Atripla Rash

[sk_09]

Started Atripla 6 days ago and had the weird dreams and drunk feeling like people mentioned. But on day 4 I started to get a rash, raised, dry, but thank G-d not itchy, on my face. It slowly spread to my entire body but covered my face completely. I am taking prednisone already because I had pneumonia and I started taking benadryl. Now on day 3 of the rash it doesn't seem to  be getting worse but it doesn't look like it is going away - the drugs also aren't helping. Thankfully it's easter weekend because I am embarassed to leave my house. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I knew a rash was common but didn't expect it to be this bad. How long does it last?

[newt]

Not more than 10 days, but usually much less than this.

- matt

Now playing: Ben Taylor, Rain

[moratorium79]

I also suffered with this at around the same time frame (about two weeks, maybe a little less, from when I first began Atripla).  You'll be relieved to know that it really is just for the most part ANNOYING.  I had it full body, face and all, and after a little over a week it had dissipated.  Everyone is different of course, but I'm guessing you'll be looking and feeling better possibly as soon as next weekend!

[GuyInLA]

I'll be going on Atripla soon.  Does anyone know, statistically, about what percent of people on Atripla get the rash, and how common is it that it appears on the face.  It would be very difficult to explain the rash at work, and even more difficult to take a week off work.  I already take Allegra for allergies; could this help prevent the rash?  Thanks for any info.

[moratorium79]

I've read that 26% of patients suffer from the rash, and the severity differs from person to person.  This information may not be too reliable, however, because I read it online while wildly trying to figure out what was happening to me.  My best advice would be to voice your concerns with your physician and see if they can clear up the statistic window for you. 

Good luck!

[sk_09]

The rash has gone down significantly and now like someone mentioned is just annoying. My doctor told me half of the people who go on atripla get the rash. The easiest thing to tell your work is that you had a reaction to medication your taking? It looks like a common drug rash. It's not like someones gonna look at you and say OMG THAT GUY HAS AN ATRIPLA RASH! haha

[Peter Staley]

Here's what the Atripla label says about rash:

In controlled clinical trials, 26% (266/1008) of patients treated with 600 mg efavirenz
experienced new-onset skin rash compared with 17% (111/635) of patients treated
in control groups. Rash associated with blistering, moist desquamation, or ulceration
occurred in 0.9% (9/1008) of patients treated with efavirenz. The incidence of Grade 4
rash (eg, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome) in patients treated with
efavirenz in all studies and expanded access was 0.1%. Rashes are usually mild-tomoderate
maculopapular skin eruptions that occur within the first 2 weeks of initiating
therapy with efavirenz (median time to onset of rash in adults was 11 days) and, in
most patients continuing therapy with efavirenz, rash resolves within 1 month
(median duration, 16 days). The discontinuation rate for rash in clinical trials was
1.7% (17/1008). ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) can
be reinitiated in patients interrupting therapy because of rash. ATRIPLA should be
discontinued in patients developing severe rash associated with blistering,
desquamation, mucosal involvement, or fever. Appropriate antihistamines and/or
corticosteroids may improve the tolerability and hasten the resolution of rash.

Experience with efavirenz in patients who discontinued other antiretroviral agents of
the NNRTI class is limited. Nineteen patients who discontinued nevirapine because of
rash have been treated with efavirenz. Nine of these patients developed mild-tomoderate
rash while receiving therapy with efavirenz, and two of these patients
discontinued because of rash.