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 Ntombizethu, i-Base is a UK project and I think you might be writing from outside the UK. It sounds like this is something you need to ask your clinic about, or and HIV organisation in your country. We don’t have very much information about local services in other countries.
Hi, I would like to know if tribuss is available at government clinic cos for now I’m taking them from the pharmacy on medical aid
Please see the answer above.
http://i-base.info/qa/9377
I would lik to know are these tribuss tablets meant for people living with HIV & AIDS
Hi Xolelwa
Tribuss is a generic version of Atripla and is one of the most widely used HIV combinations.
Inforamtion about every HIV drug is linked from this page.
http://i-base.info/guides/category/arvs
I started taking Tribuss on 2010.
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+?
Tribuss is a gneric verion of Atripla and this link includes information about side effects:
http://i-base.info/guides/1561
If the itching becomes a rash it is important to contact your doctor straight away. Otherwise these side effects should get much easier even after a week or two. If that is too difficult then contact your doctor for alternative meds.
hi what will happen i only taken tribuss once for the first time now mybody is ichy dizzy sweating at night wull this go away if i stop taking it i dont want to continue taking it anymore cz is making me sick i never been sick before.
Hi Asanda
This sounds like side effects from efavirenz. Two things might help:
1. Make sure you are not taking Tribuss after food with a high fat content as this boost drug levels higher than you need.
2. Try to take your meds last thing at night just before you sleep – then you will be sleeping when the meds are being absorbed.
The side effect should get easier, but if not please talk to your doctor about options to use a different HIV medicine.
hi it’s been a month now since I started talking tribuss but after an hour or 30 minutes I feel like am not my normal self,like I had some drugs or something finding it to concentrate.first it starts as a heart burn then I’d be feeling supper hot after sometime I’ll feel a bit dizzy