Re: Re:drug holiday?

[Guest guest]

Before we had triple therapy a small percentage of people were able to remain undetectable, at least for a period of time. Truvada is two drugs and maybe you can remain undetectable with just that and you are not getting any virological control from the Reyataz. I would definetly ask my doctor for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of the reyataz. They should draw the blood around the time just before you take your next dose. We all metabolize drugs at different rates, but most people are pretty close to each other, but there are some who have genetic mutations that affects drug metabolism. I believe that we should make our own medical decisions but in order to do that we should be well informed about the decisions we make. We tend to see only the positives but we should also be aware of the consequences. I really believe that you should do this test in order to be well informed about your decision.

Sousa

---- Original Message ----

From: Camel66@...

Sent: Wed, Jul 28, 2010 2:47 pm

Subject: Re:drug holiday?

I have a similar situation. I tested poz in 2001. I have been showing undetectable since 2005. Most meds made me feel like I had taken too much so I took a drug holiday for 6 months, after which my viral count was 1250. Since then I have been taking one Truvada and one 200mg Reyataz each Monday Wednesday Friday -- and NO Norvir. I am not advocating that anyone else try this. But I do think that many allergic reactions to HIV meds might be simply an overdose. We are all unique and process the meds differentlly. In my case, they apparently remain in my body much longer than what the Pharms claim is normal. I just want to sound off as another successful exception to the regimen rule.

[Guest guest]

Again, I am sincerely glad for your continuing good health. It's very difficult to speculate on the reasons that one individual's health is good, even while doing things that are not generally seen as "healthy." Everybody has a great aunt who smokes two packs a day, and who at 87, is doing fine.Medicine by no means claims to understand all. There are obviously mountains of material concerning HIV that are not well understood. There are also abundant studies to suggest that for most individuals, what you are doing is a great way to create resistant virus, and a lousy way to control HIV. I must respect your choice, even if I don't agree with it at all. It would be irresponsible of me, however, to leave others with the impression that this was a reasonable course of action for most people. It is not, and the reasons why are very, very well known.JBPS, If the Aviation profession were so all-knowing, we'd have space travel.On Jul 29, 2010, at 11:18 PM, s wrote:On some levels it may not be good for us to give other people advice, since there are so many factors into why things happen.Basically, nobody knows. If the medical profession where so all knowing we'd have an effective vaccine or cure. We don't, so everyone has to do the best he or she can do.

On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 9:44 AM, Barrow <barrowster@...> wrote:

"I have been showing undetectable since 2005. Most meds made me feel like I had taken too much so I took a drug holiday for 6 months, after which my viral count was 1250. Since then I have been taking one Truvada and one 200mg Reyataz each Monday Wednesday Friday -- and NO Norvir. I am not advocating that anyone else try this. But I do think that many allergic reactions to HIV meds might be simply an overdose. We are all unique and process the meds differentlly."

While you may be doing well, now, long term, I think this is an invitation to drug resistance. Chronic low dosing of antiretrovirals is a very bad idea.

A full on drug holiday would be safer, if you're determined to go that route.

JB