Biktarvy for HIV Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

• Rob
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2019

"Biktarvy is great, I have been positive since 2013 and started on Stribild in April 2013. Stribild got me undetectable and I switched to Genvoya once it came on the market. I then switched to Biktarvy once that one came on the market and I have been undetectable ever since I started with my drug therapy. I haven't had any side effects except for loose stool but that is something I can deal with. Hope that helps."

• Big
• April 9, 2020

"Hey Team Mates Big here. I’ve been diagnosed Since 2007 A total of 14 years Strong! Started with Atriplet ( Craziest dreams) then stribil , then doctors recommend a change so then switch to genvoya (the best). Now with all these meds I never really had side effects honestly too the point I was so healthy, I would forget I’m HIV+ until I had to take a pill. Man But now with this Biktarvy my side effects are off the charts. My side effects include skin rash on my lips, arms and stomach. Very restless during the day, can’t stay sleep at night, extreme stomach pains in the liver & kidney area, all of a sudden I have a bad knee (major pain). Rash on my penis that I got checked out by 2 different doctors they both said I was perfectly fine, there was no activity (sex) going on so it ruled out STD’s and STI’s. And I’ve noticed how I Recover from things a bit slower."

• Fighter
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

"Was diagnosed HIV positive on August 24th of 2019. Went to the hospital for cellulitis and got the news. CD4 count at 24 very low, AIDS range. Started treatment September 11th and feel a lot better. I notice small burst of energy randomly almost like I’m reconstructing. At first I had a pretty tough time sleeping. I don’t know if it was because of the diagnoses or meds. Crazy dreams was an issue for a short period. I haven’t let this slow me down because I’m the same person I was before I knew I was positive. Currently fighting a skin infection, but along with antibiotics. I can’t wait to get my updated CD4 number, I don’t remember what my viral load was so that’ll be a surprise as well. I’ll update around the 13th of December because that’ll be a solid 90 days. Gained about 23lbs as well. There is a Biktarvy support group and HIV support group on drugs.com "

• Andrew
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2019

"I was diagnosed in mid March. My viral load was a little over 1 million. My cd4 was 42. In one month viral load went down to 1700 and cd 4 to 214. Huge drop. I’m undetectable for the last 6 weeks . Dr looks at cd4 this week. Fingers crossed. I’ve had no side effects. Feel great. It’s a miracle drug for me"

• JJano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2021

"The first month on Biktarvy seemed ok but after a month it gave me severe spasms and pain on my calves. The pain was 24 hours a day. Then after 4 months it gave me neck pain and this is when my doc switched my Meds back. Biktarvy also raised my cholesterol. It also gave me lipodystrophy in my legs and arms which is depressing.."

• D1996
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 25, 2020

"I'm positive since February 2018, was just twenty one at the time. I have been taking Biktarrvy about a year and a half now. They changed me over from Stribild, I think it was for financial reasons they never explained why. The main thing with my experience with HIV is the fatigue. I used to be so much stronger and active. My wrists feel brittle. If I do a few push ups & my chest feels like it's going to cave in. I spend at least the first half hour if every morning blowing my nose and coughing up mucus. That being said I'm glad I'm still here thanks to big pharma. It's sad that HIV wasn't sorted out years ago, before I was even born. I just hope people with HIV use their heads and don't pass it on to others. And medical institutions use their heads to rid of it completely."

• TDano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2019

"I had problems with Bikarvy from the moment I took it, instantly my stomach felt like an acid pit and then the headaches started. I tried taking it with food, taking omeprazole for the acid, popping ginger capsules to sooth my stomach, but nothing helped. I also woke up two nights covered in sweat. After a week I gave up and went back to good old Genvoya. Based on other comments here my reaction to Biktarvy is clearly not common, so I hope it works better for others who are thinking about starting treatment with it."

• Rob
• January 23, 2020

"I’m Hiv+ since 2015 and I already changed 3 type of medications: first was Straibild, than Genvoya and now Biktarvy. The last one is literally the best for me, no side effects, sometimes nightmare but compared the past medications I really prefer this one. And really important is that you can take it also without food!! Amazing!!"

