Dovato for HIV Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

• sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2022

"Started on Dovato April 17 of this year after being on Triumeq for 5 years. I have had a cough, headaches, and body aches since early May. Also bizarre dreams, so tired I can't do anything. I see my doctor Monday to go over blood work. Praying she switches me back."

• Mig...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 28, 2024

"I was diagnosed in Nov 2022. Dovato was prescribed, and within 2 months I was undetectable. Even with being undetectable, I developed hypogonadism. That is when the testicles stop producing testosterone due to injury or infection. Whenever I take the Dovato, my scrotum starts to itch severely. I am not sure if it's the medication, but I do wonder if others are having the same experience?"

• Ban...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2023

"I was diagnosed with HIV in 2020, but I didn't seek treatment until 2022. I was prescribed Biktarvy (bictegravir + tenofovir alafenamide + emtricitabine). It got me undetectable in three months, but I developed lactic acidosis, which is a dangerous condition. I felt weak and more tired than usual, I also developed unusual muscle pain, shortness of breath while lying in bed, extreme stomach and intestinal pain with nausea, bloating, weight gain, and cold blue hands and feet. I also felt lightheaded and developed a fast, abnormal heartbeat. I changed doctors, and I asked to be placed on Dovato. It's now been four months, and I'm still undetectable, and my CD4 count is high. I'm feeling much healthier and more active. Biktarvy will surely work for others, and it will get you to undetectable fast, which is a good start. I believe that Dovato is the right medication for me. Don't feel scared, and start treatment as soon as possible, and you'll have a better chance of a normal life like me."

• NJ ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2022

"HIV+ since 2012, started on Stribild, then Genvoya, then Biktarvy, and now Dovato. Dr. switched me because of slightly decreasing kidney function labs over the years. Dovato maintained undetectable, labs are all good, undetectable, and renal function has stayed the same. I do notice some mild depression on Dovato, but nothing real horrible... I give it a 10/10."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2022

"Been on it 5 weeks, changed from Atripla. My legs feel weak. I get leg cramps at night, don’t sleep so much, and my hair feels thinner than before. Seem to be putting on weight fast. Gonna stay with it."

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2023

"Poor. Intense joint pain in both ankles, swollen left knee after 2 months, found this osteonecrosis to be a common side effect with 5 other members of an HIV peer support group who were also taking Dovato. A friend that lives in Nigeria (where the US Embassy pays for the distribution of HIV medication) was taking another combination that also contains lamivudine, his osteonecrosis was spinal. His clinic changed his medication upon request. Lamivudine is not safe. I'm in the UK, where HIV medication is distributed for free by the NHS."

• Jas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2022

"I love this drug, first diagnosed in Nov 2021. I’m concerned, as it was my first drug, and read things about using Dovato as the first line of defense against HIV. Within four months, I was undetectable. I go for blood work in 2 weeks to see if it has come back down, keeping fingers crossed. No side effects that I’ve noticed, except for the weird vision and occasional diarrhea."

• Fea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2023

"I have been taking Dovato for a year now, but I constantly feel full and hungry at the same time. I have gained 30 lbs and slowed down a lot. Sometimes, I feel sad and have dark thoughts that I don't like, but my viral load and CD4 count are excellent. I have decided to go back to Atripla, which I took for 10 years and made me look healthy, with a model's frame and generally happy with my life. After Atripla, I tried Genvoya for 2 years, but it made me feel sad and like I was carrying bricks around my legs 24/7. I also gained weight rapidly and developed a kidney stone while on it, which is still in my kidney three years later. I really hope I don't have to switch medications anymore because this experience is scary and unsettling."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2021

"I've read the posts, and it seems as if this drug is not that good. I just got it today, I hope it helps me bring my CD4 count up. I have been more concerned with if it affects cholesterol or A1C. Genvoya is a good HIV drug. I hope this drug helps me. If not, I'm going back to Genvoya."

• Anonymous
• February 11, 2025

"Least side effects of all medications I took for HIV. Currently having problems with depression, anxiety, weight gain, high triglycerides, high cholesterol. I am not sure about muscle pain or just sore from workout. I am doing omega-3 ethyl esters 2 mg, niacin low flush, D3K2 vitamin. I work out hoping it will help with side effects. Last blood pressure was 145/62, pulse 52."

