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COMBINATION DRUG
Stribild (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in adults and children ages 12 and older who weigh at least 35 kilograms.
These insights are based on 207 comments about Stribild from myHIVteam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.
Benefits:
Considerations:
Stribild combines four medicines in one tablet: elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Elvitegravir blocks an HIV enzyme called integrase, while emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate block an HIV enzyme called reverse transcriptase. These enzymes help HIV make more copies of itself.
Cobicistat blocks an enzyme called CYP3A, which increases the amount of elvitegravir in the body. In HIV-1 infection, these effects help reduce the virus’s ability to spread.
Doctors prescribe Stribild when it is used as a complete HIV treatment for HIV-1 infection in adults and children ages 12 and older who weigh at least 35 kilograms. It may be used in people who have not taken HIV medicines before.
Stribild may also replace a person’s current HIV treatment if the person has had an HIV-1 viral load below 50 copies per milliliter while taking a stable HIV treatment regimen for at least six months. The person must also have no history of treatment failure and no known resistance changes linked to the individual medicines in Stribild.
HIV-1 is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Stribild is a tablet taken by mouth with food. If you take medicines, antacids, or oral supplements that contain aluminum, magnesium, calcium, iron, or zinc, take them at least two hours before or after Stribild.
The recommended dose of Stribild is 1 tablet taken by mouth once daily with food. This dose is for adults and children ages 12 and older who weigh at least 35 kilograms.
Your healthcare provider will check your kidney function before and during treatment. Starting Stribild is not recommended if a kidney test called creatinine clearance is below 70 milliliters per minute. Stribild should be stopped if this test falls below 50 milliliters per minute during treatment.
Each Stribild tablet contains 150 milligrams of elvitegravir, 150 milligrams of cobicistat, 200 milligrams of emtricitabine, and 300 milligrams of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. This is equivalent to 245 milligrams of tenofovir disoproxil.
This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.
These insights are based on 207 comments about Stribild from myHIVteam members.
Members who use Stribild often say it works well for many people, but side effects and lab changes can vary a lot from person to person. Across the community, members most often suggest staying consistent with dosing, taking note of stomach or other side effects, and keeping your doctor updated about kidney issues, interactions, or changes in how the medication is working.
Take Stribild consistently and do not miss doses.
“I was diagnosed in October 2016. I received a call from my doctor and 23,856 copies later and 45 days taking Stribild religiously, my viral load is now less than 10 and my CD4 count is at 450. She has informed me I am now UNDETECTABLE! I’ve been on Stribild since then.”
Take it with food, and talk to your doctor about stomach side effects.
“I’m currently on Stribild and the only side effect that I had was a slight upset stomach. I realized that when I was taking the medicine then eat I would have stomach cramps, but now all I do is eat half my food, take my pill, and then eat the other half. I found when I do this I don’t have stomach issues at all.”
Tell your doctor about other medicines and possible interactions.
“Taking certain antacids too close to Stribild can affect how the medicine works. My doctor told me to separate them by at least two to three hours. If you are taking any other medicines, let your doctor know so they can check for interactions.”
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In clinical studies of Stribild, the most common side effects occurred in about 12 percent to 16 percent of people. These include:
Stribild can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:
Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or by using the online chat.
Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of Stribild, offers the Gilead Advancing Access Co-Pay Savings Program. Eligible people with commercial or private insurance may pay as little as $0 per month, and the program currently provides up to $6,000 in Stribild cost-sharing assistance per calendar year with no monthly limit.
The Co-pay Savings Program is not available to people whose prescriptions are reimbursed by state- or federally funded programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. Advancing Access also provides information about other financial assistance options.
To learn more, visit the Gilead Advancing Access Co-pay Savings Program or call 800-226-2056.
Before starting Stribild, your doctor will test for:
If you have chronic kidney disease, your healthcare provider will also check the amount of phosphorus in your blood.
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or any ingredients in Stribild.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Do not take Stribild with:
Do not miss doses or let your supply of Stribild run out. Missing doses may allow the amount of HIV-1 in your blood to increase and may make the virus harder to treat.
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor. Stribild should not be started during pregnancy and is not recommended during pregnancy.
A pregnancy registry tracks pregnancy outcomes in people exposed to Stribild. Healthcare providers can register pregnancies by visiting the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry or calling 800-258-4263.
Do not breastfeed while taking Stribild. Breastfeeding is not recommended because HIV can pass to a baby through breast milk.
Emtricitabine and tenofovir, two medicines in Stribild, have been found in human breast milk. It is not known whether elvitegravir or cobicistat pass into human breast milk.
These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.
How effective is Stribild for HIV?
In two studies of adults starting HIV treatment, 78 percent to 80 percent of people taking Stribild had an HIV-1 viral load below 50 copies per milliliter at week 144. Average CD4 counts, which measure important immune cells that help fight infection, increased by 261 to 298 cells per cubic millimeter.
In adults whose HIV-1 was already suppressed and who switched to Stribild, 93 percent to 94 percent had an HIV-1 viral load below 50 copies per milliliter at week 48. In a study of adolescents ages 12 to younger than 18, 88 percent had an HIV-1 viral load below 50 copies per milliliter at week 48.
How long does Stribild take to work for HIV?
The studies measured how well Stribild worked at specific times rather than giving an exact amount of time for it to start working. Studies in adults reported results through week 144. In adolescents, 88 percent had an HIV-1 viral load below 50 copies per milliliter at week 48.
Can Stribild interact with other medicines used for HIV?
Yes. Stribild is a complete HIV-1 treatment regimen, so it should not be taken with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1. Cobicistat, one of the medicines in Stribild, can change the amount of certain medicines in the body.
Some medicines should not be taken with Stribild. These include:
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