Question
Biktarvy, Bactrim and Atorvastatin…
28 September 2023. Related: All topics, Drug interactions, Side effects.
I am taking Biktarvy and Bactrim from last 2 years with undetectable and CD4 count is 184 now. Presently diagnosed with high Cholesterol 248 and high LDL 175, HDL 46. My doctor prescribed Atorvastatin 20 mg generic for Lipitor.
Please help on the below questions
1. Biktarvy cause high LDL and Cholesterol ?
2. Is Atorvastatin interact with Biktarvy and Bactrim and which time is best to take it 3. I don’t have any heart issue so can I stop atorvastatin after sometime
3. I gained 15 pounds in 2 years so Biktarvy cause to gain weight ?
Thanks
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
It is great to hear you have an undetectable viral load.
Biktarvy can increase cholesterol. This is because it contains a drug called Tenofovir AF. This increase more often happen when switching from on older regimen that used Tenofivir DF instead. Have you used different ART in the past? While this is only recently being studied it has shown that there is an increase in the first 3 months and can persist for more than 9 months before starting to decline
There is no interaction between Biktarvy and Atorvastatin. There is a small risk of interaction between Biktarvy and Bactrim however this is not a significant interaction and will not change the clinical outcome when taking them together.
Atorvastain can be taken at any time in the day. Like ART it is best to take it at the same time each day. Some people recommend taking it in the evening because this is when the body naturally produces the most cholesterol.
Biktarvy can cause weight gain. On average people will gain between 2.2lbs and 8.8lbs. This would mean that gaining 15lbs would be a rarer case of only BIktarvy leading to weight gain. Has anything else in your life changed over the last year that could have lead to this e.g., more stress/eating, less exercise?
Josh
Hi Eric, have you gone to a health clinic to confirm your test?
I have a big misstaick
I test Hiv i have two line i can’t have warring period but I drink H 17
Hi Mike, as the increased cholesterol with Biktarvy is generally only temporary it would be recommended to continue with this treatment and monitor if your cholesterol returns to normal over time. As you have made changes to your lifestyle, Biktarvy should be the only reason it remains high and hopefully this will go back to normal.
TLD is a combination which uses an older version of tenofovir which can be beneficial with cholesterol. However it is more problematic for kidneys. Unfortunately most HIV treatments can have some side effects. It is usually about managing them and finding drugs with the smallest side effect profile. In most cases this is Biktarvy. It is a newer combination with a generally small impact on peoples lives.
Josh.
Thanks for details.
I know I was eating more from last 1 year so now reduced intake.
I never used different ARV’s and started with Biktarvy only.
is there any ART which can’t increase Cholesterol, if yes can I ask my provider to change my ART from Biktarvy to other ? or is it common HIV person to take Cholesterol medicine ?
What % HIV people taking the Cholesterol medicine ? since I don’t want to take too many medicines everyday and want to avoid it.
Atorvastatin is also need to take lifetime or how to avoid it since I never had high cholesterol in my life and it started after taking the Biktarvy and I am following very specific diet, no smoke, exercise very well daily, limited drinking so there is nothing to me to change the lifestyle to lower the Cholesterol. So issue is with Biktarvy, if I change ART then Cholesterol issue go away ?
Sorry for lot of questions.