Emtricitabine 200mg VS lamivudine 300mg

[atripla_2013]

Due to out of medicine stock, My doctor has just ask me to change the 3in1 pill:

From

[Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate - 300mg / Efavirenz 600mg / EMTRICITABINE 200mg]

To

[Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate - 300mg / Efavirenz 600mg / LAMIVUDINE 300mg]

So what is different between Emtricitabine 200mg VS lamivudine 300mg?

If someone know about this, please help to explain. Thank you

[newt]

EMTRICITABINE aka FTC is a drug very similar to LAMIVUDINE aka 3TC. They are sister drugs, ie chemically very similar*, and therefore interchangeable. In practice one will work as well as each other.

- matt

* FTC has a flourine atom in it and 3TC does not

[atripla_2013]

Hi newt and friends

Thank you for your advice.

As u advise: FTC and 3TC work the same in the practice but I concern that

 I already take in [Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate - 300mg / Efavirenz 600mg / EMTRICITABINE 200mg] for my first 70 days.

Now I am going to change to [Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate - 300mg / Efavirenz 600mg / LAMIVUDINE 300mg]

I feel a bit worry as changing drug is not good when I am working well with the current one.

How do you think about this change? Could it is better or not better?

(I dont like changing actually)

[Ann]

How do you think about this change? Could it is better or not better?

I doubt very much you'll notice even the slightest difference.

[atripla_2013]

Dear Ann,

What you mean by : "I doubt very much you'll notice even the slightest difference"?

Please help to advice.

with best regards

Yu

[Ann]

Dear Ann,

What you mean by : "I doubt very much you'll notice even the slightest difference"?

Please help to advice.

with best regards

Yu

I mean that when you switch from emtricitabine to lamivudine, I do not think you will notice anything different. You should feel the same. You should not experience any new side-effects.

They are very similar drugs. They are both equally effective.

You're going to be ok!