Question
How long can I live on Atroiza?
18 June 2013. Related: All topics, Life expectancy.
I’m a girl aged 20 and I’m HIV positive. My CD4 is 174 and I’m taking atroiza.
I want to know how long can I live?
Answer
Hi,
Thanks for your email.
Having HIV can sometimes be difficult. But modern treatment is very effective. It means that you can have a near-normal life expectancy and a good quality of life.
Nobody can predict how long anyone will live. This depends on things you can change (smoking, exercise, medication) and thing you can’t (genetics and bad luck).
Do you have any support to deal with being HIV positive? If you are in South Africa you could contact the Treatment Action Campaign for information about treatment and support in your area.
The i-Base Introduction to combination therapy guide also has general information about treatment.
Atroiza is a generic version of Atripla.
Please me know if you have any questions or I can help further.
Hi,
I’m HIV positive and today after I received my blood test found that my CD4 is 301. I was given atroiza. Now the thing is, I have not disclosed my status at home and I’m worried that the side effects may change my life leaving me undecided in taking the meds. I’m afraid of telling my mother about my status. My late brother died from defaulting and using drugs with ARV. Now my step dad is living with HIV. I feel as though it is going to be a huge disappointment and worry that her health will be affected as she will be stressed about this if I tell her.
The way I see it is, I either I tell them about my status and take the meds or I leave the meds and not say anything at all. Do the side effects last the whole entire time I take these meds or is it just only a few hours after taking the meds.
I really don’t know what to do.
Hi, today I will be starting to atroiza. I’m so worried, but I have no choice because I’m pregnant and I have to think about my baby. What will the side effects be? Will my body change?
Hi Tina,
Congratulations on your pregnancy.
Its common to be nervous when starting treatment. However, it is the best thing that you can do. Be this for you, or for your baby.
Atrozia is a generic version of Atripla. It is a very effective ARV. For more info on atrozia please see the following link:
http://i-base.info/guides/1561
Common side effects include mood changes and sleep disturbance. This is because of the efafvirenz that are included in the medication. If you get these, they should go within a few weeks.
One thing to be aware of is, not everyone gets side effects. Some people do, some don’t. This is because how people react to medication varies.
With regards to your body changing, yes this can happen, though this is now less common. Also, because you are pregnant, if this did happen you may not notice.
For now the most important thing is that you take your meds. And if you do have side effects and they don’t go within 2-4 weeks then you should talk to your doctor.
If however, you get a rash, you should tell your doctor about this immediately.
Because you’re pregnant, you may find our HIV and pregnancy guide helpful:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi Hlumelo,
Please see the following:
http://i-base.info/qa/10140
My partner and I are both on atrozia. Sometimes we don’t use condoms, is that OK?
Hi Hlumelo,
Everyone’s health is different. Therefore, even if you and your partner are both positive and taking the same meds, this does not mean that your CD4s will be the same. There are several reasons for this, one of which being when you contacted HIV and also how you body has responded to the HIV.
What’s important is to be on meds. What are your CD4s and when were you diagnosed?
Hi, me and my partner ,we are taking atroiza ,but the CD4 count is not the same. Mine is higher than his,so what will happen to us?
Hi Linah,
The side effects that you’re experiencing should usually only last a few weeks. What time are you taking atrozia and how are you taking it?
In some instances people can have side effects for much longer. This is because of the efavirenz that are in atrozia. For more info, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/side/cns-side-effects
Is this something that you’ve talked to your doctor about?
Hi, I’m taking atroiza. I have been for 2 month. Since I started taking it I’ve had diarrhea. I feel weak, and I’m sleeping all day. How long will it last?
Hi Hlumelo,
Everyone’s health is different, therefore its normal that a couples CD4 may not be the same. This is even if they are taking the same ARVs. It may also depend on how long you have been living with HIV. When you were both diagnosed what were your CD4s?