Abacavir / dolutegravir / lamivudine and Headaches: What Users Say

• Cas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2018

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS 25 years ago. I was taking Trezavir, then Atripla for 15 years. Then I got sick last year. I was told that I only have a year to live. I get boils all over my body about the size of a baseball. The doctor switched me to Triumeq. I hesitated to take it. I just opened the bottle. After a month, I've been taking it now for three days, no side effects yet. Had a few headaches, but that's about all. Please pray for me. I have a wife and a family."

• Blu...
• March 14, 2016

For HIV Infection "Started on Triumeq exactly 1 month. Trying to understand that viral meds can have some side effects. This one has not been a pleasant experience. By all accounts, I am very active and have a vigorous job that needs me to be alert. This med has worn me down physically and emotionally. I have no energy and bad headaches. My body is achy constantly and the overall feeling of waiting to puke. I had to remove myself from work until I can figure if this is indeed the result of the medication. I am beginning to think it is. The labs will tell more. I have never experienced side effects before on any other meds. I was switching because of cholesterol numbers. I will most likely go back to Atripla. I have been living with this disease for 30 years."

• SF5...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2015

For HIV Infection "I recently found out about my positive status on 8/28/14. My prior HIV test was on 8/6/13, and it was negative, so I believe I contracted it at some point in 2014. I didn't start Triumeq until 12/28/14. The first 2 days, about 15 minutes after taking the pill, I had a slight headache and minimal nausea. Nothing unbearable, though. I haven't had any serious side effects, and the headaches and nausea no longer occur; again, I have only been on this for a little over a week. It does seem like my digestive system is more active. I used to go to the restroom every other day; now it seems I have to go every morning. Other than that, I haven't had any other issues. CD4 is 840, Viral 1170 on initial labs."

• NUR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2016

For HIV Infection "Ok... it's been 30 days and all is well... yes, I've had some ups and downs... anxiety attacks, fever, insomnia, stomach, and headaches... but overall I feel great... I've learned that taking my meds earlier than bedtime is better for me, and also that the side effects seem to be nonexistent when I'm well hydrated... (*DRINK PLENTY OF WATER....)"

• MrT...
• October 7, 2016

For HIV Infection "After taking Complera for 5 years, switched to Triumeq a little over a month ago. Right after the first month, viral load undetectable and T-cell count unknown. Doctor did not check my T-cell count; I did not like that. The side effects are terrible, my heart beats fast, red face, high irritability, jaw stiffness/pain, awful headache, insomnia. In general, feeling highly intoxicated. Can't deal with it."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2017

For HIV Infection "August 8th, 2017 tested positive. Viral load 10,109, CD4 512. Started meds August 27th, 2017. Retested September 28th, 2017, and viral load is 49 and CD4 865. I had a few minor headaches, and I now take my meds with or without food with no problems. I take my meds in the morning at my first break, 10 a.m. Thanks to this site, I was nervous at first. I read all the reviews, and they helped me know what to expect. So, I thought I would return the favor."

• NUR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2016

For HIV Infection "I started on Triumeq August 1, 2016. On the second day, I had a bad headache and a terrible stomach ache (both were relieved by Motrin and fresh ginger tea). Now, I must admit I feel better than I've felt in months! :-) Even though a side effect of the med is loss of appetite, lately I've been ravenous, eating more than I ever have, which is wonderful for me because I had lost a lot of weight lately and it showed."

• And...
• December 31, 2015

For HIV Infection "After a few years of carrying the virus, I was finally diagnosed. On October 9, 2015, my CD4 was 168 and VL was 61,800. After two weeks of treatment on Triumeq, my viral load went down to 849 and CD4 increased to 270. Side effects are: 1) Sometimes hard to fall asleep. Need to be really tired or in a very good mood before sleep. 2) Feeling a strange sensation in my pancreas area. Uncomfortable feeling. 3) Headaches and dizziness. 4) Itchy skin. Having problems with red eyes, especially if you do not sleep well for 2 or 3 days (traveling around the world). Waiting to do another test after 1.5 months of treatment to see results."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2016

For HIV Infection "I am NOT new to HIV or HIV treatment. I've known my status since 1994 (1st test). I have been through all of the initial protease inhibitor drugs from the mid-1990s and the plethora of severe side effects they provided. I was switched to Triumeq in late Feb 2016, NOT due to having a detectable viral load, but due to increasing diarrhea on my last drug combination, which included Epzicom, Norvir, and Prezista. I wish I never complained about the diarrhea because I am still suffering from extreme headaches nine (9) days after stopping Triumeq. I am on continuous painkillers because these headaches are CONSTANT. Triumeq for me is a complete disaster. I took a full month of Triumeq."

• TTT...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 9, 2019

For HIV Infection "I found I am HIV positive by the end of August 2018, and back then had VL over 1 million (really high) and CD4 around 650 (30%). I started the treatment with Triumeq by the end of October. For the first month, I was taking Triumeq before going to bed, and I experienced all side effects related to the central nervous system, such as insomnia, headache, tiredness, unfocused, etc. By the end of November, the VL had dropped to 650k, and CD4 went up to 1000 (40%). Despite the side effects that were clearly affecting my daily life, both personal and professional, because I was all the time tired and sleepy, the doctor and I agreed that I'd give one more month to Triumeq, switching it to the mornings. It literally solved all the side effects, I haven't experienced any of them since I started taking the pill in the morning. At the beginning of January 2019, around 2 to 2.5 months after starting the treatment, I'm undetectable, and in March I had again CD4 count and was still at a good level - 1050 (43%)."

