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I am HIV positive. Which medicine will you prefer instead of Sustiva?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am HIV positive. I am now 11 years viral load free. My cocktail consists of Sustiva, Isentress, and Epzicom. My doctor has suggested switching me to other due to the adverse effect of Sustiva. My genotyping indicates that I have a resistance to Ziagen and Epivir. What are your thoughts in this issue?
Answered by Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sadaf Mustafa is an Internal Medicine Specialist. She can diagnose and manage complex and multisystem disease. She can treat chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. She can provide preventive care and routine health assessments. She can help in the management of infections and autoimmune diseases. She helps in the interpretation of diagnostic tests and imaging reports. She can do medication management and adjustment for long-term therapies.

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Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. It depends on which type of side effects were you having from Sustiva (Efavirenz). I would be very careful before consider switching it around since you have been in remission for so long and the viral load is suppressed. I am not sure what is the sensitivity to other NNRTI (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) since there are other medications in the same group that could be used instead of Sustiva. Also, there are alternative therapies where you can substitute the Sustiva with another class of HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). Do you have a copy of the sensitivity report with you? Can you share? Also, what are the side effects? I would suggest thinking twice before trying a different agent. But, if you have no choice, then starting a sister sensitive medication from the same class would be preferable in my opinion.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for your response. I discussed with my doctor along with the genotyping, which he had not had. We decided to go with Genvoya. What is your opinion on this? As I am sensitive to all the components of this drug, shall I start with this medicine?

Answered by Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sadaf Mustafa is an Internal Medicine Specialist. She can diagnose and manage complex and multisystem disease. She can treat chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. She can provide preventive care and routine health assessments. She can help in the management of infections and autoimmune diseases. She helps in the interpretation of diagnostic tests and imaging reports. She can do medication management and adjustment for long-term therapies.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. It is actually a very good choice. It also has the convenience of once daily dosing. Just make sure that you have been checked for HBV (hepatitis B virus) and also have no liver related issues. This combination may flare the HBV infection. Also make sure that your kidney function is being checked at baseline and also periodically. If the creatinine clearance is less than 30 consider an alternative regimen.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At April 26, 2016
Reviewed At November 26, 2024

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sadaf Mustafa is an Internal Medicine Specialist. She can diagnose and manage complex and multisystem disease. She can treat chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. She can provide preventive care and routine health assessments. She can help in the management of infections and autoimmune diseases. She helps in the interpretation of diagnostic tests and imaging reports. She can do medication management and adjustment for long-term therapies.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

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Dr. Sadaf Mustafa
Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Internal Medicine

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sadaf Mustafa is an Internal Medicine Specialist. She can diagnose and manage complex and multisystem disease. She can treat chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. She can provide preventive care and routine health assessments. She can help in the management of infections and autoimmune diseases. She helps in the interpretation of diagnostic tests and imaging reports. She can do medication management and adjustment for long-term therapies.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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