Bictegravir / emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Lil...
• October 13, 2019

For HIV Infection "I have been HIV+ since 1999. The Biktarvy introduction was one of the worst I’ve had during my arduous journey. My entire body was in pain, exhausted, my stomach hurt, with no energy. After about 3 weeks, it started to normalize so I continued. I am finishing up my 3rd month of treatment, and things seem worse. I am very active but the pain in my gluteus, legs, and feet are horrible. When I work out, I can’t seem to recover for days. Every morning, my stomach is bloated with dull pain. I have had concerning mental blocks, I am now a med student and need to be able to recall things on demand, so this is causing challenges. Problems sleeping and often wake up in the middle of the night having the “is it worth it” moments. The other thing I have noticed is depression, something I haven’t had since my young 20s. This could all be due to the lack of sleep and the constant pain and frustration, but I just feel off. I hope sharing helps someone else."

• Dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2020

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed with HIV in 2014 and have remained undetectable with 960+ CD4 counts taking Triumeq ever since. On it, I experienced light nausea and occasional insomnia. My doctor suggested I switch to Biktarvy for future kidney benefits. After 3 months on Biktarvy, my long hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows have fallen out. It began with a few extra hairs on my brush to now bald patches all over my head. I don’t have a history of alopecia. All labs to rule out other causes came back normal. A dermatologist found no external causes. The only change in my life has been the switch in HIV meds. Regardless, the doctor insisted that it cannot be related to Biktarvy and wanted me to continue on it. I refused and asked to be put back on Triumeq. I know hair loss is not considered a side effect of Biktarvy, but I am posting in case others out there are experiencing it. I will update on any changes made by going back to Triumeq."

• Ema...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2021

For HIV Infection "I’m part of the 5% of HIV+ patients who get strong side effects. Started with Atripla, Truvada, and two others until Genvoya. This Wednesday my doctor decided to switch to Biktarvy because my CD4 was at 976 and I generally have over 1200, and because my cholesterol was high. I experienced dizziness, 20 minutes after taking all, blood would rush into my head and feel extremely high. I had diarrhea over 15 times in a day. Nausea, intestines felt like I had acid running, burning... headache. Abnormal dreams and insomnia, extreme psychosis. I only slept 3 hours in two days. On the second day was desperate, frustrated, and depressed... I’m not suicidal, but just wished I didn't have to live like this. Motivation zero, felt inhuman."

• 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."

• hop...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 16, 2021

For HIV Infection "I was on Biktarvy for 17 days and had to switch to Desvovy + Dolutegravir meds due to severe side effects of dizziness, brain fog, insomnia, feeling faint, headache, and anxiety. I will start my new meds, Desvovy + Dolutegravir, today but just realized these meds' common side effects are similar to Biktarvy. What is your experience with Desvovy + Dolutegravir, please? Cost of meds isn't an issue as I live in the UK with free access to the National Health Service."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2019

For HIV Infection "I was on Atripla for 6 years, never had any issues or side effects. My doctor said Biktarvy is better because in the long term, it decreases the likelihood of kidney problems, but after 4 days of taking Biktarvy, I am having terrible nausea and terrible gas odor, and I am sweating a lot when I sleep and am having insomnia. I will talk to him to switch back to Atripla."

• Red...
• October 12, 2022

For HIV Infection "My experience with Biktarvy has not been good. Always tired all the time. Would NOT recommend if you want to have any energy. No energy makes you want to sleep, but it is hard to get and stay asleep. This did not get any better months, even a year later."

• Luk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2021

For HIV Infection "I have taken various drugs for the treatment of HIV over the course of many years, and I am definitely a very long-term survivor. I just recently switched from Genvoya to Biktarvy and have had several unpleasant side effects from day one. The worst being nausea and stomach pain, along with headache and even worse insomnia. The side effects have been so severe I do not wish to continue this medication and will go back to Genvoya, as I am certain the side effects will worsen with this drug. I have been miserable for the last two days."

• Ric...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 21, 2021

For HIV Infection "HIV + April 2018, my VL was only 980, but the CD4 was 173. This put me in the AIDS bracket. I started to get thrush on my tongue, and this is a danger sign. I started ART, Tivicay & Descovy. Within 1 month, VL 120, CD4 around 300, thrush had gone, so was out of the danger zone. The side effects for me were not sleeping well, tired all the time, and in a brain fog. I switched to Biktarvy in August 2020. Wow, acid is really bad, even Losec doesn't stop it, teeth enamel eating away, have to drink warm water or teeth really hurt, still tired and brain fog all the time. Now I am 6 months into taking it and have nausea in my stomach all the time, just feel off. Ever since I started ART, I haven't been sharp. Normally, I was quick to do things or solve things quickly, not anymore. The acid and nausea are becoming a big problem, but I am undetectable and CD4 is around 580. So I suppose I should be thankful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2023

For HIV Infection "I was taking Atripla before, so when I switched to Biktarvy for about six months. I have now been diagnosed with diabetes. My heart beats too fast that it becomes painful, and I can't sleep after taking Biktarvy and diabetes tablets."

• Luc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 5, 2024

For HIV Infection "My HIV diagnosis came about in 2020, shortly after the onset of COVID, when I was 19. With that being said, I was fortunate enough to receive a diagnosis early on in my treatment journey, well before my CD4 count could drop noticeable levels (it is currently in the 600s). Biktarvy being my first, and thus far, only option, it has done an adequate job at suppressing my viral load. That's not to say my journey has been painless or without side effects, but it's been easier than most. Some of the negatives I've noticed are an increase in my anxiety/depression, mental fogginess (especially with recall and short-term memory), a spacey feeling from time to time, sleep disturbances, and overall trouble concentrating. I try to eat as clean as possible and exercise, read, etc. My doctor has recently considered trying Descovy, and I've been undetectable for four years. Biktarvy has, in a way, saved my life, but just know it can come with side effects."

• Joe...
• September 22, 2021

For HIV Infection "I found out I was HIV positive in July. My CD4 was 152 and VL was 158,000. As of August, my CD4 is 199 and VL is 83,000. I had trouble sleeping, but they prescribed me sleep meds that help. I think Biktarvy is wonderful."

• Han...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2022

For HIV Infection "I was diagnosed in 2013, not sure really how long I had it before then. Not sure of all the meds I took, but I do recall having to do an ART cocktail which had a fungal infection, which I found is common among low CD4 counts, which was me at the time hovering around 50. I was able to boost it up to 200+. Then one drug change from the three, even though I was not experiencing adverse effects. Truvada was when I started to have side effects from that one drug change: chronic fatigue, blurry memory, confusion, joint pain, acid reflux, skin discoloration, and insomnia. I was told to do Biktarvy because it would affect my kidneys less. I liked the idea of one pill, but to tell you the truth, not worth it for convenience because I started to have depression accompanied by suicidal thoughts. Recently, I have been having sleep paralysis with horrifying vivid dreams, calf cramps, and muscle twitching. I feel let down by my doctor, and I made a change, but no difference. I was told if I miss a dose to take two the next day. What? It clearly says not to do that."

• 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."