Biktarvy and Rash: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2021

For HIV Infection "I ended up in the hospital on August 6, 2021, for 11 days. I was told I had HIV. I also had pneumonia and oral thrush. Before the hospital, I had fevers, night sweats, a sore throat, struggling to breathe, and lost almost 20 kilos in a few months. I left the hospital and was given Biktarvy, azithromycin, Bactrim, esomeprazole, fluconazole, and nystatin. My CD4 count was 17, and viral load was 545,000. As of November 17, 2021, three months later, my CD4 count is at 108, and viral load is less than 20 but still detectable (just). The doctor said, 'I'm happy with this and hope my immune system recovers.' Biktarvy works for me. Night sweats only stopped in early November. I feel a lot better, I don't feel sick. The only negative is a rash, maybe hives, around two months after starting these medications. I'm hoping it's not from Biktarvy but maybe from the antibiotics. I will see the doctor again on December 6 to check the rash. It's annoying but bearable. This has been really scary, but I'm doing the best I can. I hope everyone stays strong."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2021

For HIV Infection "I ended up in the hospital on August 6, 2021, for 11 days. I was told I had HIV. I also had pneumonia and oral thrush. Before the hospital, I had fevers, night sweats, a sore throat, struggling to breathe, and lost almost 20 kilos in a few months. I left the hospital and was given Biktarvy, azithromycin, Bactrim, esomeprazole, fluconazole, and nystatin. My CD4 count was 17, and viral load was 545,000. As of November 17, 2021, three months later, my CD4 count is at 108, and viral load is less than 20 but still detectable (just). The doctor said, 'I'm happy with this and hope my immune system recovers.' Biktarvy works for me. Night sweats only stopped in early November. I feel a lot better, I don't feel sick. The only negative is a rash, maybe hives, around two months after starting these medications. I'm hoping it's not from Biktarvy but maybe from the antibiotics. I will see the doctor again on December 6 to check the rash. It's annoying but bearable. This has been really scary, but I'm doing the best I can. I hope everyone stays strong."

• Mat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2020

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed with HIV on February 26, 2019. I had a viral load of 1,170,000+ and a CD4 count of 16. As of December 16, 2019, I am undetectable with a CD4 of 122. I have hives and a rash on my arms and shoulders, mostly when I get out of the shower, but nothing that isn't manageable with skin cream. I'm still having a hard time dealing with HIV, but I am trying to be strong. Because of this medicine, and it being one pill a day, I have not missed a dose. My insurance covers most of the cost, and a coupon covers the remaining bill. I hope they find a vaccine and one day a cure."

• Mat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2020

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed with HIV on February 26, 2019. I had a viral load of 1,170,000+ and a CD4 count of 16. As of December 16, 2019, I am undetectable with a CD4 of 122. I have hives and a rash on my arms and shoulders, mostly when I get out of the shower, but nothing that isn't manageable with skin cream. I'm still having a hard time dealing with HIV, but I am trying to be strong. Because of this medicine, and it being one pill a day, I have not missed a dose. My insurance covers most of the cost, and a coupon covers the remaining bill. I hope they find a vaccine and one day a cure."

• Big...
• April 9, 2020

For HIV Infection "I’ve been diagnosed since 2007, a total of 14 years strong! Started with Atripla (craziest dreams), then Stribild, then doctors recommended a change, so then switched to Genvoya (the best). Now, with all these meds, I never really had side effects, honestly, to the point I was so healthy, I would forget I’m HIV+ until I had to take a pill. Man, but now with this Biktarvy, my side effects are off the charts. My side effects include a skin rash on my lips, arms, and stomach. Very restless during the day, can’t stay asleep at night, extreme stomach pains in the liver and kidney area, all of a sudden I have a bad knee (major pain). Rash on my penis that I got checked out by two different doctors, they both said I was perfectly fine. There was no activity (sex) going on, so it ruled out STDs and STIs. And I’ve noticed how I recover from things a bit slower."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2019

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed with HIV on 8/7/2019. I didn’t start treatment until 9/13/2019. On 10/3/2019, 3 weeks into taking Biktarvy, I took my follow-up tests. I actually had AIDS with a CD4 count of 195 and a VL of 372,000. As of 10/3/2019, my VL is 138 and my CD4 count is 233. I did experience some illness the first couple of weeks, which could be attributed to the Bactrim I was taking and my immune system recovering so quickly. Biktarvy is amazing. I did have a rash, but once I stopped taking Bactrim, it went away. I have so much more energy, and my cognitive functions have improved."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2021

For HIV Infection "Started taking Biktarvy on 12/02/21. My CD4 count was only at 30 and viral load above 2 million. In the first 3 weeks, I had very bad dreams, night sweats, and brain fog during the day, but it disappeared after then. Now, 2 months later, my CD4 count is up to 179 and viral load 100! Still have a little rash on my shoulders, back, and neck, but my doctor said it will disappear when I’m above 200 CD4. For me, Biktarvy literally saved my life. The only thing I can recommend is to eat very healthy, very clean, keep on exercising, and take your pills daily at the same time."

• Ste...
• September 15, 2019

For HIV Infection "I've been taking this medication for ten days now. On day four, I started struggling with insomnia. On day six, I started to notice tingly and itchy skin (all over) and would struggle with night sweats. On day eight, I started to break into hives in my upper torso. My doctor has insisted that I continue to take this medication along with an antihistamine, which has brought on its own side effects, namely headache and nausea. Stribild, by contrast, had no side effects."

