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Efavirenz / Emtricitabine / Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Atripla
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ef-FAH-ver-enz / em-tri-SIT-uh-bean / te-NOE-fo-veer   Audio

Brand Name: Atripla  Audio
Drug Class: Combination Drugs
Atripla includes three antiretroviral drugs: efavirenz (Sustiva), emtricitabine (Emtriva), and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF or Viread). Efavirenz is a type of medicine called a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Both emtricitabine and tenofovir DF are medicines called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). NNRTIs and NRTIs block reverse transcriptase, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself.

HIV/AIDS-Related Uses
Efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir DF are approved individually by the FDA for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. Additionally, efavirenz and emtricitabine are approved for use in HIV infected children. Because these three medicines are frequently prescribed together, the manufacturers have combined them into one tablet. Atripla was approved by the FDA as a combination tablet on July 12, 2006, for the treatment of HIV in adults. Atripla may be used as a complete regimen or in combination with other anti-HIV drugs.
Atripla does not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people.

Dosage Form/Administration
Atripla comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth without food.

Recommended Daily Dose
The recommended dosage of Atripla is one tablet (600 mg of efavirenz, 200 mg of emtricitabine, and 300 mg of tenofovir DF) once a day. Atripla is not recommended for patients younger than 18 years of age. Some patients, such as those with liver or kidney disease, may require a different dose of efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir DF. These patients should not take Atripla.

Contraindications
Warnings and side effects of Atripla may be similar to those for each of the medicines separately. (See individual drug fact sheets for efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir DF for more information.) Children should not take Atripla.

Possible Side Effects
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 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. A doctor should be notified if an individual taking this medication experiences joint or muscle pain and weakness, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling of cold (especially in the arms and legs), dizziness, fast or irregular heartbeat, yellowing of skin, dark-colored urine, light-colored stools, or loss of appetite. Individuals should tell a doctor if they have any of these side effects. Some side effects may not be serious and may lessen or disappear with continued use of the medicine. Individuals should tell a doctor if these side effects continue or are bothersome. Discontinuation of Atripla may cause a severe reaction in patients who are also infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Drug and Food Interactions
A doctor should be notified of any other medications, prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter), or herbal medications, also being taken.

Clinical Trials
Click here to search ClinicalTrials.gov for trials that use Efavirenz / Emtricitabine / Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Manufacturer Information
Efavirenz / Emtricitabine / Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
  Bristol - Myers Squibb Co
  PO Box 4500
  Princeton,  NJ  08543-4500
  (800) 321-1335
    

Efavirenz / Emtricitabine / Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
  Gilead Sciences Inc
  333 Lakeside Dr
  Foster City,  CA  94404
  (800) 445-3235
    

Atripla
  Bristol - Myers Squibb Co
  PO Box 4500
  Princeton,  NJ  08543-4500
  (800) 321-1335
    

Atripla
  Gilead Sciences Inc
  333 Lakeside Dr
  Foster City,  CA  94404
  (800) 445-3235
    
Updated August 6, 2007