Does Triumeq cause facial wasting?

[Guest Ptolemyblue1995]

Let me know if this is the appropriate forum for this post. I think it is...

I began taking my HIV ARV meds (Triumeq) in April 2019. That same year I started to notice lines on either side of my mouth/chin similar to the facial lipoatrophy (facial wasting) that made my cheeks look sunken. I read that lipodystrophy - changes in the way the body stores fat (including lipoatrophy - loosing fat) was common among the older hiv meds but not as common a side effect these days. 

I also looked up Triumeq and there is only a little information that says there is no evidence that the drug causes lipodystrophy.  However, Triumeq has  dolutegravir and that DOES  cause changes to fat cells. So I was wondering if anyone can clarify what is true and if there has been any new info released on any possible  lipoatrophy side effects Triumeq might produce. 

[descartes70817]

I took Triumeq between 2017 and 2020, and it did cause an odd fat redistribution, in that I developed a fatty hump running up the middle of my abdomen. My ID provider specifically told me that Triumeq would cause lipodystrophy, and she was right - it did for me at least. It also reduces your body's vitamin D uptake, so you should probably take vitamin D supplements just to be on the safe side.

[biobare]

I take Triumeq since 2018 and still don't notice any side effects. I have problems with my body fat already before I started (Triumeq is my 1st med), and I had them since decades, since I was 25, and I cannot notice yet that they became worse from taking Triumeq

[cumbowl]

I am now on Triumeq as of the last 3 years and I haven't noticed any difference.   Prior to it, I was on Tivicay and Kivexa (2 pills).  Tivicay is made by ViiV as is Triumeq.  Maybe you want to talk to you doctor about it.  Also, maybe you want your doc to consider doing differently.  I take my pill every 3rd day, and I am still undetectable  with a cd4 count in 900's.  Skinny bodies don't need that much medication. That's what a saw in an article about people with HIV in India. For the skinny ones, the meds were overkill for them.

[Txvers]

Triumeq for three yes now along with my hubby. Zero side effects but our previous med-Genvoya caused Wt gain

[Guest]

I like Triumeq as I don’t have any side effects. One of my first med was Sustiva which made my liver inflammed which I went to liver specialist as to why my liver blood result was so bad and it was because of Sustiva. 

[Pozpunk]

Not at all

[BootmanLA]

On 6/13/2021 at 11:30 AM, Ptolemyblue1995 said:

Let me know if this is the appropriate forum for this post. I think it is...

I began taking my HIV ARV meds (Triumeq) in April 2019. That same year I started to notice lines on either side of my mouth/chin similar to the facial lipoatrophy (facial wasting) that made my cheeks look sunken. I read that lipodystrophy - changes in the way the body stores fat (including lipoatrophy - loosing fat) was common among the older hiv meds but not as common a side effect these days. 

I also looked up Triumeq and there is only a little information that says there is no evidence that the drug causes lipodystrophy.  However, Triumeq has  dolutegravir and that DOES  cause changes to fat cells. So I was wondering if anyone can clarify what is true and if there has been any new info released on any possible  lipoatrophy side effects Triumeq might produce. 

Honestly, this is a question for your doctor.

It's one thing to ask "X medication can cause Y side effect - has anyone here had that happen?".

It's another thing to say "X medication can cause Y side effect - here's a picture of me, does this look like that?" None of us are qualified to diagnose someone (well, except for a handful of people who have medical licenses of one sort or another), and especially not based on a photograph.

[BootmanLA]

On 7/5/2021 at 5:33 PM, BootmanLA said:

Honestly, this is a question for your doctor.

It's one thing to ask "X medication can cause Y side effect - has anyone here had that happen?".

It's another thing to say "X medication can cause Y side effect - here's a picture of me, does this look like that?" None of us are qualified to diagnose someone (well, except for a handful of people who have medical licenses of one sort or another), and especially not based on a photograph.

It's funny to have a stalker so wrapped up in downvoting everything I post that he'll even downvote the advice to consult a doctor about something that the original poster is worried about. And amusing to realize how much I must be living rent-free in his head.

[Guest]

Ask your doctor.  I know people who are HIV negative who have facial lipoatrophy. 

[tallslenderguy]

This is what the FDA says about fat redistribution and Triumeq... i know, not definitive, but then, there may be no definitive evidence. 

 

"5.6 Fat Redistribution

Redistribution/accumulation of body fat including central obesity, dorsocervical fat enlargement (buffalo hump), peripheral wasting, facial wasting, breast enlargement, and “cushingoid appearance” have been observed in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. The mechanism and long-term consequences of these events are currently unknown. A causal relationship has not been established."

[think before following links] [think before following links] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/205551s000lbl.pdf

Edited August 30, 2021 by tallslenderguy

[Poz50something]

OK not about lipodystrophy, but I was taking Triumeq from 2014 till March 2018, and about a month after I started, I noticed my heart would start beating faster when I lay down to sleep. No biggie - didn't stop me from sleeping. A friend of mine took it as well, and talked having to go to the emergency because he thought he was going to die from a heart attack, I said I would pay attention to the symptoms if they arose. All of this came to a head about 3 months after hubs died. I would have non-stop palpitations and my heart would not stop racing, I would get about 2-3 hours of sleep and then my heart would cause me to wake up with a start. Again, heart pounding the whole day. Then 2-3 hours of sleep. Same cycle. After I went to my doc's and had a complete meltdown when one of his researchers asked if my husband would be interested in taking part in a study about serodiscordant couples, like we had in the past, I attributed this to the palpitations from Triumeq, and how I wasn't sleeping. He changed my meds to Genvoya, and I think I want to go back to it.    

 

[T-Girl-Cumdumpster]

On 8/21/2021 at 2:51 PM, BootmanLA said:

It's funny to have a stalker so wrapped up in downvoting everything I post that he'll even downvote the advice to consult a doctor about something that the original poster is worried about. And amusing to realize how much I must be living rent-free in his head.

yeah like seriously, some people need to get a life. lol try to ignore him, he just wants attention. xo.