Stribild

Generic name: Cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir

Drug class: Antiviral combinations

Dosage forms: Tablet

Root of administration: Oral

Dose: 150, 200, 245, 300 mg

Mechanism of action: Stribild is a tablet containing a combination of cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Cobicistat reduces the action of enzymes in your liver that break down certain antiviral medicines. This allows the antiviral medicines to be used more safely and effectively at lower doses. Elvitegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir are antiviral medicines that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body. HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Drug usage cases: Stribild is a combination medicine used to treat HIV in adults and children who are at least 12 years old and who weigh at least 55 pounds (25 kilograms). Stribild is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Drug contra indications: Some drugs should not be used with Stribild. Your treatment plan may change if you also use:

alfuzosin; cisapride; oral midazolam, or triazolam; rifampin; sildenafil (Revatio, for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension); St. John’s wort; antipsychotic medicine – lurasidone, pimozide; cholesterol medication – lomitapide, lovastatin, simvastatin; ergot medicine – dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine; or seizure medicine – carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin. Stribild is a complete combination treatment and should not be used with other antiviral medications, especially those that contain adefovir, cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine, lamivudine, ritonavir, or tenofovir: Atripla, Biktarvy, Cimduo, Combivir, Complera, Descovy, Epivir, Epzicom, Evotaz, Hepsera, Kaletra, Norvir, Odefsey, Prezcobix, Symfi, Symtuza, Technivie, Triumeq, Trizivir, Tybost, Viekira, and others. To make sure Stribild is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

hepatitis B or other liver problems; or kidney disease. You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Ask your doctor about your risk

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Stribild: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have:

kidney problems – swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath; lactic acidosis – unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, irregular heart rate, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired; or liver problems – nausea, upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Antiviral medicine can affect your immune system (even weeks or months after you’ve used Stribild). Tell your doctor if you have:

signs of a new infection – fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss; trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Warnings: Stribild can harm your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have: upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together. Do not stop using Stribild without your doctor’s advice. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. If you’ve ever had hepatitis B, it may become active or get worse after you stop using Stribild. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months. Many drugs can interact with cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir and some should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you use.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: Stribild may not work as well if you take it during pregnancy. Do not start taking the medicine if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. If you plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor for another antiviral medicine to use during pregnancy. To prevent HIV in a newborn baby, use all medications to control your infection during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry. If you do not plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor about using a non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge) to prevent pregnancy. Stribild can increase certain side effects when taken with hormonal birth control (pills, injections, implants, skin patches, vaginal rings). Women with HIV should not breastfeed. The virus can pass to your baby in your breast milk.