Atripla Vs. Truvada

Atripla Vs. Truvada. After the development of the so-called antiretroviral therapy, treating one of the world’s life-threatening infections, HIV, becomes immediate and manageable. The human immunodeficiency virus may be very complicated to treat before, but the usage of antiretroviral drugs today paved the way for better medication and therapy.

Two of the major ARVs used today are Atripla and Truvada. Learn the differences and similarities of these medicines.

Defenition

• Atripla is a mixture of 3 antiretroviral drugs – efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. This particular drug acts as a second-line treatment as it has severe adverse reactions.
• On the other hand, Truvada is one of the most common that HIV-positive individuals use after being infected. It is composed of emtricitabine and tenofovir. The said medicine is suitable for adults and children.

Risk Factors

• For Atripla treatment, there are corresponding risk factors. These include lactic acidosis, behavioral changes, liver problems, kidney damage, and osteoporosis. Similar to other drugs, Atripla shouldn’t be used if the patient is allergic to it and its ingredients.
• Meanwhile, Truvada also observes several risk factors and susceptibility. Some of these include kidney damage, bone loss, hepatitis B infection, and enlarged liver. Correlative to other forms of ARVs, a patient should not use Truvada if he/she has known hypersensitivity to this drug.

Dosage and Pricing

• Both Atripla and Truvada come in pill form. Their dosage is also similar, from which the patient must consume only one pill per day. This dosage will also depend on the patient’s age, weight, and medical history. In terms of its price, Atripla can cost $2918.95 while Truvada is only $1798.80. In line with these prices, you will notice that Truvada is cheaper than Atripla.

Side Effects/Adverse Reactions

• Just like other types of antiretroviral drugs, consuming Atripla can also cause different side effects. Some of these effects include diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, sinusitis, skin rashes, mild to severe headaches, sleeping problems, and vomiting.
• Atripla and Truvada share some of the most common side effects. Truvada also corresponds to different adverse reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, mild to severe headaches, dizziness, skin hives, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and diarrhea.

Note: Apart from knowing the patient’s age, weight, and medical history, the healthcare professional will also ask the patient if he/she is following another form of treatment besides HIV therapy. This inquiry is done to ensure that drug interaction will not occur and that the treatment is successful.