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.
Tribuss is a generic version (a copy) of Atripla. They contain the same medications but have different names because they are made by different companies.
You can find more information here:
http://i-base.info/guides/1561
what is the different between tribuss and atripla
Hi,
Many HIV positive mothers have HIV negative children. THis is done by putting the mother on HIV treatment. The Tribuss you are taking is good for your health and will help prevent the baby becoming positive.
You can find lots of information about HIV and pregnancy here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
I was diagnosed this year October. It was my first time testing after my first born. Im on tribuss and 9 weeks pregnant. Will my unborn baby be at risk somehow. I wana know if I should rather abort than to give birth to an unhealthy child..pls assist.
You can find the answer to a similar question here:
http://i-base.info/qa/9002
Hi I was diagnosed last year and i took Odimune so now they changed me to Tribuss l would like to know what the reason is.
Hi,
I am afraid not. While your viral load should eventually become undetectable this does not mean it has disappeared. It only means that it is at very low levels. This is great however. Having an undetectable viral load vastly reduces the risk of HIV transmission. It also shows your treatment is working well.
I been taking the Tribus for 8 month and always when I do the blood test, I been told the virus is decreasing, does this means that there is possibilitythat it will disappear?
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. You can find an answer to a similar question here:
http://i-base.info/qa/7177
I’m on Tribuss and i’d like to be pregnant… can i became pregnant?