declining kidney function from Truvada

[Guest guest]

Hi ,I'm not an expert on kidney function, although I do have chronic kidney disfunction as well, as a result of medications I took many years ago to treat a potentially deadly opportunistic infection. There is a two drug combo that is often used in place of Truvada called Epzicom. Like Truvada, it is a combo pill made up of two drugs, Abacavir and Epivir. Abacavir sometimes causes allergic reactions which can become life-threatening, and a test is available to determine if you are likely to have such a reaction. I do not know if your health plan will pay for that test. The other alternative would be to try it, and stop immediately if you have any of the symptoms of the Abacavir reaction, which will be listed on the insert you get with your prescription. If you ever

have such a reaction (or have had such a reaction) to Abacavir, it is important that you NEVER take Abacavir again.I am currently on a regimen that does not include either Truvada or Epzicom: Raltegravir, Viramune, and Epivir, and it is working quite well for me, with no further decline in kidney function. Without knowing what drugs you have taken in the past and whether you have resistance to any of those medications, I couldn't tell you if this regimen would work for you. If you have not taken Raltegravir before, you might be able to substitute it for your Truvada, although since Truvada is a two drug pill, you might want to consider continuing with Emtriva (the drug in Truvada that is not likely to cause kidney damage), or Epivir, a drug that is essentially the same as Emtriva.If your blood pressure is even slight above normal (120/80), you probably should be on blood pressure medication to control it. High blood pressure can cause

further decline in kidney function, and controlling blood pressure is one easy way of preserving kidney function. Also, avoid ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and other drugs in the NSAID class. Tylenol/acetominophen is OK for your kidneys, but probably hard on your liver, which may be damaged from Hep C. Eating a healthy diet that is not too high in protein will also help preserve kidney function. If possible, try to get a referral to a nephrologist (kidney specialist) who can advise you and your doctor on your treatment.I volunteer at Project Inform's HIV Health Infoline, and I would encourage you to call the Infoline where I or one of the other operators could discuss with you your health concerns and perhaps help you find a regimen that will not damage your kidneys further. We can also give you a phone number that your doctor can call to consult with specialists in HIV care at the University of California San Francisco (at no

cost). I would encourage you to call us at 1 (800) 822-7422, from 10 am to 4 pm, California time.