Question
Can I change from lamzid & aluvia to Atripla?
21 August 2012. Related: All topics, Changing treatment, Resistance.
I was taking aspen lamzid (AZT/3TC) and Aluvia (lopinavir/r),and now it turns out i have to take Atripla (efavirenz, FTC + tenofovir). Is is safe to do so? Won’t my body develop resistance towards the meds?
Answer
Hello,
Thank-you for your email.
To answer your question I would need to know why you are changing medication.
If you are changing because you had virological failure- which means your viral load went up- then there is risk that you have resistance to some HIV medications, which may affect your use of Atripla. This is because resistance to AZT or 3TC can mean you also have resistance to FTC or tenofovir.
If you are changing for another reason, and have no resistance to AZT or 3TC, then it should be OK to switch.
Hi Mapule,
Because you’ve been off meds for 2 months its very likely that your viral load will have rebounded and your CD4 will have started to decrease. However, this is something that can soon be sorted out. Restarting meds will do this. And its good that you want to restart.
There is a possibility that you may have developed some resistance to your previous meds, therefore its important that you talk to your doctor about restarting your meds.
The weight loss could be HIV related. However, it could also be due to a number of other issues, of which a change in life style and stress are included.
I’ve been off my meds for two months now, can I continue with my treatment again and I am loosing weight.
Hi Mpumi,
If the person who is using Aluvia has an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmission is close to zero. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
If they are on Aluvia, but their viral load is still detectable, the risks of transmission are higher.
Can I get HIV if I have unprotected sex with someone is using Aluvia?
Hi Chumisa,
Spotting ins’t a side effect that’s associated with Aluvia. Therefore, this is something that you should speak to a doctor about.
Other than this change in your body, how are you doing with your medication?
Hi,can you please assist? U have been taking Aluvia for 3weeks now,two weeks ago I started spotting(vaginally) and it has not stopped. I’m not on any contraceptives, and my periods were normal(28days cycle)..I don’t have any pains, but I’m worried this will lead to me being anemic. Is this one of the side effects?
PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is ideally started within a couple of hours of exposure to HIV. If this is not possible, then still the earlier the better. It’s important that you start as soon as you can to make sure PEP protects against HIV.
PEP usually involves taking a combination of three HIV drugs for one month. These drugs, which are Aspen Lamzid (AZT/3TC) and Aluvia (lopinavir/r), work together to be effective.
Hi, I want to start PEP treatment but unfortunately they dont have Aluvia, and I only bought Lamzid. Will Lamzid work without Aluvia?
Hi, There are new safe and effective HIV drugs (ARVs) that are in use now – and more are being developed.
It’s good, as Atripla isn’t working, that your doctor has changed your medication. But it’s important that the new meds suit you, and that you don’t get side effects, or have problems taking them. You can talk to your doctor about this to make sure it’s easy for you.
Do you have support? The Treatment Action Group is the largest HIV positive support organisation in South Africa. They can give you up to date HIV treatment information.
You can contact them here:
http://www.tac.org.za/contact
Hi, I’m taking Aluvia and Aspen Lamzid. Is this the last drug or medication? If I failed on this one is it the last hope? I was taking Atripla for so many years now my doctor changed me and said it’s no longer responding.