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 Nikiwe
The answer depends on which supplements you are taking. If the supplements include creatine, then it is still okay to take them with Tribuss – but you have to tell your doctor. See the answers at this link for an explantion: http://i-base.info/qa/5431
Hi I’m 24yrs old and I need to know that if I’m HIV positive i’ll be able to mix my tribuss pills and my supliments for gym
Please talk to your boyfriend. Tribuss is not a diabetes medicine. You need to ask him why he told you this.
My boyfriend is taking tribuss, he says they are for diabetes, hw true is that?
Hi
I am sorry that we can not diagnose symptoms – you have to talk to your doctor about this.
It is not good that this has been going on for three years.
Hi DR istarted using Tribuss 3yrz back but I’m all alwys geting sick hv throat problem!although they say whn u on Arvs’ its not much easy to get sick!
So I would like to knw wat would be the course of my sickness?same sickness.
Hi
It is difficult to talk about somebody else’s health and medicine if this is not about you directly.
I hope that over time you and your mother are able to talk about the things that worry you. Sometimes people need time to feel confident about this.
Tribuss is a very effective treatment. You should tell your mother about your worries.
best wishes
Are Tribuss tablets for HIV? Because my mother is taking thm everyday and she told me that these tablets are for TB. She does not tell me the truth and i am afraid she might die soon. plz help
Thank you for this.
my brother is on Tribuss and he is doing well.