of heartburn. Dolutegravir which is in TLD can cause stomach problems but this is not specifically heartburn.
Is this something you have experienced before? and have you spoken with your pharmacist about trying anything to help with it?
I take tld but these days i have heart burn is this drug the cause