Before taking efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to efavirenz, lamivudine, tenofovir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in the efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir tablet. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
you should know that efavirenz, lamivudine and tenofovir are also available individually with the brand names of Sustiva, Epivir, Epivir-HBV (used to treat hepatitis B), Vemlidy (used to treat hepatitis B), and Viread, as well as in combination with other medications with brand names of Atripla, Biktarvy, Combivir, Complera, Descovy, Epzicom, Genvoya, Odefsey, Stribild, Symfi, Triumeq, Trizivir, and Truvada. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medications to be sure you do not receive the same medication twice.
tell your doctor if you are taking elbasvir/grazoprevir (Zepatier). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir if you are taking this medication.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acyclovir (Sitavig, Zovirax); adefovir (Hepsera); aminoglycosides such as gentamicin; artemether/lumefantine (Coartem); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet); atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone); bupropion (Forfivo, Wellbutrin, Zyban, others); calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Diltzac, others), felodipine, nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Afeditab, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Verelan, in Tarka); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, others); cidofovir; cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); ganciclovir (Cytovene); glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (Mavynet); itraconazole (Sporanox, Onmel); ketoconazole; ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni); macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, in Phenytek); posaconazole (Noxafil); pravastatin (Pravachol); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rimactane, in Rifamate, Rifater); sertraline (Zoloft); simeprevir (Olyslo); simvastatin (Flolopid, Zocor, in Vytorin); sirolimus (Rapamune); sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epculsa); sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (Vosevi); sorbitol or medications that are sweetened with sorbitol; tacrolimus (Astagraf, Envarsus, Prograf); trimethoprim (Primsol, in Bactrim, Septra); valacyclovir (Valtrex); valganciclovir (Valcyte); and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with efavirenz, lamivudine and tenofovir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, or if you have or ever have had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death), low level of potassium or magnesium in your blood, bone problems including osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) or bone fractures, seizures, hepatitis C or other liver disease, or kidney disease. Also tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, use or have ever used street drugs, overuse or have ever overused prescription medications, or have or have ever had depression or other mental illness. For children taking this medication, tell your doctor if they have or have ever had pancreatitis or have received treatment with a nucleoside analog medication such as an NRTI in the past.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant during your treatment. If you can become pregnant, you will have to have a negative pregnancy test before you begin taking this medication and use effective birth control during your treatment. Efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir may interfere with the action of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, or injections), so you should not use these as your only method of birth control during your treatment. You must use a barrier method of birth control along with any other method of birth control you have chosen during your treatment and for 12 weeks after your final dose. Ask your doctor to help you choose a method of birth control that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir, call your doctor immediately.
you should not breastfeed if you are infected with HIV or are taking efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir.
you should be aware that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body, such as your upper back, neck (''buffalo hump''), breasts, and around your stomach. You may notice a loss of body fat from your face, legs, and arms.
you should know that while you are taking medications to treat HIV infection, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight other infections that were already in your body or cause other conditions to occur. This may cause you to develop symptoms of those infections or conditions. If you have new or worsening symptoms during your treatment with efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir be sure to tell your doctor.
you should know that efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir may make you dizzy, drowsy, unable to concentrate, have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, have unusual dreams or have hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist). These side effects usually go away 2 to 4 weeks after starting treatment. These side effects may be worse if you also drink alcohol, or take certain other medications such as antidepressants, medications for anxiety, medications for mental illness, medications for seizures, sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
you should know that efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir may cause changes in your thoughts, behavior, or mental health. Call your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms while you are taking efavirenz, lamivudine and tenofovir: depression, thinking about killing yourself or planning or trying to do so, angry or aggressive behavior, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), strange thoughts, loss of touch with reality, or not being able to move or talk normally. Be sure your family knows which symptoms may be serious so that they can call your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
you should know that efavirenz may cause potentially serious nervous system problems, including encephalopathy (a serious and potentially fatal disorder of the brain) months or years after you first take efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir. Although nervous system problems may begin after you have taken efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir for some time, it is important for you and your doctor to realize that they may be caused by efavirenz. Call your doctor right away if you experience problems with balance or coordination, confusion, memory problems, and other difficulties caused by abnormal brain function, at any time during your treatment with efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir.