The official blog of The Project Red Ribbon Care Management Foundation, Inc. (TRR).

  • TRR LOVE FUND

    TRR Love Fund is the arm of the foundation which provides medical assistance to the financially challenged PLHIV.

  • Care assistance for HIV Test

    The Care Assistant Program involves assistance to HIV testing and HIV and AIDS Treatment hubs in the Philippines. Our volunteers schedule the client to the clinic or hub, assist with the procedure in the clinic or hub and conduct peer counseling

  • HOTLINE ASSISTANCE

    With the TRR Hotline Numbers, our volunteers answer concerns and inquiries about HIV and AIDS, do counselling, refers clients to nearest HIV Testing facility, HIV and AIDS Treatment Hub and government and NGO organizations for support

  • PEER COUNSELING

    The foundation volunteers conduct one-on-one counseling either on the phone or in person. They also conduct group counseling

  • SUPPORT GROUP TALK

    The support group talk (SGT) is a program that involves giving HIV lectures by guest speakers, discuss topics about HIV, care, treatment and support, discussion issues related to HIV

  • OUTREACH PROGRAM

    The foundation's outreach program is geared towards providing support to our fellow PLHIV's in the HIV and AIDS Treatment Hubs. Volunteers hand out of donations of medicines and special gifts to PLHIV, give inspirational talks by invited guests to a group of PLHIV, bonding over snacks or meal, visit the sick who are confined in the hospital

  • Referral System

    As part of treatment, the foundation's referral program involves our volunteers referring clients to specialized doctors who are HIV friendly. The foundation has it's own list of specialty doctors of low cost for the indigent PLHIV.

  • Online Support Group

    The foundation has a private Online Support Group in facebook. This group of advocates, supporters, counselors, health Workers and PLHIV

  • Home Health

    Aside from client counselling, the foundation volunteers also do family counselling and home visitation for awareness and continuance of care.

  • Health Fitness

    The foundation believes in holistic approach to treatment and care, thus inclusion of these programs: yoga, dance, swimming, jogging and running, boot camp workouts

  • EVENTS

    As part of awareness and education program, the foundation organizes its own national events to coincide with the international AIDS events: World AIDS Day and International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Showing posts with label ARV Side Effects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ARV Side Effects. Show all posts

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Skin Itchiness and Redness

im starting arv po,.pumasa aq sa trial,.but after two days ngka alergy aq,.normal nmn cbc at urine q maliban sa wbc,.pls reply po,.Nu po ggawin koh,.sabi ng doctor dto sa amin,.(2 hrs travel kase kami to davao kya d aq sa hact pumunra) sabi ng doctor reactions lng daw tong redness sa body qo na makati,.pls advice

bom 


Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Email 439: Questions About ARV's

hello pozzie, i am in my trial period for efav.

i take my lami zido at 8am and 8pm then later on take efav 9pm

i feel so dizzy waking up until afternoon or even until dinner time. im on my third week of taking the efav 

i can describe the feeling like being tipsy after a couple of drinks,.and it does not go away,. does it mean the meds dont wont for me or just bec my cd4 count is low 74,. it is really taking time to adjust? 

i am willing to undergo medication pozzie, i need ur help,. has someone advised u of the sme situation? prolonged dizziness?  

Email 437: ARV Side Effects

hi pozziepinoy,

i have questions regarding the side effects of having an hiv. i was hospitalized last august 2013 and diagnosed of ptb then my doctor consulted me to take cd4 test and hiv test. after the result of those tests im positive first week of december this year. right now im taking arv last december 18, but I'm sometimes i felt tired and dizzy and one of my concern the itchiness part of my body. what can i do? i want to take exercise but my body is not doing good

incredible

Email 436: Side Effects?

I'm taking lamuvidine and efavirenz now and i feel that my stomach and head hurts?...what shall i do?...ty...

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi.

Thank you for your email.

You need to see your HIV doctor or visit your HIV Treatment hub as soon as possible. What you may be feeling are side effects of the ARV's that you are taking or could be something else. ONLY your HIV doctor who holds your medical history can decide on this matter.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.


Stay healthy,
Pozziepinoy

Friday, December 20, 2013

Email 417: Losing Hope!


Pozzie,

I need your help. I'm starting to loose my confidence due to some side effects of ARVs. I have wound-like / blisters in my arms and in my face. What are my options to hide these wounds aside from wearing long sleeves and make-up?

