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.
Won’t it affect u if u got hp
Hi Nandi,
As you’re new to treatment its very important that you adhere to your medication, therefore please try not to miss your meds over the festive season. Drinking is fine when on meds. Smoking isn’t good for anyone.
With regards to your boyfriend its very possible that he’s negative. However if he is then he’s risking his health by having unprotected sex. If he’s aware of your status then this is his risk to take and not yours. He could also be positive, however without testing its not possible to know this.
I was diagnosed a few weeks back and I’m using tribuss. My boyfriend of 2 yrs says he tested negative for HIV but still not using protection every now and then. Could he be lying to me? Or he hates the process of going to the clinic? Final question I drink and smoke occasionally. Festive season is around what happens if I drink and maybe not taking my treatment for the weekend?
Hi Omari,
Tribuss and Odimune are both generic versions of Atripla. This means they have the same active drugs. So it’s not clear what’s causing your rash. If you have a rash it’s a good idea to ask your doctor to look at it. That way they can try and work out what’s causing it.
Hi, I recently just got diagnosed with HIV but to the surprise of me and my doctor I never had the most conventional reaction as I took it upon myself that I had fault to me being HIV +.
Since starting treatment it’s been a journey that I had never anticipated. With the support of my family I really am glad to be surrounded by them.
My only concern is that I have felt like a lab rat as our government clinics keep changing the medication. 2 months back I was prescribed ‘Odimune’ which I never had any problems or side effects but as soon as I was put on Tribuss, I am experiencing the self conscious problems of pimple like rash on my face which has been on going for the past month. I keep researching to better understand on the period estimated for the rash to last but I keep getting lost in translation as it mentions that Tribuss has a particular steroid which is also a cause to the rash in some people.
Understanding that I fall under the certain percentage of people that get this rash, should I be concerned or can I suggest the nurses at our public clinics to give me the same medication that I felt was working best. I fully understand that its their professional responsibility to ensure that I get what’s best but I’m afraid that this rash last longer than 4 weeks.
Could you kindly help me with this.
Hi Shantel.
Please see a doctor about the pains that you’re having.
Hie ,Im on tribuss for a month and a half now and have started having sharp back pains and lower back pain and chest pains,what could be the cause
Hi Edmund,
Your doctor can test you for HIV now. Tribuss can be used as preventative (PEP) medicine, although it’s not recommended in some guidelines because of a very small risk of serious side effects. Did your doctor prescribe Tribuss for 28 days? That is the treatment for PEP. Please see more info on PEP here.
I had unprotected sex & my doctor recommend Tribuss straightaway without testing me. Can Ttibuss be used as a preventative medicine as I.have never tested hiv+ positive before?
Hi Nemesis,
It looks like Tribuss is working very well with results like these. There’s no need to change gradually. You can change to the new time once, and then stick to the new time.