Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Finally...my meds arrived!


Last week i had an appointment with my doctor. He was finally able to prescribe me the best medicine that would work on me after considering all the results of the laboratory exams that we did. The pill is called ATRIPLA. It is one pill with three HIV medicines in it. I am copying and pasting some of the important facts about the pill here in my blog.

ATRIPLA is a combination of three HIV medicines: SUSTIVA® (efavirenz), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine) and VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).

How Does ATRIPLA Work?
ATRIPLA contains three HIV medicines in one pill: SUSTIVA® (efavirenz), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine) and VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). This combination works to lower the amount of HIV in the blood (called "viral load") by interfering with the way HIV makes copies of itself (called "viral replication"). Lowering the amount of HIV in the blood may also help increase the number of T cells (also called "CD4+ cells"). CD4+ cells are an important part of your immune system, because they help the body fight infections.

For many patients, ATRIPLA may be a complete regimen, with three medicines from two different "classes," or types of drug, in one pill. For some patients, ATRIPLA may be taken with other HIV medicines. ATRIPLA contains two NRTIs (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and one NNRTI (efavirenz). Regimens that combine HIV medicines from different classes are effective because they help to slow HIV multiplication during several stages of the process.

ATRIPLA does not cure HIV and has not been shown to prevent passing HIV to others.

Ask your doctor if ATRIPLA is right for you, and see your healthcare provider regularly. Individual results may vary. Please click here for Important Safety Information, including information on lactic acidosis, serious liver problems, and flare-ups of hepatitis B (HBV).


Next post will be about the side effects of the pill and if I am experiencing them....and the answer is yes..that's why I have to hit the bed now.