Question
What are the pills marked with M171 and D100?
25 December 2019. Related: Adherence, All topics, Starting treatment.
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.
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.
I sleeped with someone who is positive and he is taking m171 so is it possible to be positive
Hi Mahlako,
The ARVs that you’re taking are a generic version of Atripla, they’re used to treat HIV. Why does your boyfriend think you’re on the wrong meds?
Hi,I am a 34yr old lady living with Hiv fr six yrs nw.so the issue is my boyfriend also has HIV and he thinks I am using the wrong pills as they are written M171,please help
Hi Samukelisiwe,
Tribuss is an excellent ARV. People aren’t being switched because there’s an issue with it, some people are being switched because news meds are on the market. The meds that are available vary depending on where it is that someone lives.
I read on your comments about the M171(tribuss )is an old treatment which is steadily being switch …it being switch does it mean that it’s not that effective to HIV positive people???and is they are better drug for a HIV positive person to take??
Hi Tshepo,
What did the doctor say when you got the pills?
Some countries use Tribuss (M171) 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.
Please talk to your doctor about using Tribuss and for how long you need to take it. Please see this page for more info about PEP.
Hi I just want to know how strong is m171 is I am not HIV positive but I sleeped with someone I suspect he is HIV so i drinked them within 24hour so is been 5 days drinking them I want to know should I stop drinking them or what
Hi Obeng,
As Simon says above, 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.
If someone is taking M171 drugs, does it mean the person is HIV positive?
Hi Dolla,
Tribuss is used to treat HIV. It is safe and effective and can prevent you passing on HIV.
In some countries it might be used for a month only as PEP to protect you against HIV. But it’s not recommended for this in the UK because of a very low risk of serious side effects. Please see this link to info about PEP.