Question
Should my friend change treatment to stop Sustiva side effects?
20 December 2008. Related: All topics.
A friend of mine (HIV+) is taking a combination treatment that includes efavirenz (Sustiva).
He is having side effects of depression, insominia, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, and diminished ambition and satisfaction with life over-all.
He consulted with a psychiatrist who has placed him on anti-depressents (Welbutrin) and anti-psychotics (risperadol later replaced with geodon). Working in the Mental Health field and being HIV+ myself the use of the antipsychotics in this way alarms me.
His MDs have been very reluctant to switch hime off the Sustiva even tho he is on his first course of medications and is pretty treatment naive.
Personally I think the risk of long-term damage from the anti-psychotics is reason to drop the Sustiva from his treatment regiem. (In addition to the psychological side effects).
What do you think?
Answer
It sounds like your friend is just one of the people who will never find efavirenz a tolerable drug.
As this is his first treatment,
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