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 Thabang
Congratulations on your pregnancy – I hope everything is going well.
The small time differences for the meds you are on are unlikely to make any difference. Trying to aim for the same time is a good way of getting into a daily routine. However, so long are you are within an hour or so, the exact time is not so critical.
Hi there… I am 35 weeks pregnant & have been taking Tribuss since I was 12 weeks. The problem is I dont take my meds at the same time everynight. I take them at 9, sometimes 9.30 or even 10 pm. Will this affect my baby? I am really worried.
Hi Dorah
It is difficult to give individual information for you because you don’t say how long ago you started treatment and how long the side effects have gone on.
For most people, side effects get easier after the first few weeks.
If they are not getting better, or if they are too difficult, please speak to your doctor about this. In most countries there are alternative med you can use that don\t have these side effects.
See this link for more information.
http://i-base.info/guides/side/cns-side-effects
Hi, i started using Tribuss after giving birth but i have side effects since first week until now and im worried about it pls help me.
Hi
If you are worried about weight loss, this is something to talk to your doctor about.
Without knowing about your HIV and general health, or how much weight you have lost, we can only give limited information. However, unexplained weight loss of more than 5% over 6 months is serious enough for your doctor to need to know about this.
Your doctor needs to try and find to cause, before knowing which treatment to recommend.
Hi I’m HIV+ I have lost weight what pills I can buy over the count to gain my weight? I’m on treatment..
Hi
Thanks for posting your experiences which are really helpful for these discussions.
Side effect are common with efavirenz, which is one of the main drugs in Tribuss. However, most people find these reduce within the first few weeks. Some people are even luckier and get no side effect, or, as in your case, they improve even more quickly.
Please don;t worry that your drugs are not working. Whether the drugs are working is completely different to whether you get side effects.
Good luck with your next check up :)
Hi. I hear people always complaining about Tribuss and side effects. When I started treatment the side effects only last a for few days not even a week. I’m starting to worry if it could be that the drugs are resistant? Or is no longer working? I haven’t gone again yet for the second check ups and the CD4 etc. Thanks for your concern
Hi
It is not clear in your post, but do you mean that you and your boyfriend have not discussed this with each other?
If you are both using Tribuss then you are both HIV positive, so there must be a way that you can gently try to bring the subject up.
You are right that you will both feel better if you can be open about this. Being able to share your experiences may also make your relationship stronger, and help you both be more open with other friends if this is something that you want to do.
With your boyfriend, perhaps start talking about his views on HIV that is not in a personal way. Or say you know a friend who is on treatment. Without knowing you both, these are just suggestions, but it sounds like this is a good thing to work on.
Good luck with everything.
I have find that my boyfriend is using Tirbuss and I am also using them. No one discloses about this. How can I start the topic because I want us to be free in our treatment and know each other.
Please help.