Switching Meds

[punaman]

My HIV+ undetectable b/f wants to switch meds, he's been on the same ones for 20 years. How long before finding out if the new meds keep him undetectable?

[bearbandit]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! If he's undetectable, then the meds are working. Everybody's different in how they respond to meds, but I have to admit I've never heard of anyone going 20 years without a change in prescription. It might be an idea for him to talk to his HIV doctor about the possibility of changing, but if he's undetectable, he won't have enough of a viral load to test to see what would be the best combination for him (you need at least VL 1k and undetectable is between<20 and <70 depending on the lab). 

Also, if he's been on the same meds for so long they obviously must be fitting in well with his genetics so that he's having few in any side effects. There's no way of telling how long the same meds will continue to work for him: prediction and medicine do not make good bedfellows

[punaman]

thanks bearbandit

[punaman]

found out he's been on Sustiva for around 10 years and another one.  Switching to Genvoya.

[fillmyholeftl]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! If he's undetectable, then the meds are working. Everybody's different in how they respond to meds, but I have to admit I've never heard of anyone going 20 years without a change in prescription. It might be an idea for him to talk to his HIV doctor about the possibility of changing, but if he's undetectable, he won't have enough of a viral load to test to see what would be the best combination for him (you need at least VL 1k and undetectable is between<20 and <70 depending on the lab). 

Also, if he's been on the same meds for so long they obviously must be fitting in well with his genetics so that he's having few in any side effects. There's no way of telling how long the same meds will continue to work for him: prediction and medicine do not make good bedfellows

From what I have heard, you no longer need a 1K + VL to have the geno-Pheno type testing performed.

[bearbandit]

Thank you, as ever, fillmyholeftl, for the correction.

Personal shit is taking up more time than I would like, leaving less time to keep ahead of the HIV news... My apologies for misinformation.