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Should Atripla Be Stopped In A Person With HIV Infection As The Viral Count Is Undetectable?
I have HIV infection, I do not have AIDS. my viral count is undectectable and I have been using the pil of sulfamethoxazole/ tmp 800- 160 mg every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in an oral form white large pill, it was prescribed for me by a doctor when It was found that I have HIV because it was told at the time (3 years ago) that it might inhibit any damage when I was given the prescription to control HIV, lately about one and half years ago a new medicament was given to me to replace the same ones I have been taking when I first started and the nee re placed medicament is called ATRIPLA which have the same ingredients of what I used to take in a form of three other medicaments which are now a part of one single tablet which I am taking called ATRIPLA. should I continue to use it or should I discontinued its use. My viral count is undetectable at every time a lab is taking a sample to the Laboratory.
posted on
Fri, 24 Jan 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 25 Jan 2014
Answered on
Sat, 25 Jan 2014
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Atripla is controlling your viral load and has to be continued for lifelong. There may be HIV remain dormant in the body other than circulation and it is likely to be activated once you stopped the medication. So you have to continue as long as long as it is effective. Once if there is a viral or clinical relapse these drugs have to be changed with some other combination as per your physician's guidance.
Sulpfa methoxazole/TMP is not an alternative for Atripla. It is prophylactic drug given to prevent certain opportunistic infections that can be expected when the immunity is low.
DR S.Murugan
Welcome to HCM.
Atripla is controlling your viral load and has to be continued for lifelong. There may be HIV remain dormant in the body other than circulation and it is likely to be activated once you stopped the medication. So you have to continue as long as long as it is effective. Once if there is a viral or clinical relapse these drugs have to be changed with some other combination as per your physician's guidance.
Sulpfa methoxazole/TMP is not an alternative for Atripla. It is prophylactic drug given to prevent certain opportunistic infections that can be expected when the immunity is low.
DR S.Murugan
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