• Mad...
• January 2, 2019

"Just started and it is going to be a month in 5 days. This is the worst anti viral pill I have ever been on. I was on tiscavy and descovy. I have the worst stomach pain and nausea as well as night terrors to the point that my husband wakes me up. We are not lab rats to experiment on I’m so mad...been hiv+ going on 8 yrs"

• janie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2019

"I had a really bad adverse reaction that saw my typically normal blood pressure shoot through the roof (180/120!!!). Went back to the Atripla and blood pressure is normal again. It is a rare reaction and my doctor was skeptical but I really felt like there was a drug-related issue involved in the spike (not just stress, etc.) so I am glad I was firm on wanting to see if changing meds would change things."

• Newbie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2019

"I was diagnosed with HIV on 8/7/2019. I didn’t start treatment until 9/13/2019. On 10/3/2019, 3 weeks into taking Biktarvy, I took my follow up tests. I actually had AIDS with a CD4 count of 195 and VL of 372,000. As of 10/3/2019, my VL is 138 and CD4 count is 233. I did experience some illness the first couple weeks which could be attributed to the Bactrim I was taking and my immune system recovering so quickly. Biktarvy is amazing. I did have a rash but once I stopped taking bactrim it went away. I have so much more energy and my cognitive functions have improved"

• faith
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 7, 2024

"Found out I was HIV positive in 3/23, had high viral load (776,000) and low CD4 count. I was the sickest I had ever been, had all types of symptoms…I remember I could barely walk. Doctor started me on Biktarvy and had a few side effects for a week and then all disappeared. It’s been a year now and I'm very satisfied, I haven’t had any issues, I’m undetectable, and CD4 count goes higher every time I have blood work. I don’t mind taking the one pill for the rest of my life and am thankful my insurance pays the full cost. Truly blessed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2020

"Got assaulted in June of 2019 and didn’t think about it again until December when I got tested positive for HIV. Sucked that I was 18 and had to deal with this. Started medication in January and in February, my viral load was undetectable with my cd4 already at 530. Biktarvy is amazing and I finally feel like my life is back to normal. I can still workout and live healthy for a long time"

• Chero...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2019

"I was diagnosed right before my 20th birthday in 1994 that I was HIV + I was pregnant and my VL has been less than 10 and CD4 has gotten no lower than 800 and have been undetectable for years. I was on 3 pills for the longest time and then 4 pills twice a day before I was put on Biktarvy and I haven't had any side effects and I started taking it 3/25/19. I just turned 45 in February. So I have been positive for 24 yrs now and still going strong . I'll go in May for blood work to see where I'm at because my VL has been less than 10 still and my CD4 is passed 1300 as of the last time they've checked it."

• happy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2019

"I was recently diagnosed with HIV. My VL was: 330.000 and CD4: 312, just to be clear, I started my treatment on June 12th, now my recent lab test shows my VL is 70 and my CD4 396, only what? 5 weeks?... Which means I’m about to be undetectable, and my CD4 go up higher. Thanks God, thanks Biktarvy. No side effects btw."

• Jenny...
• November 17, 2020

"I've had the virus for over 25 years been on many drugs each with its own side effects. Been on biktarvy for 2 months, at first it was ok no side effects apart from sweating badly at night which I don't mind because its painless. Then after 4 weeks started feeling strange headache at the back end of my head near the neck my so much joint pain and my hair started falling out soon after I went on this biktarvy. It falls off in a strange way like circles or ringworm but I don't mind that too because its painless and I wear wigs all the time. But whats scaring me is the sharp headache. So now am giving it 2 weeks to see how it will go if they will be no change then I will switch"

• Tbone
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2019

"I have been HIV+ for ages (2000 officially, with no idea when or how I became +). I started out circling the drain (118 CD4). Started on a multi pill regimen that saved my life. Then went to Atripla, which kept me healthy and gave me awesomely weird dreams. :) Now I've been switched to Biktarvy. No additional side effects, but I miss my Atripla dreams!!! My Kaiser plan somehow works with big pharma to get me this for free. I don't know how. And I don't care."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2021

