Question
How soon can I eat after taking Odimune?
21 August 2012. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I hear you say its advisable to take odimune (efavrienz+ FTC+ tenofovir) at bed time and its only taken on empty stomach, how long exactly should i stay away from food before taking it? The reason i am asking this is I can not starve the whole day before taking the tablet.
Answer
Saying that Odimune needs to be taken on an ’empty stomach’ doesn’t mean you need to starve yourself. It is fine to eat something before or when you take this, but you have to be careful to make sure this is not a high fat meal.
A high fat meal will increase levels of efavirenz and so you may get more side effects (mood changes, anxiety, disorientation or interrupted sleep etc). Food low in fat or with just a little fat, will be fine.
More about this is explained in this question: What happens if don’t take Atripla on an empty stomach?
Odimune is a generic version of Atripla which includes the same meds but is just made by a different company.
Hi Pam,
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis. But congratulations on the news you’re going to have a baby.
Atroiza and Atenef are the same HIV meds. They are different makes of Atripla.
To answer your list:
1. There’s not a change in treatment. The active ingredients in these pills are the same.
2. So side effects should be the same. It’s good that the early side effects are going away.
3. Please talk to your doctor about your diet. It’s recommended that Atroiza and Atenef are taken at bedtime. Side effects are mainly related to efavirenz, That’s one of the drugs in the tablet. But taking the pill at night reduces side effects as you will be sleeping when drug levels are highest. A high fat meal can increase efavirenz levels but other food is okay.
4. Please talk to your doctor about throwing up a few minutes after taking the meds.
5. So far, all the available evidence, over more than 25 years, shows that HIV drugs are mostly safe.
Here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
Hi
I recently found out that Im Hiv positive and a week later i then found out im pregnant, I was put on atroiza for 2 weeks and then changed to atenef, now my questions are:
1. Why have I been changed?(CD4 count is 253)
2. Will this change cause side effects as I have started experiencing less side effects from the previous meds.
3. Since Im pregnant I dont know how to eat or when, taking the meds on an empty stomach worked for me but because im pregnant Im often hungry and cannot take it on an empty stomach.
4. I throw up a few minutes after taking the meds but Its usually liquid and no sign of the pill, does this mean the pill is not out or i need to take it again even though i dont see it when vomiting?
5.Are these meds not affecting my unborn child?
Regards
Pam
Hi Shaun,
Atenef is a generic version of Atripla. For info on how to take it and when, please see here: http://i-base.info/guides/1561
How soon must I take atenef before or after eating
Hi Albertina,
It’s good that your ARVs seem to work well for you.
Taking Odimune at bedtime and on a fairly empty stomach can help reduce side effects. And if you do have any side effects they can happen when you’re asleep.
Eating before taking Odimune will not stop it from working.
Odimune is another name for Atripla, please see this link.
Please see this Q&A about what happens if you don’t take Odimune on an empty stomach.
I like to read your advices about taking ARVs because i started taking them in 2013 and they seem to be good for me. The thing is of late i eat two times a day is there any harm in that? Thank you
Hi Qulu,
The loss of appetite could be due to the medication. It could however be something else. Weight loss is also due to a lot of different reasons. If its possible please talk to a doctor about this.
Hi I ve recently taking ARV ,Purbac and Winthrop Isoniazid and I am 3 month pregnant now my problem I lost appetite and weight
Hi Jonnie,
Please see this link for info about PEP and PrEP. PEP is usually taken everyday for 1 month. If it contains efavirenz it’s recommended to take it before bedtime on an empty stomach.
Hellow….iam taking pep evryday at 1500hr is that ok