Question
Could changing from Atripla to Tribuss have caused my viral load to increase?
18 May 2012. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, South Africa.
During my last test (6 months ago) my VL was less than 40.
Three months ago, my medical aid changed my medication from Atripla to Tribuss and have been taking my medication regurlaly as required.
I just received my latest test results now and my VL is 686. Could the change of medication have caused the VL to increase? Is it normal that it would increase so significantly in such a small period of time?
What could have caused the VL to increase so much?
Answer
Tribuss is a generic version of the brand name drug Atripla. They contain the same chemical properties and it is unlikely that swapping from one to the other would cause a change in how effective they treatment was.
Your doctor will need to find out why your viral load has increased and if this is a real result. How are you doing with taking your meds? These drugs are usually able to keep viral load undetectable if you are careful to take them at the same time every day. Are you taking any other medications that might be affecting your drug levels?
It’s important to have a second test to confirm these results. This is because there is a possibility that this could be a temporary blip or a lab error, and this needs to be checked before any change of treatment is made.
Did your clinic draw blood for another test when you received your last test results?
If the second test result shows that your viral load has increased your doctor will probably discuss the options for changing treatment. If possible you should have a resistance test to see if you have developed resistance to any of the drugs in your combination.
Please take a look at this link for more information about viral load tests and changing treatment.
Hi Busisiwe,
I’m very sorry to hear about your and your partner’s diagnoses. Finding out you have HIV is very difficult. It’s OK to feel overwhelmed. You and your partner have the opportunity to support each other while you deal with this. But it can be difficult to talk about HIV in the beginning. It’s a good idea to try to talk to each other, but it might take you both some time to feel ready.
Maybe you would both find it easier to talk to somebody else. There are support groups and counsellors who might be able to help. There are also online forums like poz.com. You may find that talking to somebody a bit more distant will help you to find a way to talk to each other.
HIV shouldn’t stop you having a child. Many positive couples have healthy, HIV negative children. Being on treatment makes it much less likely you would pass HIV to your baby.It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or nurse if you are planning to get pregnant. You can also read our pregnancy guide online.
Hi there just found out that me and my partner both have HIV. We’re dealing with it very badly. Ever since we tested we haven’t discussed about it. Another thing is we were still planning to have a child, so I would like to know if it is going to be possible. We are both using tribuss, centrum and purbac.
There are no known interactions between these drugs. They should be fine to take together. It’s important that your doctor knows about all the medication you are taking.
Is it problem to take epillim & rifafour while taking tribuss as well?
Hi Tweenky,
Acid reflux is not a common side effect of Tribuss, and because Tribuss contains the same drugs as Atripla it’s unlikely to have caused you any new side effects. What treatment have you been given for this?
Hi There!
I have been taking Atripla for about a year and the medical aid changed to Tribuss. Now i have started having irritation on my throat and cause me to clear it now and again. I have been to an ENT and gave me medication for Acid reflux. Is it possible that Tribuss is causing Acid Reflux, I never had this problem when I was taking Atripla.
Dear Moo
Taking ARVs and having an undetectable viral load dramatically reduces your risk of passing on HIV to your partner. If he is negative. However, it does not mean that he is protected from HIV. There is still a risk that you could pass it on to him at some point in the future.
The risks to you of having unprotected sex with your partner include: an unplanned pregnancy; STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections and if partner is already positive with a resistant strain, then he could pass that on to you.
Hi. I’m currently sleeping with my man without a condom and I am taking Atripla. How dangerous it can be he does not wanna test so I don’t know if he is positive or not. Is it going to cause my viral load to increase or what? Because now I can see that it’s working and I am gaining weight so please help me.
Hi Phum,
The symptoms you have described are not known side effects of Tribuss (Atripla). It’s unlikely that these symptoms are related to your medication but if they don’t clear up within a few days, if they get worse, or if you are concerned it is best to talk to your doctor or nurse about them. Can I ask why you changed treatment?
Hi my CD4 count is 807 my VL undetectable, I have change my med which was lamzid and nevirapine after a month given birth. Its been one month using Tribuss I now feel joint pain in my hips area, saw throat, fever,swollen as if i got tonsils, heavy chest, pain on my shoulder, eye itching and I’m worried that can be side effect of Tribuss?