• Mal...
• July 13, 2021

For HIV Infection "No! I’m only taking this because my insurance stopped covering Stribild, which was it for me. My body does NOT like Biktarvy. Rashes across my body and face, itching like crazy, heart palpitations, first 2-3 days my heart rate kept dropping, like in the 50s even when I was walking around. Felt like someone turned up the gravity several notches when my heart rate would drop. Very weird sensation. Also getting random severe fatigue and needing extra sleep. I get lightheaded at times too. I’m about 3 weeks in, and it’s progressively getting worse and worse. Oh, and my allergies are worse, like my body is already maxed out with histamines from Biktarvy. I’ve taken Atripla, which had weird dreams, dizziness, and nausea. Then to Stribild, which was the best. Now this pill. First recommendation is Stribild, then Atripla. And I don’t recommend Biktarvy at all."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2021

For HIV Infection "I switched to Biktarvy from Truvada and Viramune on the 1st of June 2021, big mistake. I came down with a chest infection, severe mood swings and irritability, loss of weight, rash on my penis (and I’ve not had any form of sex for six months), looking pale and washed out, chills, temp 37.8, strange dreams, and generally feeling unwell. I’ve just been left like this. I’ve had the same symptoms in the past when I was on Descovy, but my HIV doctor kept dismissing my symptoms. Now Biktarvy and Descovy both have TAF, so proof is in the pudding! Be careful before switching to Biktarvy, as all medication affects people differently."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2020

For HIV Infection "I just started Biktarvy on April 30th with a CD4 count of 7 and an unknown VL. Also taking Bactrim and clindamycin for a tooth infection. I'm starting to feel better, I haven't had any insufferable side effects apart from mild headaches, a bit of rash, and maybe one crazy dream. I'm eating healthy and also taking probiotics to protect my stomach. I'm mostly concerned with the tooth infection that hasn't stopped yet. But I'm keeping positive after reading many good experiences with other patients. Let's be strong!"

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2020

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed on June 10, 2020, and was put on Biktarvy a month later. I was shocked since the people I had been with all said they were negative. I have no idea how I got it. Anyway, I noticed I started losing my hair after getting on the medication. I also got rashes/zits on my back. Also, my stomach was upset during my six weeks on this medication. At my first follow-up, my doctor suggested it might be due to drug allergy, so he switched me to Triumeq. I had some side effects of it in the beginning, but now after two weeks I am not having any, and I’m not losing any more hair. Biktarvy was effective, though. My CD4 count had gone from 425 when first diagnosed to 604 after six weeks. My doctor said that the hair loss was probably not because of Biktarvy, but I think it was. I was worried about switching meds since I’ve heard that the other ones are more toxic, but since I’m newly diagnosed maybe I can manage an ‘older’ drug for the time being."

• Lhy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2018

For HIV Infection "I'm new to taking this medicine. It's been about a week, so I'm just going to let you know about my experience so far. I really don't know what to rate it as, as of yet, so I'll rate it as a 6 so far, and later it may change. The reason why I'm sharing my experience is that I'm looking for information on how others are with the medication and can't find much, so I'll provide my input. I just recently started this medication about a week ago. I've noticed that my skin has cleared up from before, I had rashes, dry skin, and a few bumps. My skin has healed some, however, I feel pretty sick, but my doctor did tell me that that may happen before I start to feel better. I also still have vaginal itch. I looked up how expensive this medicine is, and it doesn't make sense how much it costs, but I do have insurance. I will be sure to let you guys know how it goes."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2021

For HIV Infection "Infected in Nov 2020. Diagnosed and started meds in Jan 2021. First bloodwork came back with VL of 25000 and CD4 count of 430. I'm now approaching 2 weeks into the meds. The biggest thing I have noticed is the constant head tension and nausea is now fading. I have more energy as I’m able to work out daily. I have a rash on the back of my neck along with small areas on my arm and hand that’s been there before starting the drug. The neck rash still remains. I also have mucus in my stool that has been there since the start of my infection. I started coughing off and on. I was told that for 1st time HIV med users, your acute symptoms briefly come back as your immune system is strengthening, so I imagine that’s what I’m going through right now. I’m still skeptical in general. I feel some progress, but I also feel like more progress should be happening as I’m almost 2 weeks into the medication. Hopefully I’ll improve more."

• Ras...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 14, 2022

For HIV Infection "I started on Truvada and Dolutegravir in 2019 when I was first diagnosed with VL 300k and CD4 250. I started getting a rash, mostly on my neck and forehead. Within 3 months, my CD4 was 1k and VL undetectable. Since side effects are manageable, I continued. After a year, my doctor let me switch to Biktarvy for the single dose. The side effects seem similar, but since then, I have put on 20 lb of weight and had one episode of depression. Both are worrying since I have never experienced them in my life (now I am in my late 40s). The doctor assured me that they are not related to the meds but possibly due to a change of lifestyle during the pandemic. I have experimented with morning vs. evening dosing for the past year. It seems that I get a worse rash, dry mouth, oily scalp, joint pain, and less sleep when I take Biktarvy before sleep. If I take it during the day, I am more prone to lethargy but have less side effects. Slightly worrying is that my VL goes up slightly to 50 when I take Biktarvy in the morning. Stay strong, everyone."

• Dot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2019

For HIV Infection "Side effects of painful rash, red, nauseous, depression, and aching bones. Maybe it works for someone else."