Question

Can I take Tribuss with food?

5 July 2012. Related: All topics, Side effects, Southern Africa, Starting treatment.

Hi! I am 35 years and started taking my tribuss pill in February 2012. My problem is that I cant take the pill on an empty stomach. Can this make the pill to disfunction?

Answer

Answer: Rebecca McDowall

Hi,

Thank-you for your question.

Tribuss is a generic combination treatment which contains three HIV drugs. These are efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir. In the UK, this combination in a single pill is called Atripla.

Tribuss is usually recommended to be taken on an empty stomach is to reduce side effects. This is up to 60% more efavirenz is absorbed if it is taken with a high fat meal.

This would mean there is more efavirenz than you need and you may be more likely to get side effects. Side effects from efavirenz include dizziness, mood changes and sleep disturbance. Please follow this link for more information about efavirenz side effects.

However, the increased levels of efavirenz are connected to a high fat meal.

If you prefer to take Tribuss with some food this is fine, just not with fatty foods.

Please let me know if you have any more questions!

324 comments

  1. Lebo •

    I have been using tribuss for 3 weeks now and I have developed some veins in my face and also headache and stomach cramps .please help

  2. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Lebo,

    Headaches are a common side effect when beginning tribuss. You can also get an upset stomach. Though I’m not sure about veins in the face.
    Headaches and upset stomachs usually go in 2-4 weeks. However, if you are still having problems, you will need to talk to your doctor.

    For more info on tribuss please see:

    http://i-base.info/guides/1561

  3. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Pizza,

    If you are being given different ARVs that are generic versions of Atripla, then you will be OK. This is because these drugs all contain the same ingredients. Please see:

    http://i-base.info/guides/1561

    If you aren’t taking Atripla, then do you know why you are being given different drugs?

  4. Pizza •

    Im 33yrs old im hiv+ its been 5months on arv’s at my clinic they give me different drugs every month, cant this cause trouble in my system or side effects?

  5. Simon Collins •

    Hi Lea, please talk to your doctor about this symptoms. Tribuss is not recommended in the UK for PEP because of the side effects of efavirenz.

  6. Lea •

    Hi. I just started taking tribuss as a precautionary measure. It’s causing me severe ear, jaw and neck pain on my left side. My ear is also blocked and I can’t unblock it. Please help

  7. Simon Collins •

    Hi Teboho

    Tribuss is being prescribed as PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) to reduce the risk that you become positive.

    Information about PEP is online at the FAQ page.
    http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

    and in this guide:
    http://i-base.info/guides/testing

  8. Teboho •

    Hi.
    I had unprotected sex en after a day I went to see a doctor en he prescribed me with Tribuss. Will the pills help me not to be infected?

  9. Roy Trevelion •

    Hi, Tribuss is a combination of the ARVs efavirenz, tenofovir DF and FTC. Other versions of the same combination are Atenef, Atroiza, Citenvir, Heftenam, Odimune, Trivenz, Truno, Trustiva and Virally. They have different names simply because they are made by different manufacturers. Here in the UK the combination is called Atripla.

  10. Lungile •

    Hey!! Am 21 weeks pregnant on ARV’s so on my last visit was given tribuss so my question is are they the same?

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