• 13Y...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 23, 2023

"My doctor had me switch from Triumeq to Dovato in 2019, right after it became available, because he wanted to reduce the number of drugs I was taking from three to two. I have had no issues for the past four years: my viral load remains undetectable, my T-cells have increased from under 800 to over 1200, and there have been no side effects. Definitely the right move!"

• Jos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2021

"I switched from 4 years of Triumeq to Dovato as part of a research study on the benefit of treatment with 2 drugs vs. 3 drugs. So far, so good. 2 weeks later, I didn't feel any different. I have been doing well on Triumeq: a little weight gain when I started, but otherwise okay medication. I did horribly with TDF/TAF, causing back pain and joint pain, so Biktarvy, Genvoya, or most Gilead pills are out."

• AML...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2023

"Due to another condition on my body (HC), my doctor switched me from Genvoya to Biktarvy. However, Biktarvy had interactions with Mavired, and after I was cured of HC, my doctor advised me to continue taking Biktarvy. Although I read medical reviews indicating that Biktarvy could cause rapid weight gain, I decided to switch to Dovato. I was concerned when my January lab results showed that my CD4 count had increased, but my viral load count had also gone up, which I didn't fully understand. Recently, I spoke to my doctor about this, and he suggested I continue taking Dovato while he ordered some new labs to assess my current CD4 count and viral load. I am hopeful that my CD4 count will continue to increase, while my viral load will remain undetectable, as it was when I was taking Biktarvy and Genvoya. Despite these concerns, I remain optimistic about my decision to switch to Dovato."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2023

"I was on Dovato for six months after being on Atripla for more than ten years. Suggested by my doctor as VLs were under 13 (undetectable) and CD4 stable between 650-750… but recently cholesterol levels have been going up and, most recently, some renal weakness. No significant side effects (and I could even take it during the day as it didn’t make me feel drunk like Atripla). My last stats were incredible. My blood sugar dropped by 2/3, and all other numbers for cholesterol, liver, kidney, and so on. So on those notes, EXCELLENT; I thought my alcohol intake had led to my blood sugar being very high, but it seems it was the Atripla… go figure. However, I gained at least 6 kg all in the abdomen and always feel uncomfortable and full (yet hungry?). Apparently, the weight gain is not a side effect for my type (my doctor said he had seen extreme weight gain of 15 kg, so not sure what to make of it, but due to the extra pounds I packed on, my doctor changed me to Biktarvy…"

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2022

"Switched from Descovy and Tivicay to Dovato, so 1 pill a day, which is a bit easier to manage (traveling about with one pot, bigger pill easier to handle, etc.). Felt no real difference. I had some nausea when really tired before (after lots of exercise)... that still remains with Dovato 3 weeks in... but not really a major problem. So feels like a positive step forward. I would recommend the switch if offered."

• Lee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 22, 2024

"I took Dovato for about six months because I wanted to become undetectable in order to go on the injectables. I loved Dovato. The only issue I would say is that sometimes I would wake up a little down, but not often. I went on the injectables for one month, and I hate them. One night I would sleep for eight hours, and the following night I would sleep for four. Without fail, it was weird. So I’ve decided to go back to Dovato."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 15, 2020

"Great drug so far, no side effects."

• Pos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2021

"Dovato causes side effects of neuropathy in legs, weakness in muscles, so I'm back to Tivicay, Truvada, but paresthesia in legs does not go away. Now will stop all meds. Be careful of this drug."

• You...
• January 13, 2021

"If you sport active, not take Dovato. Big muscle disorder and pain."

• Nor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 8, 2020

"Been on Dovato 8 months now and feel great. No side effects."

• Raf...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 6, 2021

"I have been on Dovato for about 8 months now. No issues. Feel fine."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 11, 2025

"I have remained nondetectable since switching to Dovato. However, I’m having a problem with dry mouth. I’m not sure what’s causing this. I like that it’s made up of only 2 medications."

• Tim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2024

"I changed from Genvoya, and I can say it's better after all. At first, I had a really sleepy mood, but I changed the time of the daily dose, so everything is perfect now."

• Hen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2025

"I don't feel any difference since taking this drug after switching from Triumeq."