Living with HIV can be challenging at times, but you know that with the right treatment, you can live a normal, healthy life. It's important to understand the medications you're taking during this treatment journey. Today, we're talking about a special combination of three antiretroviral drugs that can help control HIV. Let's take a look at what it is, how it works, and what you need to be aware of.
Let's find out exactly what this medicine is.
Simply put, this is a combination of three medications. That is, all three antiviral drugs , Emtricitabine, Rilpivirine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, are contained in one pill. In our country, this medicine can be found under the brand name `Complera`.
Its main function is to reduce the amount of HIV virus (viral load) in your body, strengthen your immune system, and help you stay healthy.
Remember: This medicine is a treatment for HIV, not a cure. Also, this medicine reduces the risk of transmitting HIV to others, but does not completely prevent it. Therefore, it is very important to continue to follow safe methods.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before deciding if this medication is right for you, your doctor will need to know your complete health history. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
| Your situation | Why is it important to inform the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Bone problems (e.g. osteoporosis) | The drug Tenofovir can sometimes affect bone density. |
| Kidney disease | Since these medications are excreted from the body through the kidneys, it is essential to be aware of your kidney function. |
| Liver disease, especially Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B symptoms may worsen when this medication is stopped. Liver function may also be affected. |
| Depression or suicidal thoughts | The doctor should be aware of some of the ingredients in this medication, as they can cause mood changes. |
| Heart disease | It is important for the doctor to be aware of certain heart conditions. |
| Allergies to other medications, foods, or substances | This is important to know if you are allergic to anything in this medicine. |
| Being pregnant or expecting a baby | You should discuss the use of this medication during pregnancy with your doctor. |
| Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding is not recommended for HIV-infected mothers, so talk to your doctor about this as well. |
How should I use the medicine?
To get the most out of this medicine, it is very important to use it correctly.
- Take with food: Take this pill with a glass of water with a meal . Do not take it on an empty stomach. Rilpivirine is best absorbed by the body when taken with food.
- Take it on time: Make it a habit to take your medicine at the same time every day. This will help keep the levels of the medicine in your blood consistent.
- Don't skip doses: The most important thing in HIV treatment is to take your medication without missing a single dose. Even if you feel better, don't stop taking your medication until your doctor tells you to.
- Why is it not good to skip doses? If you skip doses, the virus can develop resistance to this medication. If that happens, it will be harder to control the virus with this medication and other HIV medications.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose when you remember (for example, less than 12 hours), skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine by mistake, do not panic. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital. Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other drugs that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)
It is very important to tell your doctor about every medication, vitamin, and traditional medicine you are taking, as some medications can affect the effectiveness of this HIV medication.
| DO NOT TAKE this medicine with anything. | |
|---|---|
| PPI drugs for gastritis | Medicines like Esomeprazole, Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, and Pantoprazole. These greatly reduce the absorption of HIV drugs into the body. |
| Some medicines given for fits (Seizure medicines) | Drugs such as Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin. |
| Rifampin, Rifapentine | These are antibiotics given for tuberculosis. |
| St. John's wort | It is an herbal product for mental well-being. |
| Dexamethasone | (If you take more than one dose at a time). |
| If you are taking these, be sure to tell your doctor (INFORM YOUR DOCTOR) | |
| Other gastritis medications (antacids, H2-blockers) | Antacids like Digene, Gaviscon or medications like Famotidine, Cimetidine. These should be taken a few hours before or after HIV medication. |
| Some antibiotics and antifungals | Drugs such as Clarithromycin and Ketoconazole. |
| Methadone | A treatment for drug addiction. |
Side effects that may occur when taking the medicine
Like any medicine, this medicine can cause side effects in some people. Some are minor, while others require immediate attention.
Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately:
- Severe skin reactions: fever, body aches, a red rash, blistering or peeling skin. Swelling of the face, lips, and small bumps on the neck or armpits.
- Allergic reactions: skin rash , itching, hives.
- Symptoms of liver damage: dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, extreme fatigue, nausea.
- Signs of kidney damage: Difficulty urinating or a change in the amount of urine produced.
- Lactic Acidosis symptoms: difficulty breathing, muscle pain, unusual stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness.
- Mental changes: severe depression, suicidal thoughts, agitation.
- Changes in heart rate: Feeling like your heart is beating fast or irregularly.
Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist:
- Sleep disturbance or unusual dreams
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Changes in skin color (especially the palms and soles of the feet)
- Changes in the way body fat is deposited (e.g., increased fat around the stomach, back, and waist, thinning of the limbs).
If you experience any other unusual symptoms not mentioned in this list, talk to your doctor about them as well.
Take-Home Message
- This medicine is a treatment that controls HIV, but it does not completely cure it.
- Take the medicine at the same time every day, with a meal . Never skip a meal.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and other medical conditions you are taking.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any severe side effects, such as severe skin reactions, yellowing of the eyes, severe stomach pain, or mental changes.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Never share it with others.
- Maintaining regular contact with your doctor and attending clinics as scheduled is very important for your well-being.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What are Emtricitabine, Rilpivirine, and Tenofovir (Tenofovir / Odefsey, Complera) used for?
This is a combination of highly effective ART - Antiretroviral Therapy and the latest 3 drugs in a single pill (Single-tablet Regimen) available in pharmacies to combat the 'AIDS / HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)' virus! After taking this pill once a day (with food), it inhibits the HIV virus from multiplying in the blood by 100%, controlling the virus to an undetectable viral load.
💬 How does this pill (Complera/Odefsey) completely stop the HIV virus from multiplying (transmitting)?
For a virus to replicate, it needs to enter one of our cells and copy its original message (RNA) into our DNA. The machine that the virus uses for this is the Reverse Transcriptase enzyme. This pill comes from both sides and puts 'wrong stuff (NRTI/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir)' and 'blocking stones (NNRTI/Rilpivirine)' into that machine. Then the HIV virus can never replicate again and it becomes weak.
💬 What are the main side effects and most dangerous dangers (Black Box Warning) that can occur when taking this HIV pill?
The biggest danger of these 3 drugs comes from Tenofovir! This can cause the patient's bones to melt/break easily (Bone loss / Osteoporosis) and the kidneys to stop completely (Lactic acidosis / Renal Toxicity). Also, do not take this pill if you are 'hungry without food (empty stomach)' for any reason! (Rilpivirine is not absorbed into the body, the drug does not work)!
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