Question
Am I having delayed side effects?
18 April 2011. Related: All topics, Opportunistic infections, Side effects, Starting treatment.
I have been on HIV medication now for a month. I am taking Truvada, atazanavir and ritonavir and tolerating them well. I have not had any of the reported side effects of diarrhoea or vomiting (but a bit of a nauseous feeling at the beginning which went away).
This week my doctor gave me some antibiotics to treat a upper respoiratory infection and I have started to develop feelings of sickness and diarrhoea almost every day, sometimes several times. I have taken these antibiotics before and never had these side effects so am wondering could this be delayed side effects from the HIV medication?
I read somewhere that it can take time for the side effects to develop for up to 2 or 3 months until you can really say you are ‘settled’ on a regimen and that in some cases the side effects can happen any time. If so, what hope is there then of leading a normal life if you are just waiting for some side effects to happen?
Thanks for your help so much.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
To enable me to answer your question more specifically please can you tell me which antibiotics you are on? It is possible that you are feeling unwell due to an interaction between the antibiotics and the HIV medication.
Side effects usually occur the first few weeks after starting HIV meds and last about 2-4 weeks. Some people get no side effects, other people find it takes 2-3 months for their bodies to adjust to the meds. A few people need to change meds due to bad side effects.
If you have not experienced side effects during the first 4 weeks of taking your HIV meds then it sounds like it is unlikely to be side effects causing your symptoms. You should talk to your HIV doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing.
For information about HIV meds and side effects it may help you to read the i-Base guidebook HIV and Your Quality of Life.
Adhering to your meds is very important. However, we are all human and there will always be the odd occasion when we forget. Once late dose in a month should be fine. You haven’t messed up. It sounds as if you have been lucky with the side effects and if you have not experienced any during the first month on treatment then you should be ok. Some people don’t get any side effects with the meds. Good luck with the blood tests next week.
Just into my first month of taking meds, Stocrin (efavirenz), 600mg Tenofovir, 300mg and Lamivudine 300mg all taken once at nighttime before sleeping. I usually taken them around 11pm to 12am but last night forgot and didnt take the meds until 5.45am. Have I messed up? So far I havent had any side effects with the drugs but am waiting to see how succesful they have been. My first blood tests scheduled for next week.