Question
Why have I been given Tribuss – is this an ARV?
5 February 2018. Related: All topics, South Africa, Starting treatment.
I started taking Tribuss about two weeks ago.
I’d like to know what are the side effects of this medication and what is the difference between them and ARVs.
I was shocked when my doctor prescribed me with Tribuss instead of ARVs which I’m familiar with when people are HIV+?
Answer
Hello,
Thanks for your email. How are you doing?
Tribuss is a pill that contains three HIV drugs (ARVs) – efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir DF.
It is one of the generic versions of the brand-name drug Atripla. For a picture of Tribuss see this link.
So your doctor has prescribed you ARVs, and this pill is very effective at treating HIV.
Side effects mainly related to the efavirenz. These include mood changes, sleep problems, vivid dreams (sometimes nightmares). Luckily, for most people, these usually get easier within the first few weeks. If not though, please talk to your doctor about different choices.
This link has more information about efavirenz side effects and how to manage them.
You guide is an Introduction to ART.
Because you are in South Africa, the Treatment Action Campaign may also have more information about treatment and support in SA.
Note: This answer was updated in February 2018 from a question first posted online in October 2013.
Hii, I just want 2 know if tribuss can prevent HUB from affecting a person
Hi Thabo, Thanks, but I’m not sure what you mean by ‘result are CD’.
thank u for advising me n am Myresult are CD.
Hi Thabo, Taking Tribuss is fine if you want to be the father of a child. If you’ve been taking Tribuss every day for 8 months it’s likely that your viral load test will come back undetectable. That means you can become a father with an HIV negative partner. Here is Angelina answering a similar question from an HIV positive man. So having a baby is more about getting undetectable than your CD4 count. But Tribuss should be helping your CD4 count to recover.
hi ..Am also taking a tribuss so the is anychance to me to get a child,am using it’s now for 8month now n myresult is CD,am scared to ask the nurses about that. .?
Hi Armstrong,
As long as you’re on medication and your viral load is undetectable there’s no risk to your partner. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/htb/32308
Hello, if I’m taking HIV medication and my girlfriend is negative. Can she be prevented from getting this virus when we need to make a child?
Hi Rose,
What your doctor has told you is true, as a woman who is pregnant you need to be on medication. Waiting when pregnant isn’t really an option. What you’ve been given is a very effective ARV and is safe to take when pregnant. For more info about pregnancy, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Am 18weeks pregnant and hiv+ my Dr gave me tribuss to start with the treatment immediately but when I went for counselling they said I can take my time & learn about the medication before I can start with the treatment. Doesn’t that put my baby at risk of getting infected too?? Am confused
Hi Khumbu,
Odimune and Atenef are generic versions of Atripla. What this means is that they contain the same compounds as the following explains:
http://i-base.info/guides/1561
As to why you’re given different types of Atripla, this is likely to be due to what’s available in your clinic.