Genvoya for HIV Infection User Reviews (Page 4)

• spain
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2017

"The first day was awful... nausea, vomiting for hours, stomach ache that started about 8 hours after taking the pill (and lasted about 5 or 6 hours). I stopped it for one week cause it was Xmas time and had to stay at my parents house. The second time I took it it was the same, nausea and vomit for hours. But the day after I took the pill again after dinner and the side effects disappeared, except for the over production of gas, which is still happening after two weeks. But it seems to work very fast... the ganglions are decreasing dramatically!"

• Stink...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2017

"I have been taking truvada, selzentry, lexiva, norVir for 10 yrs..was not happy about some of these meds being discontinued..I am allergic to alot of meds. I have been positive since"87". I have been undetectable for 8. T-cells are 285. I have been taken genvoya for 1 month, 1 week. 1st week was rough..nausea, diarrhea, fever....but I stuck it out. Hope this medicine helps us all. Do not give up.."

• Patty...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 10, 2017

"I was diagnosed May of 2011, and I am 23, yes that's 6 years. I was put on genvoya 6 or 7 months ago. I was switched to this medication from atripla where I was having issues with weight because of constant diarrhea. Since switching to this med my weight has stabilized and the side effects of this medication are minor compared to others. I have been undectable since 2012 so that didn't have room for improvement on that. My CD4 has went down a little but my CD4 can go up and down 200 points within a 6 month span and be normal, so otherwise all is well."

• Anthony
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2018

"I found out I was diagnosed with HIV last week. My C count was 770 in my viral load was 970000. I’ve had horrible diarrhea and nausea, I am weak so hoping it’ll pass. I’m having trouble sleeping and I feel really uncomfortable with no appetite. Does it get better is my question? I do dream but they’re not horrible dreams. It’s three in the morning now and all I can do is sit on the toilet as my food turns into liquid. Please somebody with experience Help me..."

• Tom
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 2, 2022

"I was diagnosed with HIV 5 years ago, and I have been taking Genvoya ever since. I did not experience many side effects, luckily. Although, I would say I can get tired easier, and sometimes have issues with recalling events, but this might be just me getting older. Btw I'm 27. However, I was just recently diagnosed with EPI - exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which was quite a surprise for me as I have a fairly healthy lifestyle; going to the gym, and being on a vegetarian diet. The doctors could not give me a definitive answer, so I also started to do some research, and I came across some papers which mentioned that patients on antiretroviral therapy can develop pancreatic insufficiencies. I'm not 100% sure that it correlates, but I don't see another possible reason."

• Rock
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2018

"I was diagnosed with HIV one year ago and my viral load was in the thousands and my cd4 was at 253. After 4 months on genvoya I was undetectable and cd4 was 450. The genvoya made me healthy again and no side effects. I now have a future to look forward to because genvoya gave me a second chance at living a healthy life."

• Richard
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 19, 2018

"This is my 4th update since my HIV diagnosis. Now 20 months on Genvoya (my first and only HIV drug so far). CD4 count now 576, up from 326 back on 07/2016. An increase of 100 in the past 6 months alone. I am sorry to hear the previous poster did not respond well to Genvoya, but shame on him to allege others here are not telling the truth about our experiences. My experience with this drug has been very good. I do remember some very, very vivid dreams early on but they gradually subsided. I do worry that my white blood cell count has dropped well below normal levels. I don't know if that has anything to do with Genvoya or just one bad test result. My cholesterol has also raised a lot since starting Genvoya, but just above normal range. I take an Omega-3 supplement which has lowered my triglycerides well. Other than those things, I am still thrilled with my blood test results so far."

• Eleison
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2019

"I did learn I'm HIV+ when I had brain hemorrhage 6 months ago because of car accident. I do not remember that days because I was in coma. Anyways after brain surgery they explained me I'm HIV poz. I did not think anything because my brain did not let me to think :) but I started my treatment with Genvoya 4 months ago. After 20 days since I started taking that pill I turned negative VL. Except disgusting acnes and fat I have been had no other side effects for now. Even I though I am positive I am happy because I turned back from death. Brain is more important I did learn."

• Danny
• October 4, 2017

"Diagnosed with HIV1 5 weeks ago. 190000 Viral Load and only 280 CD4 Was given Genvoya almost immediately. A little dizzy on day one, otherwise have not felt anything from taking medicine and lived as I always did. Try and eat healthy and exercise though. One month later down to 53 Viral Load and CD4 up to 540. I am thrilled! Hope this will stay like this. Will definitely happily keep taking this pill."

