Question
What happens if don’t take Atripla on an empty stomach?
25 October 2011. Related: Adherence, All topics, Drug interactions.
Hello! I take Atripla and I need to take it on an empty stomach. I am just wondering what happens when I don’t take it on an empty stomach and how long after a meal is the stomach empty?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Eating before taking Atripla will not stop it from working.
When the drug instructions say take Atripla on an empty stomach, it does not mean that you have to feel physically empty or hungry. That is why the recommendation is to take your medication after about 2 hours without eating. A cup of tea and a biscuit an hour before you take your medication should be fine.
One of the reasons why they recommend taking it on an empty stomach is because a high fat mean can increase the drug levels of efavirenz to 60%. This can then increase the side effects. Nearly all other foods are fine, just leave a couple of hours when the meal is high fat. [efavirenz is one of the drugs contained in Atripla].
Some people find that they can eat and take Atripla almost straight after without experiencing side effects. However, as people are individuals and react differently to treatment, others find that eating and taking Atripla straight after, gives them nausea, vomitting or diarrhoea.
Today was a much better day comparing to yesterday. After I took a second Atripla last night, the result was expected. I don’t feel as dizzy and light headed like yesterday. And all the red patches on my feet has disappearing. By the end of the day it’s almost completely gone. Still no feeling of nausea or throwing up.
I am glad that those side effects turn around so fast.
I hope things work out for those who try to get on Atripla. I am gonna continue to be on this one a day Atripla until my next time see my Dr. Good luck guys
After a few years of taking the same medication, I decided to change to Atriple for its one pill a day instead of four like my old one. Yesterday, jan/9/13 was my first day. I took one around 10 pm after the gym with any empty stomach ( I was a lil hungry tho). One hour later, I started to have my last meal as normal and then it hit me. My mouth become tasteless. I couldn’t finish my meal . begin to feel dizzy. It was like I am walking cushion, light headed, lost balanced. And quickly fell asleep. My Dr. Mentioned to me about weird dreams. :)
There I was in my dream, I was flying with other 2 creatures. We all have white see through wings like dragonflies with tint of different colors. This was the first I ever have a dream like like. And then bunch other dreams followed.
The morning after and through out the day. I feel light headed and sometimes I feel like I can just fall asleep anytime. No feeling of nausea. No feeling throwing up at all. ( I am a throw upper ) I was happy.
Around 5 pm( 20 hours) after I took my first Atripla pill, I felt tightness, numbness in my right foot. At first I thought my shoe was tight so I lossened it and drove home from work. By now the dizziness has gone but the lightness still there. Once I got in the house and took off my shoes. I saw patches of redness all over my feet. On top between my toes, around below my ankle, in the bottom of my feet. Uncomfortable to walk.
Not gonna lie. I am scared and nervous…..
After couple hours of thinking, I decided to continue to take another one…just now at 12 o’clock 1/10/13….the only different is tonight finished all my meals ..waited like an hour and half and took it… Will see what happened when I get up tomorrow. Gnight.
Hi Neza,
I can’t tell you whether this is related to HIV treatment or something else. This is not a common side effect of treatment though. It’s important that you talk to your doctor about this so that s/he can find out what is causing this.
Hey I hv started atripla for 5 days its atripla, purbac and autrin bt I hv a problem my shit has change colour to black is it bcz of the medication or smthng else plz help
Hi Lulu,
I’m very pleased to hear how well you are doing on treatment! Does your husband know about your status?
Hi, I am using Odimune since January 2012, and my cd4 count has increase to 530 from 217. I am very happy, the problem is that my husband does not know his status and he does not want us to use condoms.help
Dear Evaristo
You have asked a number of questions so I will try and respond to them one at a time.
Your first question was whether Atripla will work if you take it with food. The simple answer is yes it will work.
The general advice to take it on an empty stomach is because some people experience side effects when they take it with fatty food.
Your doctor has given you good advice in saying that there is no need to change your medication. This is as long as it is working well and you are not experiencing any side effects.
You mentioned that you like eating a lot. Have you mentioned this to your doctor? If so, what did s/he advice?
As regards the odd occasion when you go clubbing, there’s no need for concern if you take the medication a little later than you usually do. This only becomes a problem if you regularly take your medication late or continously miss doses. Please follow this link to our guide to adherence. It explains in more detail why it is important to take your medication as prescribed.
http://i-base.info/guides/side/side-effects-and-adherence
Best wishes.
Hi, i Just started taking Atripla like 4 days ago. I keep telling my doctor I like to eat a lot and that I don’t think its going to work for me. I like to eat before bed time, I liek to snack constantly. I cannot find a time where my stomic is empty. I am going to have to a lots of times take it with eating because of this. I already have taken it with food! Does this mean the medication is not going to work for me? I like eating, I don’t ever have an empty stomic I eat a lot, lol, but its the truth, can I still take this medication, or should I stop. When I take it after eating so far I have not had any bad affects. I just like to eat and am not willing to stop eating to take a pill. Does this mean I have to change to a new pill, or will it be okay still if I take it even though I eat around the same time? Also what if I decide to go clubbing and stay out all night until morning, when then will I take the pill, will it make me tired? Should I just take it anyway even if I am at the club and not planning on sleeping until morning. I almost wish I could have a pill I could take in the morning and with food, so I can take it with breakfast. My doctor does’t want me to change the pill though because I already started it and she said she doesn’t want me to try another pill because that will lessen my options for a pill that will work for me. So if I eat witht he pill, is that okay, will it work the same still?
If this works for you, taking Atripla with food will be fine. If the increased drug levels from food were a problem you would notice more side effects. Sometimes taking Atripla with food can reduce nausea.
If i take atripla as recommended,i have nausea & find it hard to sleep at night. But if i have it after food,everything is perfect. Hope that wont cause any problem in future.