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.
Can tribuss help you gain weight and reverse the side effects from the past?
Hi Mish,
It is important to show any rash to a doctor. There are lots of things that can cause a rash and there is no reason to think this is necessarily related to HIV. While your CD4 count is higher than 350 it is very unlikely that you will have any HIV related symptoms.
For information about starting treatment with a high CD4 count please see this previous question.
Kindly advise, I have developed rash on my face and this worries me as I think it can be an alarm for starting my meds. Last year my CD4 count was 948 and I am due for recent tests. Is it advisable to start your meds while your counts are above 500?
Hi,
It is important to take Tribuss at the same time every day. Changing the time that you take it everyday could stop the treatment from working if you developed resistance.
Making sure that you take Tribuss on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours before or after eating) might help with these side effects. But often Tribuss is not the best medication for people who are working shifts. If the dizziness is affecting your ability to work it is important to discuss this with your doctor as you may need to change to a different treatment. This should be easy enough to do.
I want to know what to do because I work shifts and these tablets make me dizzy , I want to know if its possible to change and drink them at any time of the day depending on my shifts or should I stick to the time that I am taking them everyday?
Hi Mandla,
Thanks for your email. It can take several months before the CD4 count starts to increase and for some people this can be a very slow process. A few people don’t see a CD4 count increase at all, although this is unusual. Another test that is more useful to see if treatment is working is the viral load test. Does your clinic offer this?
I was diagnosed with HIV in 2007 and I’ve been living positively since then. I started taking tribuss last year August since my cd4 count had dropped to 250, I went for a re-test in November but the the test came back and my cd4 count was not increasing. ive never been on arv’s so im stressing now cause of this. my medical aid seems to think I havent been taking my medication nd im afraid they might cancel my treatment. what should I do plz advise
Hi Martha,
If you are worried about weight gain it’s a good idea to discuss this with your doctor. S/he may be able to suggest a special diet or some treatment to help this. It is possible that the increase in your breast size is a side effect of treatment, although this is very unusual with Tribuss.
I’ve been on Tribus for two and half years now and continue to gain lots of weight even on caloric controlled diet ,my breasts also enlarged?
Hi Stembile,
It’s important to discuss any symptoms with your doctor or clinic. Leg cramps are not a common side effect of Tribuss and we can not diagnose these symptoms online so it’s a good idea to get medical advice on this.