Atripla is a combination antiviral medication used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It's a tablet that has three active ingredients: efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Atripla is for adults and children who weigh at least 88 lbs. You take it once a day by mouth on an empty stomach. Some side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and depression. The brand name Atripla isn't sold anymore, but you can still get this medication as a generic.
HIV treatment
Atripla contains three antiretroviral medications that work together to fight HIV.
Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). It attaches to an HIV protein called reverse transcriptase. This stops the protein from working, which keeps the virus from making more copies of itself.
Emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). They get inserted into the virus' DNA, which then blocks reverse transcriptase from working. This prevents HIV from making more copies of itself and spreading in the body.
Source: DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Is a full HIV treatment regimen
Combines 3 HIV medications into 1 tablet for convenience
Taken once a day
Not likely to cause weight gain
Okay for children weighing at least 88 lbs to take
Must take on an empty stomach, preferably at bedtime
Might have strange dreams while taking
Interacts with other medications, including some other HIV medications and hepatitis C medications
Risk of kidney and bone problems
Not recommended for people with moderate or severe kidney or liver problems
Take Atripla once a day. It might be a good idea take it at bedtime to help with side effects like dizziness, trouble focusing, and problems with coordination.
Take Atripla on an empty stomach. Swallow the tablet whole with water.
Set an alarm or reminder so you don't forget to take Atripla every day. Missing doses can make it work less well to keep your HIV infection under control. Make sure to refill Atripla on time so your treatment isn't interrupted.
Atripla can sometimes make people feel dizzy or drowsy. It can also make people have trouble focusing. If you have these side effects, don't drive or use heavy machines until these side effects go away.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Atripla. Alcohol can make some side effects worse. This includes dizziness, sleepiness, and problems with concentrating worse.
Some people might get a mild or moderate rash within the first few weeks of taking Atripla. It usually goes away on its own in about a month. But stop taking Atripla and call your prescriber right away if you have a severe rash, blisters, sores, or peeling skin. These are signs of a serious rash that should get checked out.
Ask your prescriber if you should take calcium and vitamin D supplements to keep your bones strong. Atripla might make your bones weaker than usual. Let your care team know if you break a bone while taking this medication.
Share a list of all your medications and supplements with your care team. Also, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before starting any new medications while taking Atripla. They can check for Atripla drug interactions to help keep you safe.
If you can become pregnant and are having sex, use birth control and condoms while taking Atripla. Keep using birth control for 3 months after stopping this medication. Atripla might harm an unborn baby if it's taken early in pregnancy. Tell your prescriber if you become pregnant while taking Atripla. They can talk to you about your options.
Atripla can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Have hepatitis B and HIV | Stopping Atripla | Severe liver problems
Before you start taking Atripla, your HIV care team will check if you're also infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It's important for them to know because there's a risk that the HBV infection might get worse after you stop taking Atripla. This could lead to serious liver problems or even liver failure.
If you have HBV and HIV, don't stop taking Atripla without talking with your HIV care team first. If you need to stop, the care team will follow up with you for several months afterwards. They'll probably have you do blood work to check your liver for a hepatitis B flare-up.
Risk factors: History of liver problems | Hepatitis B or C infection
Although it's rare, some people who took the ingredients of Atripla separately (efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) had serious liver damage. This can include a buildup of fat in the liver, which can cause it to swell. Some people needed a liver transplant. And for others, the liver damage was life-threatening. Atripla isn't recommended for people who have moderate or severe liver problems.
Before starting Atripla, you'll need blood tests to check your liver. You'll also have blood tests during treatment to make sure your liver is okay. Stop taking Atripla and get medical help if you have yellowing of your skin or eyes, extreme tiredness, stomach pain, nausea, or loss of appetite. These can be signs of liver problems.
Risk factors: History of mental health conditions | Taking medications for mental health | History of substance use disorder
Some people taking efavirenz, which is in Atripla, had changes in their mental health. Serious problems were rare. But they've included depression, aggression, psychosis, and thoughts of suicide.
If you notice a change in your mood or behavior after starting Atripla, let your prescriber know. It's also helpful to ask trusted friends or family to watch for any changes. Call 911 right away if you start thinking about hurting yourself or others.
