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.
Hi Morongoa,
As your diagnoses is new, you should take some time to think.Have you started medication? Are you able to get some support?
If you think you were infected by your baby daddy, the you should get your child tested. This is an important thing to do as they could be positive. If you are having sex with a condom, your partner will not be at risk. If you aren’t then he will be at risk of contracting HIV. I can’t tell you how to tell him. You could though ask him about his thoughts on HIV.
A month ago i found out that am positive. My problem is that I don’t know how to tell my boyfriend becuase he is very fragile. We’ve been together for two months now. I’m very certain that I got this virus from my baby daddy whom I broke up with last year. Please help on how to approach my new boyfriend. I love him and I’m afraid of losing him.
Hi lerato,
Please see question 5 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
hi im lerato,i went to test for hiv with my boyfriend found that im negative as usual bt my boyfriend is positve so the nurses check him again for viral load and cd4 count and it was low so my question is what cause the unvisable result?
Hi Khumo, please contact your clinic to explain these symptoms. Also, see question 3 at this link to check that you are taking yur meds in the right way. Hopefully this will improve soon.
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi doctor i have 2 month using ARV atriaza for 1 month and odimune for 1 month but now out of no where i am having allergy and itchy when i am scrubbing change it to red please advise.
Hi Mara, sometimes people report differences between different versions of the same meds – Atroiza and Odimune are supposed to be the same. Please talk to your doctor in can you can switch back, or use anti-diarrhoea medicine like lomotil (Imodium) to help reduce symptoms.
Hello Doctor. Im using Atroiza 4 2yrs so my Doctor change t Odimune .since i started this 2 madication i always have diarroa 4 the past 2yrs til now and i dont no wat t do. Thanx
Hi Morongoa, I can’t explain why your boyfriends behaves this way. HIV still is very stigmatised and difficult even when people are trying to help. If he is taking Odimune and his viral load is undetectable, at least you know that his treatment is also protecting you from the risk of transmission. I hope you are able to work things out. Maybe he fears rejection or wants everyone to believe he is negative.
I hv boyfrnd he dnt want to go wth me to de clinik to check our status, last month I go alone an I was negative today wen I searched his bag I got odimune, I do knw why he hv dis cus he said to me he knw his status is negative, I wnt advise plss I do know wat mst I do m streesed