After being diagnosed with Lymphoma, I found out I was HIV +. After my chemo regeime, I was put on Atripla. My counts were a mess: CD-4 (T_cells) was 7 and Viral Load like 30,000. I'm being treated for both at Sloan Kettering in NYC. Atripla was very hard to afford--$1,700 month. After 6 months on Atripla, I needed to find an alternative. My counts after 6 months on Atripla was CD-4 110 and Viral Load 18,000. Not great number but improving. Was told CD-4 goes uo the most after first few months on the 3 drug coctail (Atripla) and then about 100 pts per year.
I did research and found an Atripla alternative called Viraday (by Cipla Pharma- India). I reviewd 30 articles and only 1 was negative (probably written by the maker of Atripla) . Two months supply cost me $350 as opposed to Atripla $3,400. (purchased from Universaldrigstore.com-- They accept an Atripla perscription).
I was on pins and needels from December (when I started Viraday)until February, my next visit at Sloan for follow-up and blood counts. I got great news: CD-4 up to 130 from 110 in November; and Viral load to 240 from about 18000 in November. Viraday works and is not a sugar pill as I had feared.
I confessed to my doctor about switching to Viraday, I asked her opinion. She said, " the proof is in the numbers". I took that as an endorsement.
Viraday is the same 3 meds as Atripla,. Atripla is on US patent until 2017--- thus the high price. Viraday is a generic Atripla, and is not subject to patent in Asia.
I hope this helps. Any questions, my e-mail is: ambro_frank@yahoo.com
