Atripla - An Overview
Efavirenz, Emtricitabine and Tenofovir are each approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV infection. In addition Efavirenz and Emtricitabine are approved for use in children who are infected with HIV. These three medicines are frequently prescribed together, the manufacturers have combined them into one tablet. Atripla was approved for use by the FDA as a combination tablet in July 2006, for the treatment of HIV in adults. Atripla may be used as a complete regimen or in combination with other anti retroviral.
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 patients dealing with HIV by making their regimens both more simple and regimens more effective. This helps to reduce the amount of drug resistant mutations that happen.
Atripla (Viraday) does not cure or prevent HIV infection or HIV/AIDS and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people. Along with its desired effects, Atripla can cause some unwanted effects. Serious side effects of efavirenz include abnormal thinking, confusion, depression, hallucinations, memory loss, paranoid thinking, and thoughts of suicide. Some people can develop a bad rash. The medicine in Atripla can cause blood problems, muscle weakness, liver disease, blood problems and fatal lactic acidosis. Your doctor should be notified if you experience joint pain or muscle pain and trouble breathing, weakness, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, jaundice, dark urine or loss of appetite. Patients should notify their doctor if they have any of the side effects listed. Side effects that are not as severe can lessen or disappear with continued use. Patients should notify their doctor if side effects continue or worsen. If you have hepatitis B you should pay attention if you stop taking Atripla because this may cause a adverse reaction.