yellowpup Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Hey guys, I just started taking PrEP a little over 2 weeks ago. A few days ago I started getting the shits, the runs, diarrhea. I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this and if so, when will it go away?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walkerth139 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Try taking oyster shell calcium, in the vitamin section. It tends to solidify things. Works for a lot of people who are on meds where the shits are a side effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headnurse20 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Talk with your physician about what you can take. He/she will know what meds you are on and what is safe for you and your individual circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JizzDumpWI Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Yes, similar side effects. Usually passes within a week or so. But do discuss with your doc. I stopped PrEP at the third week with side effects. Restarted after a relatively short break. For me found taking with an Omeprazole did the trick. But we're all different; so your doc and/or his PA (if he has one) can guide you on ways to quell side effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerMilner Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 As sick as I was for nine months I was fortunate not to have diarrhea as a symptom. What people are forgetting is that PrEP is HIV medication taken before the infection. It is very strong medicine. It will take your system a while to adapt to it. Imagine what it was like for the men who the early stuff? We have it easy in comparison. Walkers advice sounds good. Deal with the symptoms and either ride it out, or quit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wood Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Hey guys, I just started taking PrEP a little over 2 weeks ago. A few days ago I started getting the shits, the runs, diarrhea. I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this and if so, when will it go away?!?! If you didn't experience it in the first few days I doubt it related to PrEP. Some people are more regular than others, but getting the shits isnt uncommon and can have tons of reasons. I personally haven't and havent had one side effect from PrEP. (knock on wood) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearbandit Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Intestinal disturbances are unusual with PrEP but they can happen. Try switching your diet around to include more brown rice, wholemeal bread, muesli, etc. Loperamide/imodium can be useful in the short term. The FTC component of truvada is pretty innocuous, but the old formulation of tenofovir can be a bastard: it's essential to have your kidney health monitored regularly. Absolute maximum interval of every three months. The hope is that the new formulation of tenofovir will have a lower side effect profile, but, of course, we won't know until it's out there being used as prescribed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowpup Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Thanks for all the help. I'm taking PrEP as part of a behavioral study from a clinic, which means I can get them to answer health questions a lot quicker than I can with my own doctor. They gave me some diet suggestions to help with the stool and also recommended taking Calcium supplements. On the down side, they said it could last 4-8 weeks. I'm hoping that's not the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wood Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Thanks for all the help. I'm taking PrEP as part of a behavioral study from a clinic, which means I can get them to answer health questions a lot quicker than I can with my own doctor. They gave me some diet suggestions to help with the stool and also recommended taking Calcium supplements. On the down side, they said it could last 4-8 weeks. I'm hoping that's not the case. honestly I doubt its the PrEP causing your issues. About a year ago when taking no medication I got the shits for about a week and half before I went to my doctor. I felt great, just had the shits. They informed me that there was a really contagious virus going around that caused it, and that's likely what it was. Sure enough they went away on their own a bout a week later. Gastrointestinal bugs are pretty common, and given the timing, it doesnt make sense that PrEP caused it. If that was the case you probably would have seen it within the first few days. congrats on being in the study and make sure you take it at the same time everyday and don't miss a dose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowpup Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 honestly I doubt its the PrEP causing your issues. About a year ago when taking no medication I got the shits for about a week and half before I went to my doctor. I felt great, just had the shits. They informed me that there was a really contagious virus going around that caused it, and that's likely what it was. Sure enough they went away on their own a bout a week later. Gastrointestinal bugs are pretty common, and given the timing, it doesnt make sense that PrEP caused it. If that was the case you probably would have seen it within the first few days.congrats on being in the study and make sure you take it at the same time everyday and don't miss a dose! You may be right, regardless it's always good to add more fiber to ones diet And thanks, I already have other daily medication that I've been on since I was a kid, so adding one more pill isn't difficult for me. I've been on it since October 5th and haven't missed a dose and have taken the pill consistently within a 30min window which the doctor said was fine. Other than this issue, which may or not be a side effect, I haven't had any issues with the drug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearbandit Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Thanks for all the help. I'm taking PrEP as part of a behavioral study from a clinic, which means I can get them to answer health questions a lot quicker than I can with my own doctor. They gave me some diet suggestions to help with the stool and also recommended taking Calcium supplements. On the down side, they said it could last 4-8 weeks. I'm hoping that's not the case. Other thing to try is a small pot of natural yogurt every day to help replace the bacterial cultures in your gut that the diarrhoea will be stripping away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowpup Posted October 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Other thing to try is a small pot of natural yogurt every day to help replace the bacterial cultures in your gut that the diarrhoea will be stripping away... The doctor actually said to stay away from dairy :/ But I do love froyo lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearbandit Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 It's any live yogurt you want: lactobacillus or acidophillus are the key words to look for on the label. Pasteurised dairy can make the diarrhoea worse but you need to stem the loss of gut bacteria to shorten the episodes of diarrhoea and improve digestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RAWGUYUK Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Just out of curiosity, is the Prep medication any more toxic or heavier in dosage than a standard poz medication would be? Or are you put on a similar dosage to someone who is already poz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearbandit Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 PrEP is two of the drugs of a standard first line combination. The difference comes in that many of us taking the two drugs who are already poz may already have experienced a level of damage sufficient to make the two drugs no longer an option for us. It's why my general recommendation to someone newly diagnosed is to get on meds as soon as possible. HIV starts causing damage almost immediately and the sooner you can stop the little fucker, the better the chances of the drugs working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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