Atripla Price Comparison
Costco Price (Brand) Drugstore.com Price (Brand) BetterLife Pharmacy Price
Atripla Fact Sheet
Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Take this medication by mouth without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. To decrease some of the side effects (drowsiness, dizziness), take your dose at bedtime. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Because this combination product has fixed doses of efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, it should only be used if your doctor has determined that the doses of all 3 medications in this product are right for you. It is very important to continue taking this medication (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. This medication works best when the amount of drug in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping or changing your dose without approval from your doctor may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects. Do not run out of this medication. Order your refills several days early to avoid running out of pills. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens (e.g., new fevers, weight loss, increased tiredness, persistent diarrhea, white patches in your mouth or on your tongue).
Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir is known to interact with many different types of medicines. Rarely, these interactions may cause severe, life-threatening problems. Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: astemizole, bepridil, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, midazolam, pimozide, triazolam, cisapride, St John's wort. If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir. Efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir are available alone and in other combinations. These medications should not be taken with efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir combination. Lamivudine is similar to emtricitabine and should not be taken with this combination medication. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: lopinavir/ritonavir, atazanavir, amprenavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, saquinavir, didanosine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, warfarin, sertraline, itraconazole, ketoconazole, caspofungin, clarithromycin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, methadone, ethinyl estradiol, voriconazole. Some drugs may also change the way your body gets rid of the tenofovir in this medicine (e.g., adefovir, cidofovir, acyclovir, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, valganciclovir). If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir combination. If you are taking medications that can cause kidney problems (e.g., amphotericin B, vancomycin, cyclosporine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen), you may be at higher risk for having kidney problems (including kidney failure) from the tenofovir in this medication. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for other drugs that can cause kidney problems. You may also need to have kidney tests more often to monitor for problems.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
To reduce the risk of spreading HIV to others, always use effective barrier protections (e.g., latex or polyurethane condoms, dental dams) during all sexual activity. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney tests, liver tests, viral load, t-cell counts) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Keep all medical and laboratory appointments.
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.
Before taking efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any of the ingredients; or if you have any other allergies. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: pancreatitis with other HIV medicines, kidney problems, liver problems (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis), alcohol use, bone problems (e.g., osteopenia, osteoporosis, broken bone due to disease), seizures. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness. Avoid alcoholic beverages and illegal street drugs when taking this medication since they may increase these side effects. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially dizziness, drowsiness, and bone disease. Kidney function declines as you grow older. Some ingredients in this medication are removed by the kidneys. Therefore, caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because their kidney function may be too low to safely use this medication. This medication has 3 fixed, adult doses of efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Therefore, it usually should not be used in those younger than 18 years. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, notify your doctor immediately. It is now normal to prescribe HIV medicines for pregnant women with HIV. This has been shown to decrease the risk of giving HIV to the baby. Discuss alternative HIV medications and the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known if efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir pass into breast milk. Because breast milk can transmit HIV, do not breast-feed.
Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
See also Warning section. Dizziness, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, unusual dreams, headache, nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, gas, trouble sleeping, cough, loss of appetite, runny nose, or weakness may occur. Less common side effects may include a darkening of skin color on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and the formation of small skin spots/freckles. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., severe depression, thoughts of suicide, strange thoughts, angry behavior, hallucinations), vomiting, tingling/numbness of hands or feet. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: seizures, stomach/back pain with or without nausea/vomiting, muscle tenderness/pain/weakness, signs of serious infection (e.g., fever, severe chills, persistent sore throat), decrease in the amount of urine. Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking this medication (e.g., increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of therapy with your doctor, as well as the possible role of exercise to reduce this side effect. If you are taking HIV medications for the first time, you may experience symptoms of an old infection. This may happen as your immune system begins to work better. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms: new cough, trouble breathing, fever, new vision problems, new headaches, new skin problems. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
This drug contains 3 different medications (efavirenz, emtricitabine, tenofovir) and is used alone or in combination with other medications. It helps to control your HIV infection, thereby improving your quality of life. It also lowers your risk of getting HIV complications (e.g., new infections, cancer). Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir combination contains 2 different classes of anti-HIV medicines, which are known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir is not a cure for HIV infection and it does not prevent the spread of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination (e.g., sharing used needles).
Rarely, efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir has caused a severe (sometimes fatal) liver and blood problem (lactic acidosis). Immediately tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of liver problems (persistent nausea, stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin) or if you develop symptoms of lactic acidosis (rapid breathing, drowsiness, lightheadedness, weakness, muscle aches, stomach pain with nausea/vomiting). If you have hepatitis B infection along with HIV, your hepatitis symptoms may get worse or become very serious if you stop taking efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir. Talk with your doctor before stopping this medication. Your doctor will perform liver function tests for several months after you stop this medication. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of worsening liver problems.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your health care professional. Always seek the advice of your health care professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your health care professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you.
