Manufacturer: Cipla, India
Pharmaceutical name: Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir
Pack: 30 pills (600 mg/200 mg/300 mg)
Viraday brings together three established anti-HIV medications—Emtricitabine, Efavirenz, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate—into a single tablet. When taken daily, Viraday can inhibit the replication and mutation of HIV-1 in adults, enabling those infected with HIV to lead long, healthy lives without succumbing to AIDS.
Viraday is administered orally once a day. To reduce gastrointestinal and nervous system side effects, it is recommended to take Viraday on an empty stomach or just before bedtime. Patients with significant kidney issues should refrain from using Viraday.
Contraindications include any hypersensitivity to Viraday's components and concurrent use of astemizole, cisapride, ergot derivatives, midazolam, triazolam, or voriconazole.
Common side effects of Viraday can include: depression, gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea, headaches, nervous system symptoms, and rashes. Less frequent side effects are: abdominal pain, anorexia, flatulence, liver toxicity, and lactic acidosis. Additional adverse effects have been reported, so it is advisable to consult your doctor if you experience any health changes after starting Viraday.
Immune reconstitution syndrome and disturbances in the nervous system may occur in the initial weeks of taking Viraday, but both are expected to resolve within a month. Patients on Viraday should have their viral loads, renal functions, cholesterol, and triglycerides monitored regularly. Current research suggests that individuals with liver conditions should avoid using Viraday. Abruptly stopping Viraday could trigger a flare in patients with hepatitis. Changes in body fat and bone structure have been noted as long-term side effects of certain antiretroviral medications, so discuss any unexplained physical changes with your healthcare provider.
Viraday may lead to kidney issues if taken with acyclovir and can intensify the side effects of didanosine. The side effects of Viraday may worsen when taken with Atazanavir or Lopinavir/ritonavir. Patients taking Viraday cannot use Atazanavir unless also taking Ritonavir. Additionally, Viraday may influence plasma levels of Clarithromycin, Rifabutin, Warfarin, and drugs metabolized by CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19, possibly reducing the effectiveness of methadone and causing withdrawal symptoms.
Individuals taking Viraday alongside Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, or Phenytoin need to have their anticonvulsant medication levels regularly checked. Viraday may amplify the negative effects of psychoactive medications on the nervous system. Furthermore, it may interfere with the functioning of ethinyl estradiol, an important component in several contraceptives. Rifampin and items containing hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) can make efavirenz ineffective, potentially leading to the HIV virus developing immunity to the drug.
One of the main components of Viraday, Efavirenz, carries a risk of birth defects for pregnant women. Mothers with HIV should not breastfeed due to the potential risk of transmitting the virus to their child.
Taking excessive doses of Viraday can lead to long-term bodily harm, so it’s important to seek immediate medical attention if you consume more than the recommended dose. Treatments such as haemodialysis or administering oral charcoal may be required to eliminate toxic substances from the body.