Question
What should I expect from starting Odimune?
30 October 2012. Related: All topics, South Africa, Starting treatment.
I have been positive for 14 years without any complications, nothing.
A few months ago, I had some tingling started around my eyes and then a rash (not severe).
I decided it was time for treatment, visited the doctor, did the necessary tests (CD4 = 247) and (viral load = 12,000 copies).
Treatment regime = Odimune.
I researched this and am scared. Please explains what happens from here on with regards to HIV progression to AIDS, and what does odimune exactly do? Apart from the doc explains?
Answer
Odimune contains three HIV medications – efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir. It is a generic version of Atripla. This link has more information about this combination.
This is a very effective treatment combination that is very widely used. It is recommended in many countries including the UK, USA and South Africa for first line treatment.
Although it’s normal to be concerned when starting treatment this is the only way to stay well in the long term. When you start treatment your viral load will go down very quickly. Your CD4 count will increase over time.
Without treatment your body is vulnerable to infections, and eventually to AIDS progression. But by starting treatment your immune system will get stronger. With treatment the life expectancy for people with HIV is about the same as for HIV negative people.
For more information about starting treatment please see our Introduction to combination therapy guide.
Its been 4 days taking odimune I feel dizzy and cramps in my hands cant sleep the other day I fell in the morning and I couldnt go to work. I think I have lost weight as well coz I always put mysrlf on a scale. What must I do go to my Dr or it will stop
Hi Promise,
It’s normal to feel dizzy in the first few weeks when taking Odimune. Cramps in your hands are unusual though and this might be something you should talk to the doctor about if it is worrying you or affecting your ability to work.
Hi Patrick,
Odimune does not normally cause palpitations. If you think you are experiencing palpitations please speak to your doctor about this.
Does Odimune cause palpitations?
Hi
Whenever a doctor or nurse prescribes a medicine, it is important to ask questions. You have to be happy with the answers if you are taking treatment.
Odimune includes three ARVs in one pill.
i-Base are not doctors or nurses so we can’t say why you have been prescribed a medicine. Odimune is usually only prescribed to people who are HIV positive. These are good medicines and they may also be protecting your baby when you take them.
I sounds like it might be a good idea to talk to your clinic if you still have questions about this.
Hi i’m hiv positive only, I have a 8wk baby and the nurse put me on the tablet Odimune. Is it like an a.r.v tablet and how long must i take it?
Hi Snethemba,
Odimune is made up of three different drugs. One of these drugs can still be found in the body more than 2 days after you take this. But the levels will be very low, and not high enough to continue to control HIV which is why it’s important to remember to take Odimune everyday.
If you are taking Odimune at 8pm you shouldn’t eat a high fat meal in the 2 hours before or after this (so not between 6pm-10pm), as this can make side effects worse. But some people don’t find side effects a problem so this will vary from one person to another. Low-fat food doesn’t have the same impact so it’s OK to eat foods that aren’t high fat closer to the time you take Odimune.
Hi ,wanna ask how long does odimune stay in your systeme and when to eat when you take it at 8 pm
Hi Julia,
What do you mean that odimune made you look like someone using alcohol?
Odimune can have side effects that cause dizziness, mood changes, or trouble sleeping. Usually these get better after the first few weeks on treatment. Is this the type of thing you experienced? And how long did you take odimune for before you stopped?
If you do have difficult side effects with odimune, and these don’t improve after a few weeks, you may be able to get a different treatment from your doctor. This will depend on which drugs are available in Namibia. It is important to tell your doctor that you have stopped taking this treatment and to tell them about the side effects you experienced. It is not a good idea just to stop treatment and not tell your doctor.
Hie this is julia from namibia i am HIV positive and my doctor gave to me the medicine called odimune but truely speaking that medicine they not for me because after to use drunk such medicine i am look like someone use alcholic and i diceded to stop to use such medicine and my question is here is that medicine can help me rearly