There are 23 ratings for the drug: COMBIVIR in the Askapatient database.

Key to ratings for combivir: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

Page: 1     Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added.

Rating	Reason	Side Effects	Comments	Sex	Age	Time Taken and Dosage		Date Added
				F  M
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5	hiv	it will make you feel week, you must get alot of rest	i have been undectable for 7 1/2 years	F	33	9 years 300mg 1X D		7/26/2010
3	PEP	GAS, fairly consistent nausea, loss of appetite, sense of motion sickness, anxiety, fatigue, aversion to some previously enjoyable smells, slight worsening of existing depression, restless, fluttery feeling behind sternum, stomach discomfort.	I figured out that the increasing queasiness I feel for the first few hours after each dose is actually hunger - so I'm forcing myself to eat bland food despite constant low-grade nausea. Apparently there is a 3/1000 chance that I was infected after topping and ejaculating in an HIV-positive man. I decided to demonstrate self care anyway as contrary action to the lack of self esteem I showed by having unprotected sex in the first place. Hopefully this will teach me a lesson. Don't allow a potential sex partner's verbal assurance that he is "clean" to dissuade you from using a condom. You may find out the following morning that he lied...	M	37	28 days 150/300mg 2X D		7/21/2010
3	sexually assaulted	slight bloating and mild appetite gain...nothing really from what I have noticed in the past two weeks besides very mild diarrhea in first two days.	This drug has not made me ill to date and I have been taking it now for 17 days, 13 left to go. I work two jobs and have taken no time off work. Although reading these testimonies I am very concerned for the long term side effects this drug may have on me and whether or not it is worth it as a preventative measure as I am not sure that I was exposed to the virus.	F	21	30 days 2X D		6/24/2010
5	PEP	Fatigue/Tiredness, Constant upset stomach/nausea, sore throat	After having risky sex with someone I found out was positive (no ejaculation), I contacted my doctor immediately and he offered two options (1) check viral load in 48 hours or (2) take combivir for 30 days. I of course chose to take the medication regardless of any side effects to ensure I caught any possible exposure. It's worth the peace of mind. Although, I'm a very physical and athletic person and this drug has depleted my energy. Many days I end up sleeping most of the day. I feel nauseous most of the time but I make sure I eat regularly. I've also noticed that I have kept a sore throat for the past couple of weeks. I have 3 days left of the 30 days and am counting down to the finish line and am praying that I maintain my negative status.	M	50	30 days 30 MG 2X D		6/21/2010
4	PEP	nausea, dizzy, irritable, moody, nervous (doors closing/clapping/etc) and twitchy, dry mouth	It is awful and it's the price to pay to prevent infection. The following helped very much. Eat lots of healthy food. Eat a full breakfast (oats, low GI bread, eggs, fish). Follow with substantial snacks (sandwiches/muffins/fruit) mid morning. Full lunch, full dinner. Drinking ginger tea or rooibos tea (brilliant). Take vitamin supplements and ginseng. Also pray and meditate - it really helps.	M	40	30 days 2X D		5/22/2010
4	post exposure-unsure of status	Thank God nothing so far. I just pray all the time that it will stay like this. A bit more thirsty and helps to eat frequently and small amts. Perhaps abdominal bloating visible	Avoid all alchohol and eat as healthy as possible. Be sensible and rest a lot go to bed early and drink enough fluid.Keep your mind positive and ask God to help you see this through, it helps.	F	52	30 days 1tablet 2X D		5/12/2010
1	needle stick exsposure	Just started drug coctail, Then to combivir for 30 days. Am already so sick! Nausea, Vomiting, gas, body aches, muscle Pain and weakness, nasal stuffiness, Feverish, decreased mental clarity, Want to cry all the time, yougart Helps with nausea, ginger ale will Also help, lots of sinus drainage, Don't take unless it is a matter, Of life or death! You will be sorry!		F	54	30 days 300 2X D		5/9/2010 Email
3	PEP	nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea/bloating/constipation, fatigue, insomnia	I am taking Combivir because of a low-but-some risk exposure by a poz person - ejaculate on anal/rectal skin of questionable intactness. I know I am doing the right thing. My symptoms sound less severe than some reported here, but it's worrisome that some people feel fatigue months after. I will be on for 4 weeks. It's odd that insomnia and fatigue co-occur. I will take the second dose earlier in the evening. I am doing yogurt and kefir. My appetite isn't bad, I just feel queasy at times. It's important to know that a person who has a low viral load in his blood can still shed HIV into his semen.	M	50	5 days 2X D		4/13/2010 Email
