FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET belongs to the class of medicines 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.

FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET contains Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir. Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, whereas Emtricitabine and Tenofovir are nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors. They work by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme production, which the HIV-infected cells must make to make new viruses. This effect helps to inhibit viral replication.

You should take this medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor. The common side-effects of FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET are dizziness, headache, diarrhea, feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), rashes (red spots or blotches sometimes with blistering and swelling of the skin), and feeling weak. These side-effects usually resolve without requiring any medical attention. However, if any of these side effects persist or get worse, inform your doctor immediately.

It is not recommended to take FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET if you are allergic to any contents of it. Do not take FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET if you have severe liver disease, moderate to severe kidney disease, heart condition such as prolongation of the QT interval, which increases the risk of severe heart rhythm problems, family history of heart problems, and low electrolyte levels. It is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age. It should be used with caution in pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and elderly people. Consumption of alcohol may increase the risk of side effects. FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET may cause dizziness, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy.

FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET belongs to the group of medicines called antiretroviral therapy (ART). FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET is a fixed-dose combination (FDC) and contains Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir. FDC helps decrease drug resistance (reducing medication effectiveness) as the HIV virus can easily develop drug resistance. FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET helps reduce the symptoms, control the infection, and prevent opportunistic infections effectively. It further helps in improving the quality of life of a patient with HIV.

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Being sick (vomiting)
• Rashes (red spots or blotches sometimes with blistering and swelling of the skin)
• Feeling weak
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping, abnormal dreams, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness
• Feeling worried or depressed

FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET may affect kidney function, so it is advised to monitor kidney function while using this medicine. FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET should be used with caution in patients with mental illness, fits, liver diseases, FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET may decrease phosphate levels in the blood. It may also increase creatine kinase (CK) levels (high CK levels indicate muscle being destroyed) in the blood resulting in muscle pain and weakness. FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET show signs of infection or inflammation from the previous infection when the treatment has started in some patients with advanced HIV infection and history of opportunistic infection. So, if you notice any signs of infection, inform your doctor immediately. Autoimmune diseases (immune cells attack healthy body tissue) may occur months after the start of the treatment. Inform your doctor if you notice any signs such as muscle weakness, weakness in the hands and the feet, palpitations (pounding heart), and tremors. FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET may cause osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue due to a decrease in blood supply to the bone) in some patients. The risk of this disease depends on factors such as length of antiretroviral therapy, alcohol use, steroid use, body mass index (BMI), and immunity. Inform your doctor if you notice joint pain, stiffness, and difficulty in movement, as these symptoms may indicate osteonecrosis.

Drug-Drug Interactions: FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET should not be taken along with antiallergic medicines (astemizole and terfenadine), a medicine used to treat heart disease (bepridil), a medicine used to treat heartburn (cisapride), medicines used to treat hepatitis C (elbasvir+grazoprevir), medicines used to treat migraine (ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, and ergonovine, etc.), medicines used to treat mental illnesses (pimozide, imipramine, amitryptiline, and clomipramine, etc.), herbal medicine to treat depression (Hypericum perforatum), anti-fungal agent (voriconazole), medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats (flecainide and metoprolol), antibiotic (imidazole), macrolide and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, antimalarial agents, and opioid pain killer (methadone).

Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.

Drug-Disease Interactions: FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET should not be used in patients with severe liver disease, moderate to severe kidney disease, heart condition such as prolongation of the QT interval, which increases the risk of severe heart rhythm problems, and low electrolyte levels.

• ASTEMIZOLE
• TERFENADINE
• BEPRIDIL
• CISAPRIDE
• ERGOTAMINE
• DIHYDROERGOTAMINE
• ERGONOVINE
• PIMOZIDE
• IMIPRAMINE
• AMITRIPTYLINE
• CLOMIPRAMINE
• HYPERICUM PERFORATUM
• VORICONAZOLE
• FLECAINIDE
• METOPROLOL
• METHADONE

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Eat vitamin and nutrient-rich food such as dark-green, yellow, orange, and red vegetables and fruit as it helps to boost your immune system. Option for lean protein and whole grains.
• Avoid eating raw meat and eggs. Consume properly boiled and cooked meat, poultry, or seafood.
• Eat bland and low-fat foods and avoid spicy or oily foods if you experience nausea or vomiting.
• Try to reduce emotional and physical stress by spending time with family or whatever makes you happy.
• Drink more fluids and avoid alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration. 
• Wash your hands properly before and after eating.
• Make sure you sleep at least 8 hours a day.

• FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET may still develop infections or other illnesses associated with HIV infection or AIDS. So, people taking FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET should be carefully monitored throughout the treatment.
• You can still infect other people while taking FORSTAVIR 3 TABLET . So, use necessary precautions to avoid infecting others.
• Do not stop taking the medicine unless advised by the doctor. This is because the virus gets multiplied and it gets harder to treat if you stop taking the medicine even for a short time. 

HIV infection: 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.