• shgdc
• March 20, 2017

"Have been on Genvoya 3.5 months. VL has dropped from 293000 to 78; CD4 is unchanged at 153. There initially were no discernible side-affects. But have noticed problems with remembering things and forgetting words and really strange dreams. I am also on Welbutrin which apparently can also affect dreams. My kidney function has declined as well and I will see a nephrologist this week. Am also on a diuretic for blood pressure which can also affect kidneys. So, we'll see."

• Jaja...
• October 19, 2018

"Diagnosed 07/22/18 with cd4 578 viral load 654,000. I started taking Genvoya 8/30/18 after one month my cd4 count is 754 viral load of 1,130. My experience on Genvoya has not been good. For the first few days I have had vivid and triggering dreams. They stopped. Then I noticed a week or so later I was starting to develop bad muscle pains in my feet legs and hips. These pains are mainly sharp cramps (charlie horses) and would happen frequently in my sleep and whenever I was cold. It felts as if I ran for miles, everyday, just always fatigued and often short of breath. On top of that, I noticed my toes and fingers were sometimes unable to move. I would lose feeling in my pinkies and pointer fingers and would have to pull them back up into place. I am 24 y/o. I’m also transgender and on HRT, take 2mg of estradiol twice daily and 100mg spironolactone twice daily. My dr. informed me HRT and ART have no effect on each other and is now switching to triumeq."

• ALEX
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2019

"Just took my first pill 1. 1/2 hours ago... A litlle tingling in the tongue, thirst and my ears are a litlle red as if someone rubbed them.. Maybe it's from emotions.. Otherwise nothing-no stomach ache-no nausea- no nothing... I'll keep you posted when I make 4 hours - this post is for starters.."

• Ajhb
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 7, 2018

"5/7/18 Here is my updated with taking genvoya. My main complaint is that it gives me chronic nightmares every time I sleep - whether it's during the day or at night. I think the reason is it's affecting my nervous system which is getting me very jittery before I go to sleep. It feels like I'm having 10 cups of coffee it is that wired jittery type of feeling. I could feel my nerves going crazy. So I'm going to talk to my doctor and have me switch off to something else even if it's temporary to see if these side effects go away. This has been happening for about 8 months I thought it would go away but it's not. Even though my body is responding very well to genvoya and keeping me undetectable and my CD4 count has been in the 850s I just can't take the crazy dreams waking me up in the middle of the night. Time to try something else."

• Play...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2018

"I’ve been HIV positive for at least 15 years. Maybe 16. That’s when I found out about it. I started on combivir & sustiva. Worked really good. I’ve been off any meds for about 8 years due to financial issues or whatever. I just never got sick. My doctor said I was a genetic miracle. I even partied some. The past 6 months or so I could tell I might need to start treatment again. Well flu season hit and I got a little sick. So I immediately started Genvoya. As my doctor instructed me to. I almost immediately could tell it was working. I’ve been on it for a week and a half. I definitely feel better. Like I said almost instantly. In about another month I’ll have some lab work done and share my results. Godspeed to you guys."

• Othocal
• November 17, 2017

"I had tried other medicine for HIV and they worked but they also made me sick and depressed. I stopped taking them. Genvoya is the best! After I started taking it I got a night sweat here and there but that was about it. My viral load went from 123,000 copies to 122 in a month's time. Cd4 went from 173 to 364. Genvoya is not for everybody but if your doctor recommends it, get it!"

• Tommy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2017

"I have been taking Genvoya since September 2016. I had absolutely no side affects for the first month or two, except constantly breaking out in to small rashes on my face, chest and back which the docs claimed was not the medication. After the second month, my hands and feet started getting so tingly to the point that they'd go numb. This is still happening and now weekly vitamin B12 shots help, but not completely. I was given the B12 for severe lack of energy and always wanting to sleep, which started happening four months after in to Genvoya (shame it didn't work for that). Lastly, my bones feel weaker than ever. Hey, I can deal with this, as the alternative of no meds is one I don't ever want to face."

• Anonymous
• March 31, 2018

"In 2010 was diagnosed with HIV so started Isentress and truvada. 2 weeks later was undetectable. Isentress at that time was 400mg twice daily with truvada once daily. Then Isentress changed formulation to once daily. Remained undetectable until last week. Changed to genvoya 6 months ago simply for 2 pill once a day...and now my viral load is 54 copies per ml. CD 4 is highest its ever been in 8yrs at 1386. I have had no side effects. I want to get back to less than 50 copies per no and being undetectable but with genvoya you must take it with food. For a while I was fairly inconsistent with this .....hopefully better news in 3-6 months"

• Taket...
• June 10, 2017

"Start with 500 000VL 10cd4 Was taking Genvoya for 6 months and it couldn't get me undetectable. My doc said that genvoya it's not working with other patients too.. Otherwise no serious side effects... If you start with low VL that's the best drug for you."

