Atripla (Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate) Patient Information: Missed a Dose and What Should I Avoid at RxList

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May 25, 2012

Atripla

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Atripla

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Atripla Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Atripla)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose (Atripla)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose can cause uncontrolled muscle movements.

What should I avoid while taking efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir (Atripla)?

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of this medication.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What other drugs will affect efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir (Atripla)?

Before using efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir.

There are many other medicines that can cause interactions or serious medical problems if you take them together with efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Tell your doctor if you use any of the following:

acyclovir (Zovirax), ganciclovir (Cytovene), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or valganciclovir (Valcyte);
sertraline (Zoloft);
methadone (Methadose);
adefovir (Hepsera) or cidofovir (Vistide);
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
cholesterol medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), pravastatin (Pravachol), or simvastatin (Zocor);
antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifater, Rifamate);
a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;
seizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol), phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or
certain other HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), didanosine (Videx), indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), or ritonavir (Norvir).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed

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