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.
Hei my name is dikeledi l just found out this month that l am positive but l am afraid to go to the clinic,so l bought this pills named M171 on from this other guy.l have already taken three already in a day,so l would like to know should l continue buying those pills from the guy?or go to a clinic to receive proper treatment?
Hi Nosie,
Its common to feel like this before starting meds. With regards to body changes, these aren’t something that is common on modern day ARVs. For more info about starting meds please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
Hi I’m Nosie
I am supposed to start taking my treatment (Triolar) but am scared of the side effects especially the one that changes yo body structure. Please help
Hi Sinazo,
No, you are not being selfish. Many HIV positive people find it difficult to tell others, including their family. But, if you think they won’t support you then you don’t have to tell them. Is there anyone you can talk to? Finding other HIV positive people to talk to can help because they might have had this same difficulty. Are you on HIV treatment? The clinic might have support workers who could help too.
I found out a year ago that I’m hiv+ and i have been struggling to tell my family about my status because they’re so judgemental and i get worried because no one knows about my status. Am i being selfish for not telling them?
Hi Tidimalo,
It can be hard to tell someone that you love about your HIV. But there are links on this similar question here that can help explain about zero risk to your boyfriend. Taking HIV treatment (ART) and being undetectable means that the risk to your boyfriend if you have sex without condoms is zero. You can read more about U=U (undetectable=untransmittable) here. Perhaps he’s just taking time to think about things. But when he gets back in touch you can try to get the conversation started with this information.
Hi tidimalo I was scared to tell my bf about my status bt Monday I was decide to tell him bt now.he not answer my call
.
Hi Naty,
A persons CD4 count will gradually begin to rise once they start meds. As to how high it will get its not possible to say. Nor is it possible to say how long it will take for it to rise. All ARVs are just as effective, and this includes tribuss.
naty 34,how long it take for cd4 to it increase,if u a ure tribuss
Hi Lethu,
A persons viral load should become undetectable within 3 months of starting treatment. It can however sometimes take longer. This is why its important to have it tested.
Other than the occasional dizziness, how are things?