A Basic Overview of Atripla

Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir have all been approved by the FDA for the treatment of HIV infection. Efavirenz and Emtricitabine have been approved for use in treating HIV in children.  These three medicines are frequently prescribed together, the manufacturers have combined them into one tablet. Atripla became approved in July 2006 by the FDA as a combination tablet for treating HIV. Atripla may be used as a complete regimen or in combination with other HIV medications.

As a result Atripla has become a leading medication in the fight against HIV/AIDS and has helped people living with HIV a great deal. This helps to make dealing with HIV simplier and the drug regimens more effective because it reduces forgotten doses. This helps to reduce the amount of drug resistant mutations that happen.

Atripla (Viraday) does not cure or prevent HIV infection or HIV and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people. There are a number of side effects associated with the use of Atripla. More serious side effects of Efavirenz are confusion, depression, abnormal thinking, hallucinations, memory loss, thoughts of suicide, and paranoid thinking. Some patients may develop a severe rash. The NRTIs in Atripla can cause a sometimes fatal lactic acidosis and liver disease as well as blood problems or muscle weakness. Notify your doctor if you begin to experience pain in your joints, or muscles and weakness, trouble breathing, pain in your stomach with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, jaundice, dark urine or loss of appetite. Individuals should tell a doctor if they have any of these side effects. There are some side effects that are not as serious and generally lessen with continued use of the medication. Patients should notify their doctor if side effects continue or worsen. If you have hepatitis B and you stop taking Atripla it can cause a severe reaction.