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 unknown,
ARVs aren’t know to cause problems with a woman’s fertility. Therefore, if you’ve been trying for a while and nothing is happening, you should see a fertility specialist.
Hi
I’ve been using atroiza since December 2014 and practicing safe sex with my partner, but recently we’ve stopped using a condom because we want to have a baby. So far I haven’t fallen pregnant, is this because of the atrozia?
Hi Sisanda,
Because you’ve got a rash, its important that you go and see a doctor. This is because it could be a sign of a serious side effect.
I am started to use astroiza on 20/01/2017.now am having rash in face as side effect .I want to know how long will it takes to get my skin back to normal
Hi Ziyanda,
Its common that women who are pregnant will sleep more, and will need to nap during the day.
Her being short tempered my be due to the ARVs, what is she taking? How long has she been on them for?
Hi my sister is 22year old and she is pregnant. She is using atroiza and always sleeps at the midday and she is short tempered.
Hi Buyie, it is good that you are already taking HIV treatment. The cancer will need to be managed by an expert with experience of both HIV and cancer. The low energy and appetite could be related to the cancer – and the cancer is probably the more serious health problem at the moment. If the cancer is early stage, this is easier to treat. Please talk to the health workers at your clinic to find out other support that might be available.
I’m HV cervical cancer and I just found out I’m HIV positive,I’m using atrioza the thing is I’m always tired and loss appetite..I HV a lot of pain in my bladder ..what I suppose to do
Hi Babalwe,
What meds are you taking? How long have you been on them for?
If you’re meds contain efavirenz, mood changes can happen. As for being sexually active, do you mean your sex drive is higher?
Stopping treatment isn’t a good idea, for an explanation why please see quesiton 7 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
You may however need to change.
I’m highly sexual active. I’ve developed a moon face and my moods have changed. Can I change to something else or just quit the treatment?