Q and A

Question

What are the pills marked with M171 and D100?

Answer

If your doctor prescribed HIV medication that looks like the pill in the picture and has M171 embossed, this is likely to be Tribuss.

tribuss

Picture: Tribuss, manufactured by Aspen.

The picture is not very clear, but M171 is one one side and D100 is on the other.

This is based on the information at this website.

http://www.events.za.bz/news-archive.aspx?ID=697

Tribuss is a generic version of Atripla and it is manufactured by Aspen. It is widely used in South Africa.

Just like Atripla, Tribuss contains three active HIV drugs – efavirenz, tenofovir-DF and emtricitabine.

Sometimes Tribuss is mainly used as an HIV treatment by people who are HIV positive. However, this is an older treatment that is steadily being switched to newer drugs in many countries.

Some countries use Tribuss as a way to prevent HIV after recent risk for people who are HIV negative. This way of using HIV meds is called PEP. Tribuss is not recommended as PEP in most countries though because of the risk of side effects that are higher in people who are HIV negative.

This answer was updated in December 2019 from an orginal question posted in September 2016.

209 comments

  1. Dolla

    Good day i just want more clarity on the M171. Does it mean you are using this pill because you are HIV positive or is it to prevent getting HIV.

    Thank you

  2. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Skhulile,

    The pills that are embossed with M171 are likely to be Tribuss. Tribuss is a safe and effective treatment for HIV.

  3. skhulile

    m171 is for hiv and aids

  4. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Tumi,

    It’s great that you tested HIV negative. And starting PEP as soon as possible after a busted condom is good too. For much more info on PEP please see this link.

  5. Tumi

    Hi

    A condom busted while I was sleeping with my boyfriend. I don’t know his status and he’s refusing to get tested with me. I went to the clinic and they tested me and the results were negative. I’m given Atroiza to use for 28 days as PEP. Should I be worried?

  6. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Roy,

    This pill is used to treat HIV. In some countries it is also used as PEP for one month after exposure to HIV. This aims to stop you becoming HIV positive.

  7. Roy

    So if someone is given that pill it means z HIV positive

  8. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Noroudana,

    There isn’t any form of medication that can prevent people from getting Covid 19, please see here for more advice: https://i-base.info/qa/15483

  9. Noroudana

    Can taking this pill prevent one from getting COVID-19

  10. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Unknown,

    Yes, that’s right, M171 on one side and D100 on the other. Please can you tell us more about what you want to know?

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