Question
My brother is having side effects with Atroiza
23 July 2013. Related: All topics.
My brother is 35 and HIV positive.
He has been using Atroiza for a week. CD4 is 216 and he’s always dizzy, has lost weight, is not eating well and i think he’ losing his mind. Please help!
Answer
Hi,
Thanks for your email. Atroiza contains a drug called efavirenz that can affect your emotions and they way you act. For some people it can seem like you are going crazy.
Usually these side effects will improve after the first few weeks of treatment but for some people these can be severe or may not improve over time. If you are worried it is important that your brother talks to his doctor so that they can assess the severity of his side effects.
Some people need to change to different treatment very early on though if these side effects are severe.
Please see this page in our side effects guide for more information.
Atroiza is a generic version of Atripla.
Hi Lelo, if the side effects are so bad that you stopped treatment, you have to talk to your doctor. Say how difficult it was and ask for a different medicine. Not all drugs have these side effects. If you stop taking meds the HIV will continue to reduce your CD4 count. This will increase the risk of serious treatment. Only being on HIV meds can stop this, but you need meds that you can tolerate.
I hv two months taking the pills then I felt soo different for dat two months n ma body stay in 1 place n ma feet a pain n hv a lot of heat sooo I stop drinking them for abt 2 weeks I wana I will gt sick again or I shud start drinking ma medication again?
Hi Kat, please try to stick with this a bit longer. You are right that side effects are often difficult when you first start, but within a week or two things should start to get easier. Most people find their body adjust quickly and things get much easier. If the side effects continue you can change to a different treatment that will not have the same side effects. You need to take Atroiza at night just before bedtime. Also, try to take it when you haven’t eaten anything for an hour or two before.
I started taking atroiza 3 days back am dizzy almost the whole day and tired and am a students am so worried coz I do nothing when I get to class.will it ever go away.will I have my beauty sleep back and after how long.
Hi Yolanda, it sounds like you are getting side effect from once of the drugs in Atroiza called efavirenz. Until things become normal again it might be better not to drink alcohol for the next week or so. It should bet easier. More information including tips to reduce the side effects are included here:
http://i-base.info/guides/side/cns-side-effects
Hi
been taking atroiza for 8days now and i get dizzy at night during the day I become light headed when when will this stop?and when can I start drinking beer again because I’m scared to.
Hi Victor,
This can depend on your individual needs, and also what drugs are available in your own country and through each different healthcare system.
You can find pdfs and slide charts of modern HIV meds (ARVs) here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting/pdf
What is another option of treatment beside 3 in 1 pills?
Hi Julia, Fat loss is a side effect that was associated with older HIV drugs d4T and AZT. It’s not linked to current treatment. Symptoms included fat loss from under the skin on arms and legs. It also includes loss from the face, especially sunken cheeks and temples. Is this what you are experiencing?
If it’s a more general weight loss then a good balanced diet can help you to put weight on. You can talk to your doctor about changes to your diet that can help you to achieve this.
I started taking my medication by February 2015, before i start my med my weight was 64kg now is 52 please help I’m very worried