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.
My cd4 count is +800 viral load less than 20 copies/mL. My medical aid/insurance has told me to switch from Atripla to Odimune bcoz they will cover it in full unlike Atripla which i have to pay around 45 rand plus.
What difference does Odimune have from what i’m takng currently?
Some people get side effects and some people don’t. The only way you will know is by taking things carefully until you get used to treatment. Actually, most people find treatment is much easier than they thought before they started. If you are worried about any symptom that might be a side effect though, you should contact your doctor or nurse. Good luck with your treatment.
So I’m starting to take my pills for the first time and right now i don’t have pains or any side affects. will the pills bring other side effects?
Hi Zama,
You can eat the same foods as normal when taking Odimune. The only caution is that it is best to leave at least 2 hours between a high fat meal and when you take your odimune. This is because taking it together with a high fat meal can make side effects like dizziness and mood changes more difficult.
It my first time taking odimune if I can ask what kind of food is good if I’m taking it
Hi Fikile,
It is find to take Odimune when you are pregnant. This will help protect your baby from being infected with HIV. Please see this page for more information about HIV drugs in pregnancy.
I take Odimune n am pregnant is is it safe for my child?
Hi Busisiwe,
Being an hour early or late taking your medication isn’t a problem.
Most people take odimune at night because this can make side effects (like dizziness/ tiredness) easier to deal with. If you are taking odimune in the morning is there a reason why you chose this time?
For the first time i oversleept nd took my odimune after an hour is that a problem
Hi Dumisani,
It’s important to try to take Odimune at the same time everyday. An hour early or late is unlikely to make any difference but if you are regularly changing your time by more than that there could be a risk of developing resistance to your drugs.
Side effects usually improve after a few weeks on treatment but if you are working shifts odimune might not be the best medication for you. This is because it can cause dizziness, especially in the first few hours after taking a dose. It’s important that your doctor knows that you are working shifts.
Please see this similar question, and this information about the importance of good adherence.
It is also important to talk to your doctor about the pains in your feet and any other side effects. It is likely that this is nothing to worry about but there is a possibility that this could be linked to something called peripheral neuropathy so it is important that your doctor knows how you are feeling.