Question
What is Atroiza used for?
5 July 2016. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
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.
Am confused I did the test on February an my result come says my cd4 is 850 last time when I tested was 460 an I HV took any medication my viral load now is 34971. So what is that mean because my Dr didn’t tells me whether am positive or negative and am pregnant am not taking any medication.
Hi Litha,
Yes it is possible, and many HIV positive parents have had healthy HIV negative babies. You can read more about this on these frequently asked questions about having a baby here.
How is possible for both partners being HIV+ have a healthy baby? I am confused because I think the sperm that unites with the egg has the virus but the baby can be born negative how is that possible
Dear Nkwenkwezi,
I’m sorry that you feel the joy has gone and I hope you can get it back. But as Rebecca says in answer to this question, finding out you are HIV positive is never easy but finding out while pregnant can be especially hard.
However, it is much better that you found this out now so that you can use HIV treatment (ART). It’s good that you’ve started Atroiza because this can get your viral load to undetectable. And being undetectable can protect your baby from HIV.
Having mild side effects when starting ART is common. But these can usually go away in the first few weeks. But if you have a rash it’s important that you ask the doctor to look at it. And if there’s a change and you don’t feel the baby moving it’s another reason to speak to your doctor about it soon. It’s a good idea to contact the doctor and tell them about all your symptoms and your worries.
It might also help to know that many women have been through this before. You are not on your own. If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign who can help support you on treatment.
Looking after your own health is the best way to make sure your baby is healthy. Here is the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
Hi. I recently found out that im pregnant and Hiv+.. I never had signs that i was infected, iv always been healthy until they did the routine hiv test (2weejs ago) when i went for my first prenatal care. My world was sharttered but im slowly accepting it and i was given Atroiza. The problem now is ever since then, the glow i had before going to the clinic faded, i aoways have a headache. Iv started having abdominal pains and diarrheoa. Today I woke up with itchy rash all over my body. Im so scared, i feel like im gona die. Im 18 weeks pregnant and i feel disconnected to the baby. The joy i had is gone, i dont even feel the movements anymore. What could be the problem with me? Am i sick bcoz of the Atroiza?
Hi Sam,
You can try the Treatment Action Campaign. They might be able to help directly, or if not they could try to put you in touch with people you could talk to. Talking to someone else first can be a step towards talking to your partner.
Hey… its Sam again pls pls help me i need councelling for me nd my partner… i just cant approach her abt her being HIV+ without me knowing anything abt it. She was already HIV+ when i first mey her.
Im living in Gauteng, Vanderbijlpark
Im very angry bt i jst avoid talking abt he situation
Hi Sam,
It’s great that your girlfriend is on Atroiza. This med can get the viral load down to undetectable. And undetectable means that HIV is untransmittable. There’s more info about U=U here.
Hey there… i recently found out that my girlfriend is on Atroiza med, and she never told me anything abt her being on such a med. And i also did not yet ask her anything abt that.
What can i do?
Am I in a risk?
Can I confront her… worried
Hi Anna,
We get asked this question a lot. I wish there was an easy answer, however there isn’t. Have you tried bringing up the topic of HIV into conversation? If you have, what has their reaction been? If you haven’t maybe you could do this.
People react differently to being told that someone that they love is positive. Some people get it and are really supportive, others simply can’t accept it and this is even when they know there is no risk. By this I mean that as long as you’re on meds and your viral load is undetectable, you cannot transmit.
The thing is, if you see a future with this person, however hard it may be, its probably better if you just tell them straight. If they don’t understand, then they aren’t the right person for you.
Good luck with what you decide to do.