There are now fixed-dose pills that combine three anti-HIV drugs, from more than one class of drug. These allow many people to take their HIV treatment in one pill, once a day.

There are other combination pills combining two drugs from a single class. These can reduce the number of pills in someone’s treatment regimen, but they still need to be taken with at least one other drug as well. These combinations are listed under their drug class later in this booklet.

Atripla provides triple-drug combination treatment in one pill, taken once a day. It combines 200mg of FTC (emtricitabine), 245mg of tenofovir and 600mg of efavirenz. The dose is one pink tablet once a day.

Side-effects: Most commonly, these include sleep disturbances, tiredness, abnormal dreams, impaired concentration, dizziness, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, anxiety, depression, raised creatine kinase levels, skin darkening, low blood phosphate levels, weakness, stomach pains, bloating, flatulence. See the entries on FTC, tenofovir and efavirenz for more detail.

Tips on taking it: Take once a day. In the UK and Europe, it is recommended that Atripla should be taken on an empty stomach. Some people find taking it with food reduces side-effects. You can do this if you find it helpful, but avoid taking it with a high-fat meal; this may increase absorption of the drug, potentially increasing side-effects. If Atripla causes confusion or dizziness (because of the efavirenz, which often happens during the first few weeks of taking it), some people find it helpful to take it before going to bed.

Resistance: Resistance to efavirenz usually causes resistance to another NNRTI called nevirapine, and possibly to the NNRTI rilpivirine. However, another NNRTI, etravirine, is still likely to be effective.

Key drug interactions: See the entries on FTC, tenofovir and efavirenz.

Eviplera provides triple-drug combination treatment in one pill, taken once a day. It combines 200mg FTC (emtricitabine), 25mg rilpivirine and 245mg tenofovir, in one purplish-pink tablet.

Tips on taking it: One tablet, once a day. Always take with a meal.

Common side-effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, insomnia, headache, weakness, rash, stomach pains, fatigue, bloating, flatulence, changes in kidney function, raised creatine kinase levels, low blood phosphate levels, skin darkening. Eviplera can cause mood changes and depression. See the entries on FTC, tenofovir and rilpivirine for more detail.

Rare side-effects: Changes in heart rhythm (known as QT prolongation).

Key drug interactions: Medicines that affect your stomach acidity can block the way Eviplera is absorbed. Don’t take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole with Eviplera.Indigestion remedies called H₂-blockers should be taken at least 12 hours before or at least four hours aftertaking Eviplera. If taking other indigestion remedies or calcium supplements, they should be taken at least two hours before or at least four hours aftertaking Eviplera as they can prevent it being absorbed properly.

See the entries on FTC, tenofovir and rilpivirine for more information.