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If 4:3 is safe then 5:2 would be safer still. I'd go a bit safer and opt for 5:2 over 4:3.
would this also help kidney function and damage by toxins long term ? taking less !
I have been doing this on my own for six years now first with Atripla then Stribild and now with Biktarvy. I remain undetectable with a CD4 of 1100. Eric
Instead of 4 days on and 3 days off, or taking meds on only odd or even days it could be promoted as: Take meds Mon - Fri only with weekends off. Would be simpler to adhere to, and still provide cost savings.
This seems to be confirmation of an older study with Atripla.....FOTO...Five days On, Two days Off, that demonstrated that taking Atripla Monday through Friday and taking Saturday and Sunday off was as effective as 7 day regimen. The study was dismissed because of the small sampling. My question is why wasn't a larger study commissioned. The cynic in me says that Gilead and other drug companies would not want to sell 20% fewer tablets. This is a huge issue and further study should happen.
I"m convinced this is another one of those cirmumstances in which science is proving something that people living with HIV already knew, at least many of us. I have long known friends to split pills in half and dose them that way. It will be interesting to see if the general HIV community finds this study scary (due to years of adherence messaging and pharma dominance) or is open to it.
It's interesting, and I don't know if it's related to this study, but on my most recent antiretroviral refill my pharmacist actually said to take the meds at least 4 days a week. Not make sure you take them every single day no matter what. So, I'm not sure if this idea is already pretty quickly filtering down to the level of people in treatment.
desertdick
I have given my body a break from HIV, HTN, HYPERCHOLESTEROL, medications every 4th day or so for years and my blood counts haven't changed in over 19 years of treatment. It saves me about 2 months worth of co-pays over a years time, but that is not the incentive. I stash my medication due to today's healthcare climate (Republicans wanting to deny insurance for pre-existing conditions), as we all could lose our medical insurance at any given time.
August 21, 2019 • Palm Springs