Risk factors: Drinking alcohol | Taking other medications that affect your nervous system
Some people who take Atripla might feel dizzy, sleepy, or confused. They also might have trouble sleeping, strange dreams, or trouble concentrating. These side effects are usually mild or moderate. They often start during the first or second day of taking Atripla. Most times, they get better or go away over time (about 2 to 4 weeks). If these side effects don't get better or start to bother you, talk to your prescriber.
Risk factors: History of kidney damage | Also taking other medications that can harm the kidneys
Some people have had kidney problems while taking Atripla. The risk is higher if you also take other medications that can hurt the kidneys. Examples include taking high doses of anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs (NSAIDs) or more than one NSAID at the same time. Atripla isn't recommended for people with moderate or severe kidney problems.
Before starting Atripla, you'll need blood tests and urine tests to check your kidneys. This makes sure it's safe for you to take Atripla. Also get your labs done on time during treatment. It's helpful for your care team to keep checking that your kidneys are safe.
Call your prescriber if you urinate less than usual. Also tell them if you have bone pain, a broken bone, or muscle pain or weakness. These could be signs of kidney problems.
Risk factors: History of bone fractures | Osteoporosis
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, an ingredient in Atripla, can lower your bone mineral density (BMD). This might make your bones weaker. It's possible that these effects can raise the risk of osteoporosis and make it easier for you to break a bone.
Talk to your prescriber about ways to prevent bone problems while taking Atripla. They might suggest calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep your bones strong. Your prescriber might check your bone density if you break a bone or have other risks for bone problems.
Atripla might raise the risk of a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Call your care team if you feel weak or confused, have muscle pain, feel your heart racing, or breathing fast. These could be signs of lactic acidosis.
Risk factors: Weakened immune system | Current untreated infection
Taking Atripla can make your body have an intense immune response called immune reconstitution syndrome. When you start taking Atripla, your immune system gets stronger. It can start to fight off infections it couldn't defend against before. This intense immune response can cause a lot of inflammation in the body.
In rare cases, your immune system can become so strong that it starts to attack healthy parts of your body. This can lead to certain autoimmune problems. These problems can show up as early as during the first few weeks of treatment or many months later.
Tell your healthcare team if you have a fever, trouble breathing, or cough after you start Atripla. Also let them know about any new, unusual symptoms like sweating more, hair loss, or bulging eyes. These might be signs of immune reconstitution syndrome and its complications. Your care team can check them out and help you manage them.
Even though it's rare, some people taking HIV medications like Atripla might notice changes in their body fat. This includes where it shows up. It can include fat buildup in the back of the neck, breast, and around the middle of the body. Some people also had less fat in the face, arms, and legs. We don't know why this happens and if it'll affect your health later on. Tell your care team if you notice these changes or have concerns while taking Atripla.
Atripla can interact with many medications. Examples include some other HIV medications, hepatitis C medications, and anti-seizure medications. Some drug interactions can make Atripla work less well. This can make it more likely for HIV to spread and become harder to treat. Other drug interactions can raise your risk for side effects.
Because of possible Atripla drug interactions, tell your HIV care team about all the medications you take or plan to take. They can make sure your medications are safe to take together.
Risk factors: Taking Atripla during the first trimester of pregnancy
Some people who took Atripla during the first trimester of pregnancy reported certain birth defects in their baby. If you can get pregnant, it's recommended to use birth control and condoms while taking Atripla. Keep using these birth control methods for 3 months after stopping treatment.
If you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant, talk to your prescriber about your options. There might be safer HIV medications for you.
If you and your prescriber decide that Atripla is the best choice for you during pregnancy, it's a good idea to join the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. This program helps researchers learn about how the medication affects pregnancy. Your prescriber can help you sign up.
Each tablet contains 600 of efavirenz, 300 mg of emtricitabine, and 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.
For adults and children weighing more than 88 lbs: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth once a day on an empty stomach (preferably at bedtime).
Your dose might differ if you weigh 110 lbs or more and you also take rifampin (Rifadin).
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