• Fearf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2022

"I was on atripla for 10years and then I went to Genvoya for 2 years then back to atripla for 2 years! I switched back to Genvoya because atripla is more toxic because it has more tenofovir in it! My protein in my urine was 100mg meaning my kidneys was leaking but lucky my kidneys did not get damaged from what I was told! I was so scared because I felt like I was poisoned on the inside out and the taste was even more toxic! I felt like I was dying and went to the emergency room 12 times in a month and no one believed me on how I felt until they did urine test and said I was peeing sugar! I called my HIV doctor and went back to Genvoya because it only has 10mg of tenofovir in it compared to atripla that has 300mg of tenofovir! I’ll stick Genvoya and take heavy legs over my kidneys dying any die and you would be wise if you did the same thing!"

• Dragon
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2018

"I shared some feedback about Genvoya about 1mo ago (under the same name - Dragon), and wanted to share more. After just 8wks on this drug my VL is 70 (from 33000) and my CD4 is 760 (from 510). I am so happy! My treatment nurse was all smiles delivering these results. I've had a Hep B and HPV innoculation today, too. We're monitoring my BP as from a regular norm of 140/95, today it was 101/90. This is good, but we're obviously aware of potential interactions, even though none are cited for my hypertension meds."

• Truet...
• October 11, 2017

"Shortly after I was infected in Mar 2017 the HIV wreaked havoc on my nervous system with some horrible peripheral neuropathy pain. Diagnosed on May 11 and started Genvoya in June with a class of 12,000 and cd4 of 660, one month later my class was 40 and cd4 increased to 822. Unlike most of the reviewers above I do have more side effects. The neuropathy is better thank God, but I have tiredness, sleeplessness, some abdominal pain, and lightheadedness. All that considered this medicine is what I call a wonder pill because it just works period. Due to the fact that cobicistat works with the liver I take it at night before bed so my liver will be at rest while the Genvoya does it’s thing. This was not my first choice so thanks Doc!"

• Richard...
• September 22, 2017

"Latest update. After 13 months on Genvoya (my first and only HIV med so far), my latest blood test showed the virus still undetectable (<20), which is great. So this medicine is still doing it's thing as advertised. No complaints there. However, my CD4 T-cell count has already plateaued. I went from 471 in March to 478 in September. I try not to get too jazzed about one test result, but this was a big disappointment for me. I was hoping to be right down the middle of the Genvoya-patient bell curve, with my CD4 count still gaining about 10 cells per month after six months on the drug. But this does not appear to be the case for me. That is not a fault of Genvoya, as far as I can tell. I just happen not to be a strong responder."

• CW2021
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2021

"Remember this is a place people share their experience. In 2001 I tested positive. Genvoya is my 2nd HIV medicine. I was told it had less medicine in just the right way and to put Truvada in the rearview mirror. My VL and CD has not gone up or down. Side effects in this medicine I have not experienced. I have mental health issues that come along so it's a tight rope knowing what is causing what."

• Dragon
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2018

"I was diagnosed HIV positive in April of this year. After lengthy discussions with my treatment nurse we mutually decided to start treatment as my labs were 'good' - VL 33000 & CD4 510; meaning this was caught early. I've been on Genvoya for 1 month so far and all is good. I already suffer high cholesterol so take G in the morning to prevent interaction with atorvastatin taken at night. Suffering just 1 day of extreme nausea, I think this was down to not eating with the tablet as per advice. I was rushing as late for work. I'm keeping an eye on tiredness as often feel like a short nap around lunch time. This is unusual for me. My BP (blood pressure) and DM2 (Diabetes mellitus type 2) remain stable. I just had my bloods taken a few hours ago and have to wait 2 weeks for first results whilst on this regimen. My adherence is also 100% so generally hopeful."

• Scotl...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 1, 2021

"Been on genvoya for around 6 years after having been on stribild for 2. No major side effects at the start but gradually my mental health has struggled with anxiety/panic and now feel depression is setting in. Fatigue has also become a real issue. Not sure if this is related to genvoya or not but have asked the clinic if I can try switching to rule it out. Having done some reading on others though, genuinely not sure what will be best to try. I should add that my numbers have been good on this."