HIV Support Group

Unfortunately, everyone has different side effects. I began Atripla June of this year. It was the first antiretroviral treatment since my diagnosis in April (I was also diagnosed with AIDS, when I found out I was positive).

I did have a "wired" feeling, usually by about 2-3 hours after taking the medication. Like you, I would take it before bed time, but would always have to wake up within a couple of hours to use the bathroom. That's when I noticed the "wired" feeling along with severe vertigo. I had some mild nausea in the begining, too. They seemed to have subsided after about 4-6 weeks for me.

I didn't have a problem sleeping while on Atripla. My problem was (and still is) the intense and very vivid dreams. I would continue to monitor the effects and talk to your doctor. Let your doctor know about the insomnia and if there is a non-habit-forming sleeping aid that might help you through this rough period. I think your body will eventually adjust. I (speaking personally) would not advise taking the Atripla in the morning because of the dizziness. I did read that alot of the side effects seem to peak after 3 hours from taking the medication. I believe that is when the concentration in your system is the highest (something that relates to the term "plasma"). Hope this helps. Good luck!

Greetings chookstar :) I'm afraid I'm too new at this to answer a lot of your questions, but I can share my experience. I'm newly diagnosed and have been on Atripla for 10 weeks. The first 4-6 weeks were indeed quite difficult. I woke every 2-3 hours and often found it very difficult to get back to sleep.

My doctor did suggest possibly switching to taking the dose in the morning... said she had several patients who do better with a morning dose. I decided to wait a little longer before trying that and have been happily surprised. The last few weeks have been a lot better. I wake a lot less often, have less vertigo and can get back to sleep fairly quickly. I don't feel like the living dead during the day any longer. :)

If you can, it might be worth it to stick with this drug for a little while longer to see if your side effects recede a bit also. One thing I have noticed, is that the side effects seem to be more bothersome when I cheat a little on the 'empty stomach' thing. I've found that taking Atripla within 3 hours of eating any type of food results in a rough night.

Thanks for the replies. I did get my first results back and despite the side effects, my viral load has dropped from 120,000 to 396 in 6 weeks. (However I'm really not convinced that non-detectable VL is the bees knees, I had a viral load for 12 years that overaged about 10,000 on herbs and vitamins till I slacked off taking them).

Anyway.... my doctor has suggested Nivirapine and Truvada, so I am just holding off a little longer before I change. It's 7 weeks now and one good night is followed by a bad. I really hope it settles, they say that it may not.

I wonder how many people have tried Nivirapine and Truvada?

I started Atripla Feb 2008. The side effects were tough to get through at first, I take the pill at night and along with an axiety medication that helps me sleep, Lorazapam 1mg (generic Xanax). The anxiety medication helps turn my brain off to control the crzy dreams. It doesn't really have any side effects, and is also inexpensive.

Hello All, I watched so many postings here that today I finally decided to register and post myself.

I have been taking Atripla for about 5 months now. It was my first medication and my vl went to undetectable from 2100 .. cd4 from 20 to 125 at my first drawing of blood 2 months later and I am due to go back in 2 weeks.

I had been taking Atripla at bed time since I started and at first I experienced the insane buzz but then almost nothing (so I thought) About a month or so the vivid dreams came and they came HARD and they can furious. I dont mean nightmares as much as they were so involved that I dont think I rested at night because I was busy all night in these dreams. Even the ones that should be night mares were just too weird to really scare me for the most part they were just involved and odd.

I experimented with taking the drug at different times of the day and I would get so buzzed that I figured I had to just take it before bed time which is usually about 3 hours after dinner.

Here is the thing FOR ME... My stomach really does not feel empty 3 hours after dinner. I dont know about you guys but with my eating habits usually twice a day I am not on an "empty stomach".. Actually if my stomach feels too empty I cant sleep well but I was going by the guide lines.

4 days ago I decided to just switch to mornings when I know for sure I am on an empty stomach and I have not had that intense buzzed feeling yet this week. I do get a very slight buzz but nothing like I would get when I would try to take it in the middle of the day. I take it now at about 5 30 am when I wake up and I usually have coffee a half hour later.

Above I said I didnt think I had any major issues before the vivid dreams but now I realize that I am sleeping sooooooooooo much better these past few days that I see that I have not been sleeping well for the last few months while on Atripla . I was getting terrible sleep but I had just become accustomed to it and didnt realize it.

I still have had slightly more involved dreams but nothing like the dreams I had when I took Atripla right before bed.

For me... Morning doses are the way to go. EMPTY STOMACH and virtually no side effects!

Hopefully my next round of tests prove that it still works

Thanks for all the support that you guys have given me and didn't even know it.

The first day was not pleasant. I was an animal... since then some congestion in the head...sinusitus... Two nites ago I drank too much and that was not smart to do at all. Since then, a horrible headache, worse sinutitus and horrible dizziness.... I am just at the three week period and am sure this will all clear up if I take better care of myself.
I was on Combivir and Stocrin for 2 years very sucessfully. I really like the freedom of one pill a day and hope this all works out..