Biktarvy and Pain: What Users Say

• Lil...
• October 13, 2019

For HIV Infection "I have been HIV+ since 1999. The Biktarvy introduction was one of the worst I’ve had during my arduous journey. My entire body was in pain, exhausted, my stomach hurt, with no energy. After about 3 weeks, it started to normalize so I continued. I am finishing up my 3rd month of treatment, and things seem worse. I am very active but the pain in my gluteus, legs, and feet are horrible. When I work out, I can’t seem to recover for days. Every morning, my stomach is bloated with dull pain. I have had concerning mental blocks, I am now a med student and need to be able to recall things on demand, so this is causing challenges. Problems sleeping and often wake up in the middle of the night having the “is it worth it” moments. The other thing I have noticed is depression, something I haven’t had since my young 20s. This could all be due to the lack of sleep and the constant pain and frustration, but I just feel off. I hope sharing helps someone else."

• Lil...
• October 13, 2019

For HIV Infection "I have been HIV+ since 1999. The Biktarvy introduction was one of the worst I’ve had during my arduous journey. My entire body was in pain, exhausted, my stomach hurt, with no energy. After about 3 weeks, it started to normalize so I continued. I am finishing up my 3rd month of treatment, and things seem worse. I am very active but the pain in my gluteus, legs, and feet are horrible. When I work out, I can’t seem to recover for days. Every morning, my stomach is bloated with dull pain. I have had concerning mental blocks, I am now a med student and need to be able to recall things on demand, so this is causing challenges. Problems sleeping and often wake up in the middle of the night having the “is it worth it” moments. The other thing I have noticed is depression, something I haven’t had since my young 20s. This could all be due to the lack of sleep and the constant pain and frustration, but I just feel off. I hope sharing helps someone else."

• JJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2021

For HIV Infection "The first month on Biktarvy seemed okay, but after a month, it gave me severe spasms and pain in 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."

• MEZ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 25, 2021

For HIV Infection "Where to start? Diagnosed February 2019, CD4: 10, VL: 250,000. I was a 108 lb, 5'10 man diagnosed with wasting syndrome, cryptococcal pneumonia, and thrush. I spent a week on Descovy and Tivicay because the hospital pharmacy did not have Biktarvy. My first year was honestly rough. I was taking Bactrim, fluconazole (which is terrible), promethazine, and Zofran for my nausea. Oh yeah, 16 mg of Suboxone. Once I started to recover and get myself back on track with a routine, I actually got over 200 pounds. I'm 185 now, of muscle, and honestly only take my Biktarvy every other day, in which I have been undetectable for over a year!!! You have to fight for your life, and yes, suffer some side effects. I've been off of the Suboxone for almost a year. I deal with the leg pains at the gym, give your body a good reason to hurt, and you won't wonder why you hurt...."

• Stu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2022

For HIV Infection "Got switched to Biktarvy and was on it for 7 weeks. The first lot of bloods I was U/D still and CD4 up by 70, although I was so tired all the time and with total lack of energy. The pain in my legs made it very uncomfortable to walk. Most alarmingly, though, was the depression (I’ve had before), it was on another level for me: huge feelings of doom, agitation, and anger that were too much for me. So I reached out to the consultant and she switched me to Odefsey. Fingers crossed it will be a better experience."

• Jor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 9, 2022

For HIV Infection "After my first month taking it, I had a slip in my shower stall. A mild slip; I've done worse being intoxicated during college. Yet my thigh had an odd pain. The following day, an x-ray proved I broke my femur, the strongest bone in our bodies. Never did anyone realize to question if Biktarvy had changed my bone density, etc. Three months later, I am realizing I had been sleeping for an average of twenty hours a day, drinking copious amounts of liquids, late-night fevers of 102, night sweats, lethargic, and my cognitive skills were off; I put the ice cream in the refrigerator/walked down my stairs with a wet load of laundry when my washer and dryer are next to my bedroom. I went into the ED at a local hospital, and after a few hours of scans and tests, a doctor approached me and said I had very aggressive metastatic lesions all over my bone skeleton. That kind of news just makes a person desire to give out hugs. Five days of more tests & injected radioactive isotopes then I was released. Only RX I had."

• Dal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2021

For HIV Infection "Been taking Biktarvy for almost 2 weeks now and have started having some of the craziest dreams, leg pain, and it sounds weird, but my buttocks hurt to the point I can barely sit down, right side pain, and mild headaches. Being newly diagnosed has me a little concerned. Gonna call my doc in the morning. I think I'm getting one too many side effects to feel comfortable staying on it."

• Aug...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 12, 2022

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed in May 2019 and have been taking Biktarvy since then. I had a VL of almost 100k and a CD4 count of 500, so I started out healthier than some people. Biktarvy has been my companion through this entire experience. I have not missed a single dose. Over the past few years, I have experienced some body pains (which were fixed with physical therapy), gastric reflux (fixed by switching to a vegan diet), and nausea after taking my morning dose. I'm not sure if all or some of that has to do with Biktarvy, but they are manageable side effects for me. I have been undetectable consistently since about 3 weeks after my original diagnosis. It sucks to have the burden of needing to find a pharmacy/doctor/access to medication everywhere I move, as an international traveler, it has definitely made a difference in my ability to live abroad. But I work around it. It makes things harder, but not impossible."

• Spi...
• July 27, 2021

For HIV Infection "Does anyone have rheumatoid arthritis along with HIV? I seem to be the only one having RA and HIV according to my doctor. Please let me know what you have done to lower the pain, as I am so much in pain, and it started last year before my switch to this medication and before the Coronavirus. You can write a review here on the Biktarvy review page. Thank you!"

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 7, 2024

For HIV Infection "Muscular pain increased since taking Biktarvy and extremely tired, more than usual."