3	rape sexual assalt	queasy, dizzy, nauseous, light headed, can't sleep at night and sleepy all day, body confusion, irritable mood swings, loss of appetite	All i want to do throw up, I haven't thrown up yet but i want to so very badly. If there was any other way to go throw this i would but i cant bare the thought of being H.I.V. positive. I just really wish the medicine made me feel better as opposed to this constant sick feeling, I dont know weather i want to eat or drink. Do i want a nap or do i want to be awake. My head wont stop spinning, my stomach is constantly in knots. i just hope this stuff works. I pray everyday that this pain is worth me not being infected, i hope this does me some good	F	20	28 days 150mg/ 300 2X D		4/8/2010 Email
4	victim of sexual assault	Nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, fatigue coupled with insomnia, mental confusion.	I was sexually assaulted. I am taking a 28 day regimen of combivir & tenofiver as a prophylactic measure should I be found to have been exposed to HIV. I would far rather endure the side effects of the treatment as a prophylactic measure than bury my head in the sand and rely on hope and naivete.	F	40	5 days 150/300mg 2X D		3/19/2010
3	PEP	None so far, but I'm only two days into it	I had an exposure at work and I'm on my 5th dose. I have yet to experience any side effects except maybe extra sleepiness and was wondering when they were likely to start or if I'm going to be very lucky and have little or no problems.	M	51	2 days		10/24/2009
1	Exposure to HIV positive female	Tiredness, sleepiness, muscle soreness, stomach discomfort, headache, feeling sick, depression, extreme fatigue and full body muscle soreness after even light activities like walking.	I would strongly discourage anyone from taking this medicine unless adsolutely necessary. I took Combivir for 30 days as a post exposure prophylaxis and felt tired even months after taking the medication. I am normally super athletic and I feel I am no longer that way(it's been 2 years since already). You will need to take time off your job if your job is physically demanding. My blood felt like acid. The doctors and packaging seriously needed to warn patients of the side effects of this expensive drug. Use protection(condom). Just because you had sex with a promiscuous female or male you are unsure of is No reason to take this drug with long term side effects. Unless you Know you are seriously exposed to HIV virus. If so start the drug as soon as possible(best within 24 hours, within 3 days still quite good) .	M	35	30 days		9/19/2009 Email
3	prevent possible HIV infection	Headaches, extreme nausea, ill feeling (malaise) and extreme fatigue, weakness, moody, cold/nasal symptoms, and slightly rapid/slow/irregular heartbeat which only occurred 30min after taking the medication and lasted for about 2 hours after	I'm gay and took PEP because i hooked up with a guy off Gaydar.com.au, and he came in me. After he wouldn't tell me his specific past history with guys and after he refused to get tested, this was my only option. The side effects aren't nice. I needed 2 weeks off of work and study because of it all. If ur unsure about a guy, just wear a condom seriously, coz it's not worth going through this. Even-though i know it will help, it's best to avoid it. 12 out of 28 days so far, but i might stop them now coz i ended up convincing the guy to get a test and tell me his history from the last 3 months and i wasn't as risky as i thought.	M	24	12 days		7/29/2009
1	PEP	Stomach Pains, Indegestion, Insomnia, Rash and Generalised Swelling	5 months after taking this medicine for PEP, I am still suffering from the side effects that made me stop after 11 days. It appears to have altered my body chemistry. My advice to anyone thinking about taking this for PEP - think very carefully. Probably the worst decision I have ever made with regard to my health.	M	36	11 days		7/8/2009
3	Post Exposure Prophylaxis	nausea, strange feeling in my stomach, extreme tiredness, dizziness, confusion, inability to concentrate on task at hand, funny taste in mouth, mild diarrhea, sweating, increased thirst, mild sore throat, tingling in hands and feet.	Taking this medicine feels like I'm poisoning myself twice a day. I keep thinking how horrible it would have to be take ARVs not just for one month but for the rest of my life. Serious stuff but I pray that it works after a known exposure to HIV. 3 more weeks to go.	F	26	8 days		1/22/2009
