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.
Hi i want to know lately my legs is changing,I’m the person who has fat legs Nd now they are starting to be skinny Nd I’m on arv medication.i went to my Gp Nd said there is nothing they can do.
Hi Anonymous,
Yes, at the moment all of us who are HIV positive have to take ARVs every day. But scientists are working hard to find a cure. Here’s a link to the Guide to HIV in Pictures, it shows areas of cure research using the HIV cure puzzle.
Is arvs something you have to take life time
Hi Ntombi,
Many people are asking when long-acting ARV injections will be available. What country do you live in? Here in the UK it’s not likely that they will be available until 2020. Please see this Q&A here.
If a person is on tribuss how does she switched to arv injection
Hi Promise,
Tribuss is known to cause headaches when a person is new to this type of medication. The headaches should stop within a few weeks of starting medication. If you’ve been on the meds for longer than a few weeks you may need to change meds.
Unless a cure is found, ARVs need to be taken for life.
How long must a patient use Tribuss ?,why tribuss cause headache?
Hi Mimy,
Some ARVs are made by different companies and they might be different colours. But they could be the same meds, and of course the same meds are not dangerous.
What are the names of the pills? If they are different ARVs you should talk to a doctor about it. Is that easy in Zim?
Um from zim,is it dangerous to change pills without doctor’s prescription from white to pink arvs.
Hi Florence,
Thanks, what do you mean by hp?