Question
Is rash a side effect of HIV drugs?
4 January 2016. Related: All topics, Side effects.
Is the rash on my body caused by my HIV medication – I am taking Atripla?
Answer
Rash can be a side effect of several HIV drugs (ART). Although is is oftern mild, it can also be very serious. Serious rash can be a side effect of efavirenz, which is included in Atripla.
Anyone getting a rash after starting ART should contact heir doctor or clinic straight away.
Have you spoken to your doctor yet? Any symptom or side effect should be discussed with a doctor, especially a rash.
Atripla contains three drugs: efavirenz, tenofovir and FTC. Up to 1 in 5 people (15-20%) using efavirenz can experience mild to moderate rash in the first few weeks of starting treatment. In approximately 1 in 3 of these cases (ie 5% overall) the rash is serious enough to need to change treatment.
The rash could therefore be due your medication. Please call the clinic to describe your symptoms in detail. This will include what the rash looks like, what percentage or your body is affected and where and whether it breaks the skin. The clinic will then decide whether you need to came to the clinic to show a doctor.
For most people a mild rash disappears over the next few weeks. How long the rash lasts and how severe it gets is different for individuals. Less than 5% of people stop the treatment and less than 1% get a severe rash. Please follow this link to our side effects guide for more information about rash.
This answer was updated in January 2016 for a question that was first posted online on 12 October 2012.
Hi Ziphokuhle, how long have you been taking myteladov for and when did you first notice this rash?
As with all skin changes you should speak with your doctor about possible causes and if it is related to the treatment.
Have you had a rash like this before? and have you noticed anything that makes it better/worse?
As the rash is only appearing on your arms have you come into contact with anything new that is only touching your arms e.g., new clothes, lotions, light exposure etc…?
Hy since I’ve started myteladov I’m having a rush on my arms.what courses that pls I’m so worried everyday at 20:00
Hi Thembi, are you taking Myeladov and Volutrip at the same time? They are both the same medication. Take them together will mean you have been taking a double dose of the same treatment.
They are both generic versions of TLD. They have different names as they have been made by different companies but they contain the same drugs and work in the same way.
TLD: https://i-base.info/guides/14970
How long have you been on this treatment? As with any skin changes you should speak to your doctor about this and they can investigate and treat as appropriate.
I am taking MYTELADOV and VOLUTRIP . I have rush breakouts on my legs and its very ichy.
Hi David,
As Simon says on this Q&A, rash can be a side effect of several HIV drugs (ART). Although is is often mild, it can also be very serious. Serious rash can be a side effect of efavirenz, which is included in Odimune.
For most people when they start HIV treatment, a mild rash disappears over the next few weeks. How long the rash lasts and how severe it gets is different for individuals.
Have you spoken to your doctor yet? Any symptom or side effect should be discussed with a doctor, especially a rash. So please get in touch with your doctor about the rash.
Am taking Odimune I was and i get rashes sometimes on my belly. Am wondering if its bad for me.
thanks for the info!