Question
What should I expect from starting Odimune?
30 October 2012. Related: All topics, South Africa, Starting treatment.
I have been positive for 14 years without any complications, nothing.
A few months ago, I had some tingling started around my eyes and then a rash (not severe).
I decided it was time for treatment, visited the doctor, did the necessary tests (CD4 = 247) and (viral load = 12,000 copies).
Treatment regime = Odimune.
I researched this and am scared. Please explains what happens from here on with regards to HIV progression to AIDS, and what does odimune exactly do? Apart from the doc explains?
Answer
Odimune contains three HIV medications – efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir. It is a generic version of Atripla. This link has more information about this combination.
This is a very effective treatment combination that is very widely used. It is recommended in many countries including the UK, USA and South Africa for first line treatment.
Although it’s normal to be concerned when starting treatment this is the only way to stay well in the long term. When you start treatment your viral load will go down very quickly. Your CD4 count will increase over time.
Without treatment your body is vulnerable to infections, and eventually to AIDS progression. But by starting treatment your immune system will get stronger. With treatment the life expectancy for people with HIV is about the same as for HIV negative people.
For more information about starting treatment please see our Introduction to combination therapy guide.
Hi ,I just went to the clinic and they gave me odimune for asthma treatment, can I use it?
Hi Daphny,
Odimune is used to treat HIV. However, if your boyfriend is HIV positive and taking HIV treatment (ART) that can be good news.
People who are HIV positive and taking ART with undetectable HIV in the blood, cannot transmit HIV. That’s even if not using condoms.
Please see undetectable = untransmittable at this link.
Many couples, where one person is HIV positive and the other negative, have had healthy HIV negative babies. Please see this guide to becoming pregnant.
I met with my boyfriend last year September and he said to me he is taking high blood pressure medication.He goes to the clinic every month for treatment.On his treatment I saw Odimune tablets and others,I asked him what are this for (Odimune)he said he doesn’t know they just got all of that from the clinic for high blood treatment.So I suspect that he is HIV positive and he didn’t want to tell me.We have been sleeping without condom since January cos he suggested we should have a child,pls advise what to do.Im thinking of breaking up with him
Hi Grace,
First, congratulations on the news that you’re going to have a baby.
But please don’t be scared. That’s because millions of women have taken these drugs all over the world. And this has resulted in many healthy HIV negative babies. So these drugs will not only look after your health, they’ll look after your baby’s health too.
Please see this guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health. There’s lots of info in this, including for after your baby is born.
I’m hv 2 months using treatment so today I thy gv me the Odimune, nd I’m pregnant for 34 weeks so I’m scared this pills hw will thy affect me, cz I ws using arv
Hi Precious,
Have you stopped HIV treatment for 2 months? Can I ask why this has happened? There might have been a stock out. Or it might be because of side effects.
But it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about starting HIV treatment again. You can ask them to check if Odimune will still work well. If you stopped treatment because of side effects you can ask for meds that are easier for you to take.
If you have access to your CD4 count and viral load results, please let us know what they are.
Hello what if someone who takes this pills , stays 2months without taking them what will happen to the person?
Hi Nokwanda,
How long have you been taking Odiume for? If it’s just a few weeks, the way you’re feeling is common. If it’s longer, you should talk to your doctor about possibly changing. Please see Q3 here: http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hey i used this medicine but ihave a problem when I’m using it I’m not feeling well I’m feeling dizzy n vomiting what can i do
Hi Busi,
Odimune is a generic version of Atripla. It is a safe and effective treatment for HIV. It doesn’t need any other treatment.
However, it can work as prevention. But there is a low risk of serious reaction to the main drug in the pill called efavirenz. It’s not recommended as PEP in the UK for this reason.
So please ask your doctor if you can have a different pill to take as PEP. Please see this link for more info about PEP.