Question
Are generics the same as brand-name drugs?
4 January 2016. Related: All topics, Changing treatment, Side effects, Southern Africa.
I live in South Africa and have recently been advised by my medical aid that they will be changing all Atripla patients to a generic drug called Tribuss.
This is because Tribuss is cheaper.
I have checked with my doctor and she advised that there is no reason to worry because it is almost the same thing – just that the other is a generic.
My concern was around side effects. I wanted to know if I should expect going through the side effects all over again.
My other question is what is the actual difference between the actual drug and a generic?
Answer
Your consultant has given you the good information about Tribuss.
The main difference between generics and brand-name drugs is just the cost. Generic drugs cost much less than brand-name counterparts.
The active ingredients for the generic and brnd versions are both the same.
Generic drugs might be a different shpae size or colour but they have the same activie ingredients. They are just as effective and also have the same risk of side effects.
Generic drugs are also carefully tested. They undergo similar strict regulations for safety and its effectiveness. In the UK, between 65% to 85% of all drugs prescribed by the NHS are generic.
In theory, you should not have any side effect problems, since they share the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs. However, if you do get from side effects, please talk to your doctor.
This answer was lightly edited in January 2016 from an original answer in February 2012.
Hi. Thank u for this informative side – I’ve been taking Atripla for a year and I’m two weeks pregnant my question is: is it still safe to continue taking Atripla?
Hi Bonga,
How much do you weight now, and what did you weigh when you started treatment?
Many people gain weight when starting treatment. This can be a side effect of medication, or it may just be because your body doesn’t have to keep fighting HIV so much and it’s getting stronger again. Eating a healthy diet and exercising can help control your weight. Our quality of life guide has information about diet and exercise.
This is also something you can talk to your doctor about if you are worried. S/he will be better able to judge what is causing the weight gain than can be done online.
Since i started taking tribuss I have gained weight is it possible to loose this weight again?
Hi S.P.
You should be able to access Tribuss, or another version of this treatment (also called Atripla or Odimune) from government clinics if you are a South African citizen.
I’m in south africa. Kzn my doctor told me that it is expensive. Now I’m paying 600 rand
Hi S.P. can you tell me which country you live in?
Where can I get tribuss is it available at government clinics
Hi Denzil,
You must not stop taking Tribuss. Taking your medication correctly everyday is the reason you have an undetectable viral load. This is great but if you stop taking Tribuss your viral load will go back up very quickly.
Because you are undetectable it is unlikely that you will pass HIV to your wife. It’s still a good idea to use condoms most of the time, but you can have unprotected sex to try to get pregnant. As I said in the previous comment it is best to only have sex when your wife is her most fertile.
Because you are undetectable your wife doesn’t need to take any medicine to stop her being infected. It’s important that you don’t miss doses of Tribuss though as this could make you more infectious.
Hi Rebecca
I’ve discovered that my viral load is undetectable.Can I sleep with my HIV negative wife without protection and she’ll be safe since we want a baby?Should I stop taking Tribuss since my viral load is undetectable?How long should I wait in order for me sleep without protection? Is there any other drug that we can use that can protect my wife from being infected?
Hi Lorraine,
Atripla is the origional brand, and the packaging is branded with the name of the manufacturer. Most people in South Africa who take this combination take a generic version. These are just as effective but are less expensive. In South Africa HIV treatment is free- but you would probably get a generic version of Atripla such as Odimune or Tribuss. I don’t have information about how much it would cost to be treated privately, you would need to contact a private clinic for this information. The South African Clinician’s society has details of private clinics on their website.