Efavirenz / emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Zou...
• April 29, 2013

For HIV Infection "Diagnosed in 2008: CD4 4, viral load 50k, pneumonia, TB (liver). Hospitalized for two weeks and slowly recovered. Brilliant, calm, methodical physician saved my life. Blood levels dropped within 2 weeks to undetectable, CD4 permanently hovering under 200. Permanent prophylaxis with Purbac DS. But in 5 years, not even a cold, no diarrhea, no more headaches. The greatest, most wonderful gift of life after the most terrible, frightening decline into the bleak realization I was full blown. I am stronger now in my mid-50s than I have been for the last 15 years. No side effects. My dreams were always kind of crazy. Now they just seem better scripted. GET TESTED EARLY. GET THE REST OF YOUR LIFE BACK."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2012

For HIV Infection "I have been taking Atripla for just over 24 months. I was recommended to start after my CD4 dropped to around 400 after 2 years of contracting the virus. I was advised to take it before bed, did this for the first 2 months and suffered vivid dreams and also insomnia. 3 months later, a month of diarrhea. I decided to move my dose until around 5 pm on an empty stomach so I could then eat my dinner for around 6:30 pm each night. I usually go to bed before midnight and have had no further issues with sleep or any other side effects. CD4 on average around 1000 and undetectable. Just weird having to take medicines when you feel fine. I hope I get another 20 years from this medication, by this time I'm sure there will be advancements in treatment."

• Ken...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 11, 2020

For HIV Infection "I was on Atripla for 10 years, and my doctor begged me to switch for years. Then finally, about a year ago, I took that leap of faith she said to take and got on Genvoya. Ever since, I have felt ill and heavy, tired feeling! I puked last night and had diarrhea! I felt like death rolled over me. So today, I called my HIV doctor, and she said it’s too detrimental for my health, but she gave it to me for 10 years. When I switched, my labs were fine! She hates Atripla, and I guess if it’s people’s last option, they die because she won’t give it out! Also, she put in my medical records that it’s detrimental to my health after she lied to me about it being discontinued! She also put in my record that Genvoya is the drug she wants me on, even though it’s being detrimental to my health right now! I’m not taking Genvoya anymore because I can’t handle what it does."

• Bar...
• April 13, 2012

"Some diarrhea, but not often."