Generic Name: Descovy for HIV Infection (emtricitabine-tenofovir-alafenamide)
"I started taking Descovy in early 2017 and it's been about 2 years. The drug kept my viral load undetectable. I did not experience any side effects at first, but after about 1 to 1.5 years after taking it, I slowly began to experience ache in my joints and bones, and I feel tired waking up in the morning. I also notice that I feel depressed and down pretty much everyday even when I am on vacations and were supposed to feel happy. And now my arms have lost muscle mass, they looking very bony and I can barely lift 20lbs without pains in my joints."
"Switching from Descovy back to Truvada probably saved my life since it improved my deep existentially depression (which I didn't experience this way since I'm on antidepressant medication since 1995). I was on Genvoya since March 2016 and had 8 months of upper respiratory tract infections: pleuritis, 2 pneumonia episodes, 2 severe middle ear infections, bronchitis, I think sepsis, because of candida, because of 4 times antibiotics (Augmentin/amoxicillin), constant fluconazole use and later resistance to it by another candida (glabrata), then oral amfotericine B, but still have a green/brown stinking plaque on my tongue, nothing is being done by my first and second opinion doctors, I'm now going to Nijmegen for the candida expertise center."
"I was on truvada for a number of years and was switched to Descovy in August 2017 at first all was fine but after a couple of months I became unwell, feeling like I have a constant cold, not getting good sleep only able to sleep for four hours being woken up with pounding in my head a very fast heart beat, my head feels foggy and severe sweating, and legs feel cold to touch. I read the leaflet which came with my Descovy but it doesn’t mention my symptoms so then I did some research and looked at Descovy on a site called medbroadcast.com and sure enough it mentions all my symptoms as Descovy side effects, going to see my HIV consultant tomorrow and taking back all my Descovy as they have totally ruined my summer, I suggest to anyone going to start Descovy please do your research and don’t just read the leaflet or take your Doctors word !"
"I have been on descovy for two weeks. I actually feel better than when I was taking travada. My kidney function is better...my mind seems clearer and I don't feel as doped up....if that makes sense. I can feel my own skin again... I guess less toxic. So far...it's good."
"About the first month of taking everything was fine, but now I started to feel a strong pain under the right shoulder blade, at first I thought it was not from the therapy, but now I see that it is from it. I will change."
"I have taken Descovy for 10 years now. I originally started talking Truvada and Kaletra, but that combination caused serious GI issues and major lipodistophy complications. My ID doctor switched me to Descovy and the GI issues lessened. I still had diarrhea, but that was expected. I was then given Tivacay instead of Kaletra and the GI symptoms were much less severe. I no longer had nausea or severe cramping that was present with the previous dog combination. I'll be honest, diarrhea has been a constant battle for me and I do know that it's a symptom of the HIV medications. Last year, I allowed my health insurance to lapse and went without my HIV medication for a couple of months. My bowel movements returned to what was my body's normal before I started taken HIV medications. For me, it's a trade-off that I will take everytime since it affords me the ability to have a semi-normal sex life, well, as normal a sex life that a 51 year old gay meth user can have."
"I had TERRIBLE insomnia with this medication. The EMTRICITABINE in this medication has an Incidence of insomnia in adults of 5% to 16%. Plus it made me groggy in the morning."
"I have experienced mood swings, not sleeping well, pressure under my rib cage, and coughing. Keeps the viral load undetectable but has too many side effects for me."
