Question
CD4 70, on Bactrim and Atripla, are there any interactions?
5 April 2012. Related: All topics, Starting treatment.
Hi. I recently got diagnosed with HIV. CD4 count of 70 and Viral count over 400,000. Pretty bad.
My doctor has started me immediately on Atripla and I feel a bit better after 2 weeks. In addition he has put me on Bactrim to prevent any lung infection due to the low CD4 count.
The question I have is do the two drugs I am taking have interactions that I should be aware of? Also has anyone gone through the same meds together? Thanks.
Answer
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis but it’s great to hear that you’re starting to feel better already.
Because this answer is being posted online I’ll explain first of all the different drugs you are using.
Atripla contains three HIV drugs- efavirenz, FTC, tenofovir. This is a recommended first line treatment in both the USA and UK. More information about Atripla is at this link. This includes information about how to take it, and potential side effects.
Bactrim is the trade name for co-trimoxazole, which is made up of two drugs trimethoprim (TMP) and sulphamethoxazole. This is a standard treatment given to people diagnosed with a CD4 under 200 to reduce the possibility of developing a pneumonia called PCP. This link has more information on PCP.
You should feel very confident in this treatment. It’s the first option that would be given to somebody starting with a CD4 under 200. These drugs should not have any interactions with each other. If you do experience any side effects or new symptoms you can talk to your doctor about these.
I wish you the best of luck with your treatment, please do get in touch if you have any further questions.
If you’d like to read more about HIV treatment please take a look at this Introduction to combination therapy.
Hi Lisa,
Its perfectly safe to take bactrim and Atripla at the same time, this won’t have any impact on your HIV.
Hi
I have an undetectable viral load and a CD4 of above 1300.
I contracted a UTI and have been put on Bactrim whilst I am taking Atripla, is this a safe combination.
I also feel like I am loosing weight will this combination help?
Thank you for answering
Hi Simon,
It’s important that you talk to your doctor about the correct Purbac dose. The usual Purbac dose for adults is taken every 12 hours. And double strength can mean that you might have to take just one tablet not two.
It’s very important to check with your doctor to make sure you’re not taking too much.
hello i was diagnose with Pneumonia and i was given purbac double strength Trimethoprim 160mg sulphamethoxazole is this correct procedure to take 2 tablets 4 time every six hours or is it 2 tablets every after 12 hours please help me
Hi Nicky
It is better to tell you doctor about this first, just in case what you think is an allergy is a rash related to efavirenz (
According to the drug interaction website at Liverpool University (http://www.hiv-druginteractions.org) there are no drug interactions between Allergex (loratadine) and Atripla. See:
http://www.hiv-druginteractions.org/downloads/ajd45jg-4er5-67oy-ur43-009ert.pdf?interaction_ids%5B%5D=67522&interaction_ids%5B%5D=76616&interaction_ids%5B%5D=76613&interaction_ids%5B%5D=69152&interaction_ids%5B%5D=68813&interaction_ids%5B%5D=69613
Can I take allergex with Atripla. My face has been itching and I’ve always suffered from allergies. So I’ve always had the antihistamines. I just started taking Atripla in June
Hi Nosisa
Thanks for writing about your experience so that other people can benefit from this.
Sometimes periods of difficult stress can cause your CD4 count to go down.
It is great that you are now doing so well.
Hi, I was diagnosed with HIV in 2008 when I was pregnant with my 6year old daughter. My CD4 count then was 720 but my doctor put straight on Atripla to protect my baby. She was given nevapine at birth for 6 weeks and she tested negative. I was then given a choice to stop the ARV’s. 2 and half years later it started to go down after I lost 3 family members in one week. It was 380 and I started Atripla again with purbac and It went up again, was later changed to Tribuss that am still taking. My CD4 is 1160 and feeling very healthy. I never had any problems except the dizziness in the first week and that was it. Let’s continue to take our meds and will live longer.
Hi Dinoj,
Being on treatment does decrease the risk of HIV related illnesses- so long as your viral load is undetectable.
Hi, thank you so much for your input. I did some research on the net and one interesting post caught my attention. It said that when someone is on treatment for 2 years without any complications, opportunistic infections diminishes. Is this true?