Atripla

Atripla is used for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection. It can be used alone or in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.

This medicine is not a cure but it can control the virus from reproducing and it can improve the lives of the patients with HIV or AIDS. It also helps to reduce your risk to develop complications associated with HIV infection.

It also helps to reduce your risk to develop complications associated with HIV infection.

Atripla will not keep you from transmitting HIV to other people. You may still continue to have other problems usually related to AIDS or HIV disease even when you are using this medicine.

This product is available in a tablet.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Atripla or to any other medications. You should also inform your healthcare providers if you are allergic to foods, dyes, or animals.

Safety and effectiveness of this medication have not been established in children younger than 12 years of age.

Although this medicine has not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems, the use of this medication in elderly requires caution as they are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems.

Pregnancy Category D – Do not use Atripla while you are pregnant as it can cause risk to the unborn baby.

There are no adequate studies whether Atripla can pass through breast milk or if it could cause harmful effects to the infant. Discuss with your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.

Taking Atripla with any of the following medicines is not recommended and you may not be required to use this medication. Otherwise, alternative medicine may be prescribed for your other medications.

• Carbamazepine
• Dasabuvir
• Isavuconazonium Sulfate
• Paritaprevir
• Ritonavir
• St John's Wort
• Voriconazole

Taking Atripla with any of the following medications is usually not recommended, but with the exception in some cases.

Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

• Amprenavir
• Apixaban
• Artemether
• Atazanavir
• Avanafil
• Axitinib
• Bedaquiline
• Bexarotene
• Boceprevir
• Bosutinib
• Bupropion
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clozapine
• Cobimetinib
• Cyclosporine
• Daclatasvir
• Darunavir
• Dexamethasone
• Didanosine
• Dolutegravir
• Donepezil
• Doxorubicin
• Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
• Eliglustat
• Enzalutamide
• Erlotinib
• Ethosuximide
• Etravirine
• Fosamprenavir
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Hydrocodone
• Idelalisib
• Ifosfamide
• Itraconazole
• Ivabradine
• Ketoconazole
• Ledipasvir
• Linagliptin
• Maraviroc
• Mifepristone
• Naloxegol
• Netupitant
• Nevirapine
• Nifedipine
• Nilotinib
• Olaparib
• Palbociclib
• Panobinostat
• Piperaquine
• Ponatinib
• Posaconazole
• Rifabutin
• Rifampin
• Rifapentine
• Rilpivirine
• Saquinavir
• Simeprevir
• Sirolimus
• Sonidegib
• Tacrolimus
• Tolvaptan
• Ulipristal
• Vilazodone
• Warfarin

Taking Atripla with any of the following medications may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you.

Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

• Atazanavir
• Atorvastatin
• Caspofungin
• Darunavir
• Dienogest
• Diltiazem
• Estradiol
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Ethynodiol
• Etonogestrel
• Indinavir
• Lopinavir
• Medroxyprogesterone
• Mestranol
• Methadone
• Norgestimate
• Ospemifene
• Pravastatin
• Proguanil
• Ritonavir
• Sertraline
• Simvastatin
• Telaprevir
• Thiotepa
• Tipranavir

Some medical conditions can interact with this medication.

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

• Allergic reaction to efavirenz - Should not be used in patients with this condition.
• Liver disease - Should not be used in patients with this condition.
• Bone problems
• Depression
• Fanconi syndrome
• Hepatitis B infection
• Kidney failure
• Liver disease
• Seizures
• Kidney disease

Take Atripla exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Excessive use of medication is not recommended. This medicine should be taken with an empty stomach and at bedtime.

Recommended dosage:

Adults and children 12 years of age and older and weighing 40 kg or more - One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains efavirenz 600 milligrams, emtricitabine 200 mg, and tenofovir 300 mg.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is near for your next dose, skip the missed dose and start again to your regular dosing schedule.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Store the medication in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Keep out of reach of children. Do not keep expired medications.

Check with your doctor if:

• If you notice changes in your body shape since this medicine may cause you to have excess body fat. You might also lose fat from the legs, arms, and face.
• If you notice any changes in your health.
• If you or your child notice a severe skin rash, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you or your child are using this medicine since this medicine may develop serious skin problems.
• If you have abdominal or stomach discomfort, cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a decreased appetite, muscle cramping or pain, unusual tiredness or weakness, trouble breathing, or yellow skin or eyes. Serious adverse effects of this medication are lactic acidosis and liver toxicity. These are more common in obese female or in patients who have been taking anti-HIV medicines for a long time.
• If you develop mood changes, strange thoughts, or any unusual behavior while you are using this medicine since this medicine may increase your risk of having psychiatric problems.

Your doctor will be checking you regularly to monitor the effectiveness of the medication. Blood tests may be ordered for undesirable effects.

Do not use this medicine together with adefovir, bepridil, cisapride, lamivudine, midazolam, pimozide, triazolam, voriconazole, St John's wort, or ergotamine medicines.

In addition, do not take this medication with Complera®, Emtriva®, Stribild®, Sustiva®, Truvada®, Viread® since these medications have the same drug content with Atripla.

Talk to your doctor if you are planning to take any other medication.

Contraceptives must be used to keep you or your partner from getting pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you think you have become pregnant while using this medication.

This medicine may also increase your risk of developing fractures. Discuss with your doctor your concerns about this medication.

Avoid other medicines that can be harmful to the kidneys such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, certain other antiviral medicines, and NSAID pain medicines.

Atripla will not keep you from transmitting HIV to other people during sexual intercourse. It is recommended to understand and practice safe sex.

It is also necessary to avoid reusing or sharing needles with other people.

This medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or any other unsafe activities when you take this medication.

Tell your doctor first that you are using this medication before undergoing any medical procedures.

If any of the following side effects occur, check with your doctor right away:

• Abdominal or Stomach pain or tenderness
• Blistering, Peeling or Loosening of the skin
• Body aches or pain
• Clay-colored stools
• Cough
• Dark urine
• Ear congestion
• Fever or Chills
• Headache
• Itching
• Loss of voice
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Severe skin rash
• Sore throat
• Swelling of the feet or lower legs
• Tightness of the chest
• Trouble concentrating
• Yellow eyes or skin

There are also some side effects that do not need medical attention and can be resolved during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.

You can discuss it with your doctor to give you an advice on how to prevent or reduce these side effects:

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Abnormal dreams
• Decreased appetite
• Discouragement
• Feeling sad or empty
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Mild rash
• Pain or Tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
• Sleepiness
• Trouble sleeping
• Unusual drowsiness

Not all side effects are listed above. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professionals.