"Started taking Biktarvy on 12/02/21. My cd4 count was only at 30 & viral load above 2 million ... In the first 3 weeks I had very bad dreams, night sweats and a brain fog during the day, but it disappeared after then. Now, 2 months later, my cd4 count is up to 179 & viral load 100! Still have a little rash on my shoulders, back & neck, but my doctor said it will disappear when I’m above 200 cd4. For me, Biktarvy literally saved my life. The only thing I can recommend is to eat very healthy, very clean, keep on exercising & take your pills daily at the same time"

• Iman
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2019

"I was diagnosed with HIV on the 25th of August 2019. My CD4 was 208 Cells and my VL was over 10 million. I started using Biktarvy on the 3rd of September and on the 25th of September so only 22 days after my results came back. My CD4 went up to 697 Cells and my VL went down to only 3600! This is just amazing. When I started using Biktarvy I had side effects like foggy head, had muscle pain usually on the legs and a lot of sweating at night while sleeping. This went all away after appx. 2 weeks. Time to time I still feel tired and have a foggy head but apparently it is normal."

• Babyg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2019

"Was diagnosed in Oct 2018. CD4 was 0 viral load unknown. One month after taking it viral load was 67,700 CD4 was 50. Two months after starting it viral load 25 (undetectable) and CD4 283. No side effects at all. I haven't felt this well in years."

• NAano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 21, 2019

"I was diagnosed with HIV infection on May 23 2019 with a viral load of 97k and a CD4 count of about 500-600. With Biktarvy, I have had no noticeable side effects. I have been very tired but that may have something to do with the time of year or with the actual HIV infection. Within 3 weeks my viral load went from 97,000 to 144 and within 3 weeks more, I was undetectable."

• tk1194
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2019

"After being on Atripla for 10 years, undetectable and CD4 600, my Dr. asked if I wanted to try Biktarvy. She said it is more refined blah blah so I went on it. It seems to be fine, no blips or changes. I did start to have crazy dreams which I didn't get with Atripla. I do want to comment about the blood pressure and kidney's since I see a lot of people mentioning it. here. My blood pressure is suddenly high, and kidney function tests are off. This started recently. Hopefully will subside."

• 30Som...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

"Diagnosed with HIV in June 2019 by my family doctor, Followed up with a specialist in August. My blood work came back a with a VL of 306,000 and my CD4 count was 79. Started Biktarvy August 15, today will be my fourth dose and I already feel better. The swollen lymph node on the back of my neck has reduced in size and I feel more awake and energized in the morning, compared to being sluggish and all around exhausted even though I had gotten 8+ hours of sleep. Over all it seems to be working with no side effects so far, I go back in September for follow up blood work, I will updated my progress then!"

• Steve
• September 15, 2019

"I've been taking this medication for ten days now. On day four, I started struggling with insomnia. On day six, I started to notice tingly and itchy skin (all over) and would struggle with night sweats. On day eight, I started to break into hives in my upper torso. My doctor has insisted that I continue to take this medication along with an antihistimine, which has brought on its own side effects, namely headache and nausea. Stribild, by contrast, had no side effects."

• Bill
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 2, 2021

"I want to warn anyone taking this medication who may have similar genetics to mine. My experience with Biktarvy over the past 6 years was awful and I was not even fully aware, or informed of the details of it once I was until way later. I am someone who loves to workout and build muscle. It caused a lot of issues in the muscle building process which hindered my growth, gave me weak wrists/hands, made me feel fatigued, and it also made me extremely gassy and gave me foul smelling stools (I almost think it gave me a sort of food allergy while taking it). My doctor eventually concluded that I may be having some mitochondrial toxicity from TAF/FTC which is unusual but not impossible. I switched to Juluca which is an NRTI sparing regimen and have not had any of the above symptoms"