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.
Hi I’m using tribuss pillsi started on this month but now the problem I forget to take them in time,I normally take them at 9:30 sometimes I will remember to take them at 9:36 is it wrong for my health that?please help me
Hi Jayjay, I don’t know that much about clinics in SA but any med that causes chest pains is something that your doctor needs to know about. Every country included alternatives to efavirenz-based combinations like Atroiza/Tribuss/Atripla etc.
Hi
I’m on Atroiza for 2 months now. At the beginning it only made me dizzy but that stopped after a week or 2. I have been gettin tightening on my chest after taking it and I am wondering if its possible for me to change to other treatment that does not do this. I am in South Africa and I get my meds from a clinic. Can a clinic change HIV meds or is this only doable if I get meds from Doctor.
Hi Mabali, please see questions 5 and 6 at this link:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
If your partner is on effective treatment it is easy to have a baby.
Hi there, my partner is HIV+ and is taking treatment but I want to know how I also test I’m negative? And how must I protect my self not getting infected so far we use condoms and is conufusing me cz we have kids too and thy are negative.
Hi Pozz – please talk to your doctor about the vomiting and feeling sick. The doctor will want to talk about the details about these symptoms – how often, when in relationship to timing of meds, whether anything helps etc, and if alternative treatments are available.
I am on Eftenem I take them at about 08 pm. Lately I always hav flu. I visited my dr. He sad I have tb/ water on the right lung, I mst start tb treatment but so they can drain water on that lung. I took them for 6 months but I was always vomiting and lost my weight. He said it is common. Must I change the Eftenem?
Hi Mbalenhle, medical information is personal and private. This is something you need to talk about with your partner.
In general, it is good to consider that any partner is HIV positive – mainly because so many people who think they are negative have never tested or not tested for many years. Unless you know otherwise, by you deciding to have sex without a condom – if this is what happened – he might assume you might already be HIV positive yourself.
Another point – and this is more important – is that effective HIV treatment prevents HIV transmission. In the PARTNER study couples had sex more than 58,000 without condoms and there were no HIV transmissions because the positive partners were on treatment.
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study
I have a problem… I saw the pill which is M171, it a pink oval pink written M171 in it…my man is using this pill…is he HIV positive bcos he ddnt tell me about it pls tel bcos we had unprotected sex
Hi Rehana
How are you doing? It can be difficult to find out you are positive, but Tribuss is a good medication. As well as being good for your health it will protect your husband form catching HIV. It is best to use condoms for the next few months, but once your viral load is undetectable, the rsik to your husband becomes very low, even without condoms.