Stribild and Headaches: What Users Say

• My...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2014

For HIV Infection "My boyfriend and I were diagnosed HIV positive on January 8th. My boyfriend was near death. His CD4 was 55 and viral load at 666,000. After six weeks, his viral load is undetectable and CD4 is now 471! I started Stribild two weeks ago. My CD4 back in January was 576 and viral load at 4,624. I just went in for blood work today. I'll keep you posted. The only side effect is I'm dreaming, it can be a little intense, and I have a very mild headache in the middle of the day. Otherwise, we're doing great!"

• tea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 27, 2014

For HIV Infection "Diagnosed HIV positive in July 2013. Treatment was started immediately after my resistance tests and numbers came back from the lab. September 2013, started Stribild. Viral load 420,000, CD4 220. I was very nervous about a bad reaction to HIV meds. Viral load dropped to 320 after 30 days. CD4 up to 300. Nausea, headaches, and a buzzed, energetic feeling after taking the pill were the only side effects I felt. This only lasted about 3 weeks and came at random times. The wired feeling from the pill took a few months to go away. Dreams are intense sometimes, but not bothered by it. After the drastic viral load drop, it stayed around 100 copies for months. It took me 6 months to become undetectable, which I have remained for 4 months now."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2013

For HIV Infection "I started taking Stribild in November, so it has been almost 3 months. The first two weeks, I felt like I had a very mild hangover, a bit headachey and queasy. But very mild. It did not affect my work or anything else. After the first two weeks, those symptoms went away entirely, and I haven't had any side effects whatsoever, despite traveling and having a very active life. Before Stribild, my CD4 was around 400 and my viral load set point was around 170,000. My last test, my CD4 was 1201 and my viral load was under 200. I have insurance and a card from Gilead that pays my deductible, so the cost is zero. If you can, I would not delay or put off going on medication."

• Bkk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2013

For HIV Infection "Just finished my first bottle (30 days) of Stribild. It is my first HIV medicine. Before starting, my viral load was almost 500,000 and CD4 around 350. After 30 days (actually less because I had the blood draw a week ago), I just found out today that my viral load is already down to 101 and my CD4 is 450! I've also experienced no side effects, aside from a mild headache in the morning once or twice, which I've attributed to not drinking enough water. I couldn't be happier."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2016

For HIV Infection "I tested positive on October 4th, 2015. My viral load was around 300,000, and my CD4 was 85. I was really sick, feeling like I had the flu and chronic diarrhea. I went from 125 pounds to 108 in a month. It was very scary. I started on Stribild and Bactrim on October 7th. I had side effects of nausea and headaches on and off for the first 3 weeks, but not horrible... No worse than I was already feeling from HIV. After 30 days, I retested, and my viral load was down to 800!... and was feeling much improved. I went back after another 60 days, I had gained back 12 pounds and retested both viral load and CD4. Should have the results back this week. So far, this medication has been a godsend, and with my insurance and Gilead copay card... free!"

• Tim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2014

For HIV Infection "Taking Stribild as a post-exposure prophylactic. On day 3 of a 28-day clinical trial. At this time, the efficacy is unknown. Side effects are mild headache, bloating, and flatulence. Nothing that would cause me to discontinue treatment."

• KGP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2013

For HIV Infection "Began in April with viral over 1 million. CD4 was 109. As of May, viral load 606 and CD4 is 265. I've got ways to go. No side effects at first, but the only side effects to complain of now are slight nausea, headache, and slight diarrhea."

• The...
• August 6, 2013

For HIV Infection "I started Stribild on 06/26/13 with a viral load of 272,000 and my CD4 count at 252. Yesterday, I had my follow-up with my doctor and got the results from the blood test taken on 07/15/13. After just 20 days, my viral load went down to 550 and the CD4 went up to 394. The only side effect I experienced was a mild headache for the first couple of days. I am very happy with the results and feel very grateful to have this medicine available to me."

• Df0...
• January 24, 2016

For HIV Infection "I got diagnosed in November of 2014 that I was HIV positive, and my viral load was over 500,000, and CD4 was 6. I was started on Stribild in March of 2015, and when I went back a month later, my blood work showed that my viral load was undetected, and CD4 was 72. I had only minimal side effects for the first couple of weeks (mild headaches and tingling in fingers/feet), which went away shortly thereafter. I just went in for my checkup, and my blood work showed my viral load is less than 20, and CD4 was 79. My doctor said this is normal, especially if you're under stress, but it will improve. I go back to see her in 3 months and will post the results later. I recommend Stribild to anyone that is apprehensive about taking drugs (as I was)."

• PDX...
• August 10, 2016

For HIV Infection "Just got results after 28 days of treatment. VL from 56k down to 85, CD4 from 160 to 207. No physical side effects at all. I take it at dinner time, no issues with sleeping after a week or so. Maybe some headaches early on, but really nothing now. Even with a beer or two in the evening, I don't even notice I take it! Hoping my T-cells continue to climb, and faster; should be below 50 copies and 'undetectable' by next labs. My second round of CBC seems troublesome, but I'm hoping that's my system getting back to normal. Only supplements I take are protein/vitamin mix in the morning and one serving of matcha green tea a day (you all should really read about matcha green tea!). I hope the DR says I'm doing well in 3 days!"