Avonza Tablet belongs to the class of medications called ‘antiretroviral agents’ used to treat HIV infection. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune cells of the body leading to decreased immunity. It spreads through body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluid, and blood. Symptoms include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, tiredness, and sore throat that usually last for days to several weeks.

Avonza Tablet is a combination of three medicines: Efavirenz, Lamivudine, and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. These drugs belong to a group of medicines called nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors. They work by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme from working, which is required by the HIV-infected cells to make new viruses. This effect helps to inhibit viral replication. Avonza Tablet also increases the CD4 cell (white blood cells that protect against infection) count in your blood.

You should take this medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Avonza Tablet may cause side-effects such as headache, dizziness, nausea, insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), weakness, depression, cough, diarrhoea, rash, impaired concentration, abnormal dreams, fatigue, nasal congestion (stuffy nose), pain. Inform your doctor if any of these side-effects persist or get worse.

It is not recommended to take Avonza Tablet if you are allergic to any contents of it. Before taking Avonza Tablet , inform your doctor if you have any liver disease, hepatitis B or C (liver infections), CNS disorders, Hypercholesterolemia, and kidney disease. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avonza Tablet should not be given to children below 2 years of age. Avonza Tablet should be used with caution in elderly patients. Alcohol consumption may increase the risk of side-effects. Avonza Tablet may cause dizziness, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy.

Avonza Tablet is a combination of three medicines: Efavirenz, Lamivudine, and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. These drugs belong to a group of medicines called nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors. They work by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme from working, which is required by the HIV-infected cells to make new viruses. This effect helps to inhibit viral replication. Avonza Tablet also increases the CD4 cell (white blood cells that protect against infection) count in your blood.

It is not recommended to take Avonza Tablet if you are allergic to any contents of it. Before taking Avonza Tablet , inform your doctor if you have any liver disease, hepatitis B or C (liver infections), CNS disorders, hypercholesterolemia, and kidney disease. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avonza Tablet should not be given to children below 2 years of age. Avonza Tablet should be used with caution in elderly patients. Alcohol consumption may increase the risk of side-effects. Avonza Tablet may cause dizziness, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy. Avonza Tablet should be used with caution due to the increased risk of immune reconstitution syndrome, decreased bone mineral density, pancreatitis, and lactic acidosis.

Drug-Drug Interactions:  Avonza Tablet may interact with drugs like anticancer (cisplatin), anti-depressant (citalopram), anti-fungal (fluconazole), antibiotics (gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, tobramycin), antimetabolites (methotrexate), potassium-sparing diuretics (amiodarone), anti-platelet drug (aspirin).

Drug-Food Interactions: Avonza Tablet may have interaction with St.John’s wort (herbal supplement used to treat depression). Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption while on this medication.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Avonza Tablet should not be used in patients with liver disease, kidney diseases, hepatitis B or C (liver infections), CNS disorders, heart diseases, hypercholesterolemia, bone disorders, lactic acidosis, immune reconstitution syndrome.

• CISPLATIN
• METHOTREXATE
• TOBRAMYCIN
• AZITHROMYCIN
• CITALOPRAM
• FLUCONAZOLE
• GENTAMICIN
• CIPROFLOXACIN
• AMIODARONE
• ASPIRIN

• Avoid eating raw eggs, meats, or seafood (including sushi and oysters/shellfish).
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Use a separate cutting board for raw meats.
• Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards with soap and water after each use.
• Eating a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
• Choosing lean, low-fat sources of protein.
• Limiting sweets, soft drinks, and foods with added sugar.
• Including proteins, carbohydrates, and a little good fat in all meals and snacks.

• Do not stop taking Avonza Tablet without your doctor’s advice.
• Monitor your liver function tests and kidney function tests regularly.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus): HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system, making the individual susceptible to other infections or illnesses. People with HIV experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, tiredness and sore throat. These symptoms usually last for days to several weeks. It spreads through body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluid, and blood. If left untreated, this condition can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). It is a life-long condition, and there is no definite cure for it.  However, it can be controlled by treating with antiretroviral agents.