Efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir are approved individually by the FDA for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. In addition Efavirenz and Emtricitabine are approved for use in children who are infected with HIV.The three medications are often prescribed in unison and the manufacturers have combind them into a single 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 HIV drug.
This has made Atripla a leading medication in the battle against HIV and has help simplifiy HIV regimens a great deal. This helps to make dealing with HIV simplier and the drug regimens more effective because it reduces forgotten doses. This reduces the number of drug resistant mutations that can occur.
Atripla 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. 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. NRTIs in Atripla can sometimes cause a fatal lactic acidosis and disease of liver as well as blood problems or muscle weakness. 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. Indivduals who have these side effects should tell their doctor. There are some side effects that are not as serious and generally lessen with continued use of the medication. Individuals should tell a doctor if these side effects continue or are bothersome. Stopping Atripla can cause a adverse reaction if you are infected with hepatitis B.