Q and A

Question

What is Atroiza used for?

Answer

Atroiza is a combination pill than contains three HIV drugs. It is a generic version of Atripla.

It is mainly used to treat HIV.

However, i some countries the same drugs (efavirenz/tenofovirDF/emtricitabine) are used as PEP to prevent HIV infection.

This is not recommended in the UK or in other guidelines. which recommend different HIV drugs for PEP. This is because of concerns about efavirenz side effects in HIV negative people.

See: PEP, PEPSE and PrEP.

171 comments

  1. Simon

    Hi I had sex with a HIV positive person.same day I found out she’s HIV positive. immediately I started taking atroiza.please I just wanna know do I still stand the chance of contacting the HIV. please reply via mail

  2. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Duduzile,

    How long have you been taking Atrozia for? If it’s just a few weeks then having diarrhea is common. Once your body gets used to the Atrozia this should stop. If you have itchy skin this may be helped with antihistamines, your doctor will be able to advice you about this.

  3. Duduzile

    Hi, I am on Atroiza and the dr said one of the side effects may be diarhea but now I want to know if this should be an everyday thing or should last for a certain period and another one is having an itchy skin how long are these side effects supposed to last?

  4. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Nana,

    It’s good that you’re taking HIV treatment (ART). ART can dramatically reduce viral load as soon as you start it. Please see this page from ART in Pictures.

    Having an undetectable viral load on ART means that HIV cannot be transmitted, even if you don’t use condoms.

    But it’s important to ask your clinic for a viral load test. That’s to make sure that your ARVs are working well and that your viral load is undetectable. Please see this link to Undetectable = Untransmittable.

    What ARVs are you taking? And if you have access to your viral load result please let us know.

  5. Nana

    Hi I’m taking ARV and sleeping with my man without condom .past time he went and test and it came negative .is it possible if he go back and test again and came back positive

  6. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Welcome,

    The three drugs in Atroiza all achieve high concentrations that generally leave the body slowly. But can you tell us more please. Are you worried becaused you’ve had to miss doses?

    Please let us know. And if you have access to your viral load and CD4 results, please tell us what they are.

  7. welcome

    I’m taking the drug, I would like to know how long it takes for the drug to leave your body?

  8. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Nandipha,

    Atroiza is a safe and effective treatment for HIV. HIV positive people who have undetectable viral loads on Atroiza can not pass on HIV even if they don’t use condoms.

    Sometimes Atroiza is used to prevent HIV by taking it for a month. However, this is usually not recommended because it contains a drug called efavirenz. And there is a low risk of serious reaction to efavirenz as PEP.

  9. Nandipha

    So when someone got Atroiza from Doctor it means he / she have HIV positive?

  10. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Boniswa,

    Yes, it should be fine to switch to your morning sleep.

    Feeling dizzy is a reported side effect of efavirenz. This is one of the meds in Atroiza.

    But please talk to your doctor about switching to meds that would be easier for you to take. That’s especially if your shift work keeps changing from nights to days.

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