Question

CD4 is 9, on Kaletra with diarrhea, wasting and sleeplessness

28 March 2012. Related: All topics.

I am currently experiencing wasting and very bad diarrhea. My CD4 count is 9. I am on Kaletra, lamivudine and tenofovir regime for 2 weeks after switching over from stavudine (d4T), Kaletra and lamivudine twice daily for 1 month due to foot numbness problem.

I am having problems sleeping now for a week (maybe 10 minutes sleep every 2 hours at night) and wonder if this is some medicine side effect or just a symptom?

Answer

Answer: Rebecca McDowall

Thank-you for your question. It sounds like you’re having a very difficult time. Are you receiving any support right now?

Please could you give me some more information so that I can help you.

Could you tell me which country you are living in?

From your email it sounds like you have only been taking treatment for 6 weeks. Is this right? If you have recently started treatment your CD4 count is likely to be increasing and you should soon start to have fewer symptoms. As your CD4 count gets higher you should gain weight and the numbness in your feet (called peripheral neuropathy) should get better.

Is your first time on treatment for HIV? The reason I ask is because Kaletra is an unusual first treatment so I am interested to know your history.

I need to have more information to be able to help you with treatment advice.

Does your doctor know about all your symptoms?

It is very important that you go back to your doctor and tell them about all of your symptoms. Diarrhea is a common side effect of many HIV drugs and can usually be treated.

When you say you are ‘wasting’ do you mean you are losing a lot of weight? What is your weight now and how has it changed?

It’s important that you tell your doctor about this so they can help you.

I don’t know of sleeplessness being caused by any of the drugs you are taking. It’s important that you tell your doctor about this too though. It might be that you can’t sleep because you are very worried or stressed. Your doctor should be able to help you with this too.