4	Prophylaxis	Diarrhoea, dizziness, uneasiness in the stomach. Slight chills/fever that goes as quickly as it comes. Muscle fatigue.	Four weeks of pain and a life of peace. I am taking Combivir along with Viracept to eliminate a very very small chance of exposure. Here is how I did the math. Probability of other person having HIV: 0.01 (i.e., 1%) Probability of transmission: 0.001 (or 0.1%, there was no ejaculation and there were literally two unprotected penetrations) Net probability without Combivir/Viracep: 0.00001 or 0.0001% With Combivir/Viracept: 0% I will take the pain for now. Diarrhoea is the most serious side effect I am experiencing. I am using lots of Pepto Bismol along with yogurt and smoothies. Rest of diet is unchanged.	M	32	5 days		8/4/2008 Email
4	Post needle stick	Nausea, I take Gravol with each dose, bad taste in mouth, aversion to previously enjoyed foods, diarrhea, weight gain, my abdomen is noticeable larger which is strange because even when I have gained weight I never gain in the abdominal area, loss of concentration I can go off into my own little world for minutes at a time, very very tired, sleeping a lot. 11 days left!!!		F	30	19 days		7/17/2008
2	Preventative from being exposed	I feel sick; nausea, watery mouth, stomach pains just below the ribs in the middle ~ made me cry, loss of appetite for typical foods, but gain of appetite for other foods in small amounts, headaches, feverish, diarrhea, not sleeping well, strange dreams ~ woke up crying; sore, fatigued, heart raceing and strong pulse, feel jittery/shakey; just not feeling great :(	I have to take this for 30 days, 18 days to go... I just feel awful. I am not a person who gets sick or feels sick often, so this is just kicking my booty. I have seen the doctor twice so far, in 12 days. I had my first blood draw the day of the incident and my second is 15 days later. So we will see if this is working. Hopefully I wasn't exposed to anything at all.	F	29	12 days		6/16/2008
3	prophylactic	weekness, disiness,blury vision, stomach pains, nausea non stop, bad taste in my mouth that only made me even more sick, gas gas gas,	I have been sick ever since I first started taking it. I have to brush my teeth 6 x's a day cuz the nasty taste in my mouth. This medication is no joke n I have 3 more weeks to go. But i know it will help in the long run	F	21	7 days		5/23/2007
5	HIV Infection	Nausea for about an hour after taking it - helps to eat a little something with it. Dizziness for about the first week.	Wow - it works. Viral load went to undetectible about 30 days, and CD4 count went from 78 to 350 in about 9 months. (Also taking Sustiva)	M	38	1 years		5/18/2007
2	preventative	increase in abdominal pain and nausau, i had anxiety before, specifically panic attacks however soon after getting on this medication i was having the fear of losing control and feeling depersonalized/dissociated (fearing the most basic funtions like breathing, talking, eating, sleeping) daily not just 10 minutes or so for a normal panic attack. this feeling went away after i stopped taking the med but only for a short while as i am now still feeling just as fearful and panicky if not worse. not sure if it is the medication as i am not taking it anymore or possibly it may have changed a chemistry for the worse or it could be just enough to have put me over the edge in my anxiety disorder. not sure.	be careful and journal daily as to what things happen to you, your thoughts, dreams, appetite, weight gain etc. as this is a very potent medication and you need to be aware of even the slightest changes.	F	26	30 days		7/8/2006
1	prophylactic	nausea, dizziness, seizures, anxiety, confusion, bloating, loss of appetite, acid, rotten taste in the mouth, shooting abdominal pains, inability to breath/speak full sentences/cough/perform a range of respiratory functions, fatigue, weight gain, joint pain	I ended up with a visit to the Emergency Room due to the effects of combivir. This medication is totally scary, although I've talked with a number of people who did not experience the extreme effects I experienced. Please be careful and take care of that liver. combivir can wreck you.	F	24	21 days		7/19/2005
3	increase TCell count	extreme nausea, headaches, tiredness, muscle pain and spasms, dry eyes, dizziness, moodiness.	nausea persists but not as bad as first two weeks. Phenigrin helps. I have yet to get new bloodtests so unsure if it's working.	F	37	3.5 weeks		4/12/2005

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Average rating for drug: 3.0. This page is printer-friendly; use landscape print with background color turned on.

Key to ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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