• Joe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 1, 2017

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed in January 2011. My own immune system was able to manage my HIV for a couple of years, but my health started to fail in 2013. I started with Atripla, and I'm still recovering from the extremely vivid nightmares I experienced. I switched to a couple of different combinations of drugs, but I couldn't adhere to the dosing schedules. Triumeq has been a godsend. One pill a day, and no nightmares. The only side effects I've experienced are upset stomach, weakness, and headaches. I had one very bad spell where I nearly lost control of my motor functions, and I fell in the bathroom and couldn't get back up for a short period of time. Otherwise, my CD count has been stable at ~800, and I've been undetectable since 2013."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2018

For HIV Infection "Just started Triumeq with a CD4 count of 271 and a viral load of 104,000. Other than a slight headache, vivid and lucid dreaming (which was awesome), and vomiting (I took it on an empty stomach), I haven't had any other side effects. I take it after I eat breakfast in the morning and go on about my day with normal energy levels. Will update when I get my one-month labs done to see the progress of this medication."

• Liv...
• September 10, 2016

For HIV Infection "Ok, I was on Atripla for years. It works, but with bad nightmares and not feeling rested. Switched to Complara, loved it - no side effects, felt great. Nurse practitioner said after a couple of years it was building toxicity in my kidneys. Not sure if that was true, but we switched to Odefsy - almost immediately started having toxicity side effects. Nurse blew off my concerns and complaints of pain, headache, dizzy, tired, no concentration, etc. So I got rid of her and went to a doctor. Now I'm trying Triumeq. It's ok, I think I'm adjusting to it. Initially, it made me tired. I do sleep later now and am a bit slower getting going in the morning, which I don't like. I do feel a bit hot at night after taking it. Again, I think I'm adjusting, may take it in the AM."

• Ric...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 4, 2018

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed HIV+ in April 2014. It was about a year until my CD4 count dropped to 500. I tried one medication for about a month that made me ill, so I was switched to Triumeq. It's a lot better, but not without its side effects. Up to four hours after taking it, I have to make sure there is a toilet nearby as it makes me go pretty quick. I also get headaches and tiredness for up to two hours after taking, then it's like I just push through it. Overall, it's good. I can't complain. I mean, what's the other option? .... lol, I'm glad medicine is moving on so well."

• Tor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2016

For HIV Infection "Was infected back in October 2015. Started TRIUMEQ 25 days ago. The first 5 days were unbearable, hated every minute of it until I changed my time taking the pill to nighttime. So far, 20 days later, no side effects anymore, used to get headaches, joint pain, muscle pain. Diagnosed with VL of 10,000 and CD4 of 562. Will update once I get my monthly result next week. Trillium Drug Benefit covers most of out-of-pocket, and my family's insurance covers the rest. I only pay around $450 a year."

• PR0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2016

For HIV Infection "I was having horrible headaches. It took me a week to figure it out, but it appears that peanuts have a negative reaction to these meds. It took a day of not eating peanuts, now headaches are long gone."

• Exi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2017

For HIV Infection "Infected HIV in February, diagnosed in March through my own choice/fear/indecision. Started Triumeq 2 weeks ago. I have had a very positive experience so far. I have had minor side effects, slight headaches, a little dizzy spell, what feels like mucus on my chest, but nothing frightening apart from the one dizzy spell. I do feel better overall than I did, no more sore throat, and I feel like I have more energy, though I am tired in the evenings and I sleep well. I feel my appetite has increased, so I am being conscious to exercise every day. I take the Triumeq pill in the morning halfway through breakfast. I eat oat porridge for breakfast, eat half, and then swallow Triumeq with a large glass of water, then finish the porridge. No nausea/indigestion."

• New...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2017

For HIV Infection "I discovered my new status in July 2017: VL 94K and CD4 126. After 4 weeks, I had blood work again, and I got awesome results: VL 85 and CD4 360. Hopefully, I will be undetectable in my next check. I haven't gotten any symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, etc. This medicine has been working greatly in my body."

• All...
• February 10, 2018

For HIV Infection "I found out October 2nd that I was HIV positive. Felt so unhealthy and caught it so fast. Losing weight, loss of appetite, having a really hard time sleeping when you’d always get those heat flashes or waking up so hot. It was horrible in my experience. It took me a month to get this medication, which is Triumeq. The first medication my doctor had told me about and said it was the best one out there. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been on this medication going on 3 months now, and my counts went from 150/500 to over 240/500 within a month. I’m doing way better. I’m way healthier. Even though I don’t like the tiredness and a frequent headache. But I’m telling you this medication works really great. I’ve never felt so much better and felt so much change since I’ve been on Triumeq. I should be undetectable by my next appointment I go to in a month. I couldn’t be more grateful for this medication that could help us all through this situation."

• Zip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2017

For HIV Infection "This medicine worked very well for me. Within a month of taking it, I became undetectable! I had no major side effects. I do, however, get headaches every once in a while, but nothing I can't deal with. I currently crush mine and put it in yogurt, so I'm still getting used to the taste...yuck...but it's not that bad."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2021

For HIV Infection "Been positive 34 years, doing fine but decided to change to the 1 pill a day instead of 5. This drug may work for some but NOT FOR ME! I have issues with depression and anxiety and were amplified 100x on this drug. Blood pressure went sky-high, headaches, swollen eyes, couldn't eat or sleep. Couldn't function. Went back to original meds, Kaletra and Truvada. Feeling better. They can keep their 1 pill a day!!"

• pab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2016

For HIV Infection "Manageable headaches at first but disappeared after a few weeks. Went from 33.000 to < 20 within a month."