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 Tshedi. Thanks. This sounds like you might be getting side effects from efavirenz. Pease talk to your doctor about this. Although symptoms usually get easier after a few weeks, if this isn’t happening for you, your doctor should give you an alternative HIV medicine. See this link for more details about efavirenz side effects:
http://i-base.info/guides/side/cns-side-effects
Hi
Am 32 years old I just been diagnosed that am hiv+ last month and i started to take tribuss pills, everyday when I wake-up I feel dizzy and feel like I can vomit. It is other of its side effect or should I be worried?
Hi, Your doctor prescribed Tribuss for 28 days because this treatment can help protect your partner against HIV. It’s called PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) because you take it after you’ve had an exposure. If it works he’ll remain negative. You can find out more about PEP on this previous question.
If your partner started PEP soon enough after the condom broke it has a much better chance of working. There are other factors that can affect whether he remains negative. These include viral load, type of sex, genetics, circumcision etc.
Hi, I’m confused I am HIV positive I haven’t started ARVs yet my CD4 is above 500, and my partner is negative . One day we had sex and the condom busted we realised later about the accident. So I encouraged him to go test less than 74 hours. And he tested negative but the Dr prescribed Tribuss for him and he was told to consume them only for 28 days. Does it mean he’s affected ? After Tribuss he will remain negative?
Hi,
This is Simon’s reply to a similar question here:
http://i-base.info/qa/11464
Yes, if someone needs treatment for Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS), then this is important to use.
HIV treatment also treat KS and can reverse lesions, but sometimes additional treatment is also needed.
It is important for the doctor to check first that there are not drug interactions with HIV meds.
Please let me know if you have other questions.
Best wishes, Roy
I like to know as my father have been treated for Kaposi’s Sarcoma after testing HIV positive he’s recommended to start with treatments of this Tribuss tablets, what are side effects.
Hi Ntombi,
It’s important that you talk to your doctor about your cough. There can be other reasons why you have a cough, it might not be directly related to HIV.
If Trivenz is working well your viral load will be undetectable and your immune system should be getting stronger.
It’s a good idea to talk to the doctor or clinic about your viral load, and then ask why you have this ongoing cough.
Hi i’ve been on trivenz for 2yrs now but since then My cough doesn’t stop especially when i take multivitamin.
So far all the evidence, for over 25 years, says that HIV drugs appear to be safe for the baby.
You can find more information about HIV and pregnancy here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
My question is if you’re taking stocrin/efavirenz for more then 5 years then you became pregnant, it does not affect the baby.