Question
Questions about Tribuss
6 March 2013. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I was diagnosed with HIV in January 2013 during regular HIV testing. My CD4 count was 91 and my GP put me straight on Tribuss.
I’ve never been sick of any illness since July 2012. I’d like to know about Tribuss. What do I do if I forgot to take the pill and remember only the next day?
I have also been given Trixazole (Bactrim). Should I take the pill as well?
And what mult-vitamins will be good for me?
Answer
Hi,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis but I’m glad to hear how well you are feeling. Do you have any support to deal with finding out you have HIV?
Tribuss is a combination pill which contains three antiretrovirals (ARVs). These are efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir. This is a very widely used combination for treating HIV. Tribuss is a generic version of Atripla. Other generic versions include Trustiva, Tribuss or Odimune. You can read general information about this drug on our HIV meds page.
If you realise you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember. BUT, if you only realise when you’re going to take your next dose, do not take a double dose.
Bactrim/Trixazole are antibiotics which your doctor has given to make it less likely that you will get ill with infections like pneumonia. These are recommended for anybody with a CD4 under 200 and it’s important that you keep taking these. In some countries it is recommended to continue taking these antibiotics as long as your CD4 count is still below 350.
Multi-vitamins don’t treat HIV. Unless you have a vitamin deficiency there is unlikely to be any benefit from taking a multivitamin and they are essentially a waste of money. You are better off spending your money on a healthy diet which will do more to keep your body strong than a multivitamin.
I would like to know if tribuss have an effect on hearing loss?
If nutricom is a general multivitamin, then there are no drug interactions with ARVs.
This also depends on your combination.
If your combination includes an integrate inhibitor, then it is recommended to separate the multivitamin dose from your ARV does by at least four hours.
i am on my arv can i take Nutricom as well?
Hi Dimpho
It is good that you are back on treatment. Some people report that if they take a break from treatment, they get similar side effects when they restart. Interrupting treatment is not a good idea though as there is a risk of drug resistance and studies that show being on continuous treatment is better. There is a good chance that things will be back to normal if this is the cause.
Hi, am on tribuss, my cd4 is 798 and my viral load is undetected, recently i went for a 6 day holiday and forgot to take my arvs,i started dem immediately i came back which is on the 7 th day but now every morning i have nausea,i feel like am pregnant but am not because i sterelized and having my periods,is it beacos i stopped for 6 days and will i go back to normal or do i need to change this drug, please help,am frustrated
Hi Nombuzo
Because your question is so important, I have posted this as a new question with the answer here:
http://i-base.info/qa/10171
My CD4 count is 154 and i am not taking the treatment. How dangerous is to not be taking treatment yet?
Hi Tshepiso
It is good that your were diagnosed before your CD4 count became even lower. The HIV meds (Tribuss) will help make your CD4 count become stronger again.
Tribuss includes three drugs in one pill. One of these drugs is called efavirenz which can take a while to get used to.
Side effects of efavirenz include very vivid dreams which can interrupt your sleep and make you feel tired the next day. Other side effects include changing your mood. This can make you anxious, moody, depressed etc, which may also be very likely because you are also dealing with your new diagnosis.
Luckily, the side effects usually get better after the first week or two. For most people this becomes something that they manage to live with. Other people change to an alternative medicine if the side effects do not improve.
It is important to talk to your doctor or clinic about these symptoms. A health worker needs to know how you are doing and to decide how serious these are.
The ilvitrim contains two antibiotics. This will protect you against a range of infections until your CD4 count becomes stronger.
I don’t know the cause of the feeling in your stomach. This is something to also tell your clinic.
More information about Tribuss is here (it is called Atripla in the UK and the pill may look different):
http://i-base.info/guides/1561
Information about efavirenz side effects is at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/side/cns-side-effects
Hi, I’ve been diagnosed with HIV, my CD4 was 91. They put me straight on Tribuss. They also gave me ilvitrim and norstan-isoniazid. That was a week ago. Now I am always tired and moody. Are these the side effects of all this? My stomach is burning,that feeling of a pregnant woman. Is there something wrong. Pls help.
Hi. I’m HIV positive my CD4 count is 939 i found out in July 2014. I have been taking vitams since i found out i was positive but this month they also gave me nucotrim to take two tablets ones a day. They gave packets for four months. I want know is it ok to drink nucotrim for that long or will i be exceeding the limit.