Question
What is my chance to reverse lipo?
29 May 2009. Related: All topics, Side effects.
Hello! I`ve got lipodystrophy. What chances do I have to get my fat back at a combination truvada+kaletra? One year ago I was switched from Zerit to Truvada. Thank you for the answer!
Answer
Firstly, I have to say that I am a bit shocked that only a year ago somebody with lipodystrophy in the UK will be kept on Zerit. It has been known for years now that this is one of the worst medicine to provoke lipodystrophy.
Having said that, I do not exclude the chance that some people come from other countries with a certain combination that may have been switched here. Please let me know whether this is the case.
Switching d4T (Zerit) or AZT to either abacavir or tenofovir, or using other combinations of drugs, can reverse the fat lost in limbs. Reversing fat loss from the fat or buttocks appears to be more difficult, but this may be possible if you switch treatment at the first symptoms.
There may be a risk of viral load rebounding if you have resistance to other HIV drugs. Otherwise, switching is very safe.
Any reversal of the fat loss is likely to take at least six months to become noticeable. These symptoms developed slowly and if they are going to reverse this will also take time.
In studies where people switched to abacavir, the return of small amounts of leg fat (+ 0.3kg) was detected by scans at 6 months. It took about two years (+1.3kg) before these patients noticed a difference themselves.
There is more information here.
Hello Anna and many thanks for getting in touch
Weight gain has been an issue of discussion in recent years for many reasons including whether this is a side effect. It is also related to ageing, diet, exercise, family history, hormone changes, lifestyle, etc.
What has your doctor said about this.
In general the first step is to make sure your doctor knows about your concerns and that your weight and waist are measured and recorded in your medical notes.
The doctor should then look for possible causes and will talk about diet and exercise etc.
These links have more information:
https://i-base.info/htb/40717
https://i-base.info/guides/side/diet-a-balanced-diet-and-your-health
Christina
I’m on arv for Close to 10 years since they change me to tld my stomach is big lost weight in bums and legs