Thank you!
                                                                     

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Email 403: Questions on Side Effects

Hi Pozziepinoy,

First let me give my wholehearted thanks to this blog which helps me a lot in knowing what steps should I make since I was diagnosed positive of HIV. I was located in Qatar by the time that I discovered that I have the said condition but the result there was not clear yet so I went back to the Philippines and had my HIV test here. Then I confirmed that I was indeed one of the Pozzies.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Email 380: Dealing with the Side Effects

Dear Pozziepinoy,

This is me from last night, thank you for the response, when i was experiencing sickness caused by ARV.  I really appreciate that you were able to answer me, and ask some assistance from the doctors and from Gerald as well.  Right now, wala na akong lagnat, this Morning I did not take Neviriapine anymore but still continued with lami/zidu.  At late noon, nawala na rin yung pagduduwal ko, like the usual that I experience for the past 12 days after I stopped Nevirapine, just this morning.

Yet  I still have sour taste bud, maybe because of lami/zidu.  And I'm still having pain on the lower right part of my stomach, since yesterday, I hardly  can move and stand quickly.  I hope this is not a damage on my kidney or liver.  And also headache

I will go back to RITM ARG on November 15, on Friday, 7 days after I stopped Nevirapine,  (I hope my leave will be approved on that date) .

Thank you pozziepinoy for the help.  God bless you.

RC

Friday, November 1, 2013

Email 727: ARV's and Neuropathy

Hi Pozzie,

Good day. Im R, 28. May question lang ako sa condition ko, naghahanap ako sa blog mo kung may related sa nararamdaman ko ngayon kaso wala ko mahanap. But first, let me tell you my story. I have myself checked last August 2013 in RITM satellite Malate & unfortunately it turned out positive. I was referred to RITM-ARG and already started my ARVs last September 2013 - avocomb and efavirenz but one month later my doctor changed it to lamivudine, tenofovir & efavirenz. I was also diagnosed with acute TB and  
already started my meds.

Last September, my foot started to numb - paresthesia daw tawag dun sabi ng sister kong nurse. Umakyat na sya hanggang legs ko. Ang hirap maglakad, parati ako na-oout of balance. Im taking vit b complex for one month now pero wala pa rin ako nafefeel na improvement. Now kay langan ko ng saklay or tungkod para makalakad. Nagwoworry nako baka malumpo ko soon.

Help naman pozzie, do you know someone who has the same case?

R


Thursday, October 31, 2013

Email 725: Having Fever on Trial Period

Good Day!!!

I'm Mike, i would like to ask if you had fever on your first week that you're taking your ART Meds? If not, what are the side effects that you've experience on the ART meds that you're taking?

Thanks and Best Regards,
Mike


Email 724: Feeling the Side Effects of Efavirenz

Hi. Thank you for all the encouragement and the information that your blog provides, and it has been a great help in my journey since last September when I was confirmed to be HIV+.

I recently had my change of ARV since Nevirapine gave me the expected fever and rashes. Just yesterday I started taking Efavirenz as a new measure.

I took the Efav last night by 10PM and tried to sleep and I noticed that when I was roused from slumber at about 1AM I was really dizzy like I was high on something and I was kept in this state even after I woke up at 8AM to take my Lami/Zido this morning. What's weird is that as I am writing to you now at about 3PM I am still a bit tipsy and rather "floating" or aloof in thoughts...

Is this normal for the first take of Efav? Is there any measure to lessen this experience?

Thank you very much and God keep you.

-Maroon Boy

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Email 672: ARV Side Effects


Hi, Pozzie Pinoy! 

Just call me Squidmarked. I was diagnosed HIV+ in Feb of this year. My CD4 was 308 thus I started my ARV's already. I'm into 3 months in my regimen which comprises of Lamivudine/Zidodine & Efavirenz which I believe you're taking too. I just wanna ask if you experienced gastric problems - belching, bloating, rumbling - when you were starting on these medications. I informed my doctor about this & she said it will go away eventually. 
Thank you so much. 

Squidmarked

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Email 655: Side Effects of Efavirenz


I have just started my ARV's and I feel not better after taking the efavirenz. I feel dizzy and it seems I'm floating. Is that normal? What should i do to avoid the side effects?

thanks
M

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Email 558: Concerned About Liver Isues


Good morning, 

Pozzie tatanung ko lang. Its my 6th day sa ARV Treatment ko, worried lang ako kasi yung 2nd med na nireseta sakin ay nevirapine and ayon sa mga nababasa ko it can highly damage yung liver? Pagbalik ba namin sa doctor for refill i check nya ba kami kung nagkaroon kami ng liver damage and kung kailangan ng ALT test? How much yung ALT test sa RITM- ARG o free ba sya? And what if mataas ang ALT mo what do they usually advice you?

Thanks, 
XXX

TRANSLATION

Good morning.

Pozzie can I ask you. It's my 6th day with my ARV treatment. I am worried because my 2nd medicine that was prescribed to me was nevirapine and from what I have been reading, it can highly damage the liver. When I come back to the doctor for refill, will they check if I have liver damage and if I need an ALT test? How much is the ALT in RITM-ARG or is it free? What if the ALT is high? What do they usually advice you.


