Warnings & Recalls for Atripla
Black Box Warning
Atripla has received a black box warning for its risk of causing
lactic acidosis, which is potentially fatal. Watch for even mild symptoms, such as muscle pain or severe weakness, numbness in the arms of legs, irregular heart rate, nausea with vomiting, as this condition starts out slowly and worsens over time.
Other Warnings
- There is a risk of the development of serious, potentially fatal liver problems such as liver enlargement or fat in the liver.
- Patients under 88 pounds should not take medication.
- Those who have had a history of mental illness, antipsychotic medication, epilepsy, injection drug use, liver or kidney disease, hepatitis B or low bone mineral density should not take Atripla, as this can worsen the virus.
Interactions
- Complera, Emtriva, Stribild, Truvada, Viread, Sustiva
- Cisapride, Pimozide, Midazolam, Triazolam
- St. John's Wort, Voriconazole
- Dihydroergotamine, Ergonovine, Ergotamine, Methylergonovine
- Lamivudine
- antidepressants and blood thinners
- cholesterol-lowering medications
- antibiotic, antiviral or antifungal medications
- heart or blood pressure medications
- medications used to aid organ transplant rejection
- any seizure medications or any other HIV medications
- Didanosine, Efavirenz, Atazanavir, Lopinavir, Ritonavir
Family Planning
Atripla has been assigned a pregnancy category D by the FDA. Fetal harm can occur in pregnant patients during the first trimester. Any form of birth control should be used for the 12 weeks after treatment discontinues.Nursing mothers are advised to NOT breastfeeding while on this medication.
Atripla Treatment and Use
Atripla | efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) medication manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb that combines three medications into a single pill that is for use in children who are at least 12 years old. Atripla works to prevent HIV from reproducing in the body, which causes AIDs.
Atripla can be used alone or in conjunction with other anti-HIV-1 medications. Although Atripla prevents the reproduction of HIV, it is not a cure for HIV or AIDS, and does not decrease the risk of spreading the disease.
How does it work?
These three drugs, when combined, target HIV cells at points in the life cycle to reduce its ability to mutate and multiply.
Dosage Information
The recommended dosage in adults begins at a once daily tablet, taken orally around bedtime on an empty stomach. Tablets contain 600 mg of efavirenz, 200 mg of emtricitabine, and 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.
Atripla may give a false positive drug screening test therefore patients should tell laboratory staff that they are taking this medication. Missed doses should be taken as soon as possible. If it is already time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. DO NOT DOUBLE DOSE.
