There are a lot of medications on the market today for the treatment of HIV. One popular choice for the treatment of HIV by many infectious disease doctors is Atripla. Atripla is a medication that contains Sustiva, Emtriva and Viread in a single pill, hence the name Atripla. Because there are so many different medications that an HIV patient may be required to take, doctors like Atripla because it reduces the patient’s pill burden while still providing the patient with essential medication that they need. However, before you ask your doctor for Atripla, you need to be aware of the potential atripla side effects that you may face.
Now, the first thing you need to understand is that every HIV medication has side effects. It’s just that some medications have more or less side effects than others. What’s also important to understand is that not every person experiences atripla side effects, you may not have any at all. Here are a few of the atripla side effects that you need to be aware of before you included in your medication regimen.
Common Atripla Side Effects
- stomach upset and/or pain
- back pain
- headache
- fatigue
- insomnia
- dizziness
- discoloration of skin
- stuffy nose
- runny nose
- loss of appetite
- lack of concentration
Severe Atripla Side Effects
- flu symptoms
- muscle pain
- increased heartbeat
- dark brown or black urine
- inability to eat for several days
- rash or hives
- chest pain
- mental disorientation
- hallucinations
- seizures
- liver disease
- negative changes in behavior
- clumsiness
The problem is that your atripla side effects may be different than those listed above. If you have any of the common side effects of Atripla, then you can talk to your doctor about adjusting your dose. If you have one of the more severe Atripla side effects, then your doctor will likely discontinue use of this medication and try something else. Just keep in mind that some side effects are noted only in specific people, which means that they aren’t typically included in lists of side effects.
When taking any HIV medication, you should make note of any change that you feel or see, both internally and externally, and discuss them with your doctor. There is the possibility that these results will be perfectly normal, but talking to your doctor ensures that you aren’t in any danger from severe atripla side effects.