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Email 545: Hospitalization on Initial ARV Treatment?


Ask ko lang initial medication ba for hiv, u need to be hospitalized or absent tlg s work?  or hindi naman kc lahat naman iniinom?  are there extreme cases that hiv positive initial medication kailangan nya mahospital?

TRANSLATION

I would like to ask if during the initial HIV medications, one needs to be hospitalised or be absent from work? Or not, since everything is taken orally? Are there extreme cases that an HIV positive gets hospitalized because of the medications?

Email 543: Itchiness and Dry Skin?


Hi sir..

hope ur doin fine..

Sir I just wanna ask hav u experience some rashes or itchy part on ur body?Its my 3rd month of ARV meds teno,Lamifu,efav..or maybe im just experiencing some allergies to my pet dog or sometimes when Im not using my aircondition & began to sweat 

I easly get rashes on some part of my body like neck,shoulders but its not that as extreme & if I  turn on my aircondition & started to cool my itchiness & rashes began to fade.

Before I dont experience this situation & also does it affect our skin when taking ARV's, on my part sometimes my face, behind my ears are dry or flaky. In order to get rid of those drynes I use moisturiser all over my face including my ears & neck. 

Hoping to have a quick response from you sir for now I cant go to my doctor due to weather conditions & its located in PGH.Again thank you sir & God bless you.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Email 524: Needs Help!


Hi pozzie,

I was diagnozed as PLHIV last June, along with that I have pneumonia and TB. Also i have Hepa B. RITM Alabang is my hub. 

I started first with my TB medicines on July 12. After 2 weeks I was allowed to take ARV meds. Im taking: 

Tenofovir
Efavirenz
Lamivudine (2 pcs) 

So my routine is 
TB MEDS - before i eat in the morning

Sunday, August 11, 2013

How Can I Protect My Liver?

(Source: 100 Questions and Answers About HIV and AIDS, 2nd edition, by Joel Gallant, MD, MPH)

The liver is a vitally important organ, though many people are unclear about what it actually does. Its functions are too numerous to list completely, but it's involved in metabolism, the chemical reactions that take place in the cells of the body, including the detoxification of many of the drugs we use to treat HIV. It makes proteins, stores fuel for the body, and secretes hormones and bile, which helps with digestion of food. Since it's so important, it's a good idea to keep it healthy.

Many antiretroviral drugs hurt the liver. Almost all of the PI's can cause liver damage, but usually only in people who have chronic hepatitis B or C. nevi rapine (Viramune) can be harmful to the liver, especially in women  with high CD4 counts. Stavudine (d4T, Zerit) and zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir, Combivir, Trizivir) can be harmful, too, especially if you also have lactic acidosis. Other medications commonly taken by HIV-positive people, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, can also cause liver toxicity. Here are some tips for lowering your risk.


Friday, July 26, 2013

Diarrhea and ARV's

Source: The ART of Adherence, HIV Counseling Toolkit".

While HIV Infection and other illnesses can cause diarrhoea, it is also a frequent side effect of ART, especially in the aerly weeks after starting on ART. Diarrhea is usually defined as more than 4 loose or watery stools per day for more than 3 days.

It is difficult for your body to get enough nourishment and fluids when you have diarrhoea. make sure you drink water or some kind of electrolyte solution. Eat small, frequent meals and avoid dairy products, greasy food, or foods with a lot of fat. If necessary, your provider will advise you to take some kind of over-the-counter or prescription medication for your diarrhea.

Most Commonly Caused By: Most ART drugs to some degree, especially protease inhibitors (PI's). Some NRTI's cause diarrhoea more frequently than others, especially in combination formulations.

What To Do: Take your medications exactly as directed and let your provider know if you experience diarrhoea. You should also call your provider if your diarrhoea gets worse, or if you have fever, nausea, vomiting or pain along with it.

Feeling Tired with ARV's

Source: The Art of Adherence, An HIV Counseling Toolkit.

Feeling tired is one of the most common side effects of HIV infection. However, if you feel more tired than usual after starting ART, that fatigue may be caused by the ARV's

Most Commonly Caused by:  ALL ARv's to some degree for the first few weeks, but especially zidovudine, lamivudine and combination regimens that include both drugs.

What To Do: Fatigue should go away as your body gets used to your ART regimen. For some patients, fatigue continues beyond the first few eels; if that's the case for you, talk to your provider. It may be necessary to change your ART regimen, especially if it includes zidovudine.


Upset Stomach or Vomiting with ARV's?

I wanna share with you one common side effect of ARV's. I got this from "The ART of Adherence, An HIV Counselling Toolkit".

May people experience an upset stomach or vomiting when starting ART (or ARV). Most of the time these symptoms are temporary, but your provider may do tests to make sure that theyr're not being caused by a reaction to the medication or by some other condition.