Triumeq, made simple.
Triumeq is a once a day pill that treats HIV. It is a complete regimen. It also comes with one safety step that no other pill in this guide has: a genetic test before you start. This guide explains why, in plain words, and walks through everything else you need to know. A Mississippi pharmacist wrote it for you, with care.
This guide is here to teach you. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Always do what your doctor tells you, and ask a pharmacist before you change how you take any medicine.
Print this guide for your fridgeWhat Triumeq is and why your doctor gave it to you
Triumeq is a once a day pill for HIV. It holds three medicines in one tablet.
It is a complete regimen, which means Triumeq by itself is the whole HIV treatment. You do not add other HIV pills to it. If you are ever unsure whether a pill is your whole treatment or just one part, ask your pharmacist.
One of the three medicines in Triumeq, called abacavir, is the reason for a special safety step. Before anyone starts Triumeq, they need a simple genetic test. That test is explained in the dose section below, and it is the single most important thing to understand about this medicine.
Here is the part worth holding onto. When HIV is kept undetectable by taking your medicine every day, it is not passed to others through sex. Doctors call this U equals U, undetectable equals untransmittable. Treatment protects your health, and the people you care about.
How Triumeq works
To make more of itself, HIV has to get inside your cells and copy itself.
The three medicines in Triumeq block different steps. One blocks the virus from inserting itself into your cells. The other two block the virus from copying itself.
Together, they push the amount of HIV in your blood down, usually until a test can no longer find it. This works only while you keep taking the pill every day.
Your dose, and the test you need first
Triumeq is one tablet, once a day. You can take it with or without food. Take it at about the same time every day.
Here is the safety step that makes Triumeq different. Before you start, you need a one time genetic test, often called the HLA-B test. It is a simple blood or cheek swab test. Some people carry a gene that makes them much more likely to have a serious allergic reaction to abacavir, one of the medicines in Triumeq. The test finds out whether you carry that gene.
If the test is positive, you should never take Triumeq, and your doctor will choose a different HIV medicine. If the test is negative, the risk of that reaction is low. This is not a reason to fear Triumeq. It is the opposite: the test exists so the medicine can be used safely. Your doctor picks your dose and your pharmacist checks it. This page will not tell you what dose to take.
Timing, and what to do if you miss a dose
Take Triumeq once a day, at about the same time each day. Tie it to a daily habit so it is easy to remember.
HIV medicine works best taken every day without gaps. Missed doses give the virus a chance to copy itself and become harder to treat.
If you miss a dose:
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
- If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one and take the next on schedule.
- Never take two doses at once to catch up.
- If missing doses is happening often, tell us. We can help with reminders and packaging.
Side effects, what is normal and what is not
Common, and usually mild.
- Trouble sleeping.
- A headache, or feeling tired.
- Some stomach upset or nausea.
- These are most common early on and often settle as your body adjusts.
Call your doctor if you see:
- New or worsening low mood, sadness, or anxiety.
- Yellowing of your skin or the white of your eyes, or dark urine.
- Stomach pain that does not settle.
Go to the emergency room, and stop Triumeq, if:
- You have signs of the abacavir allergic reaction. This usually shows up in the first 6 weeks and involves two or more of these together: fever, a rash, stomach upset like nausea or vomiting or diarrhea, feeling very tired and achy, or trouble breathing and a cough. If this happens, stop Triumeq, get care right away, and never take Triumeq or abacavir again. Taking it again after a reaction can be life threatening.
- You have signs of liver trouble: severe nausea and vomiting, pain on the upper right of your belly, and yellow skin or eyes.
- You have thoughts of harming yourself. Call or text 988, or go to the emergency room.
What to be careful with
The most important caution with Triumeq is the abacavir allergic reaction, covered just above. Two rules go with it. First, you must have the genetic test before you start. Second, if you ever have a reaction, you can never take Triumeq or abacavir again. Your pharmacy will give you a warning card to carry. Keep it.
On medicines: one heart rhythm medicine, called dofetilide, must never be taken with Triumeq. A few seizure medicines and the tuberculosis medicine rifampin need special handling, sometimes an extra tablet at a separate time, which your doctor will arrange. The herbal supplement St. John's Wort should be avoided.
Calcium and iron supplements and many multivitamins can block Triumeq if taken at the wrong time. With food, you can take them together. Without food, keep Triumeq at least 2 hours before, or 6 hours after.
The simple rule: before you start or stop any medicine or supplement, tell your pharmacist you take Triumeq. Every single time. And always make sure any new doctor knows you take abacavir.
What it costs
The cost is different for every person, because every insurance plan is different.
Here is the honest way to find your price. If you pay cash, call Fairview and we will give you a price for your situation. If you have private insurance, there may be a coupon or a savings program from the maker of the drug that helps lower your cost, and we will check if one is available for you. The best step is to let a pharmacist look at your plan. We do this for every patient.
Do not let cost make you skip doses. Call us first. There is almost always something we can do.
There is also a generic version of many medicines. The generic is the same medicine. Ask your pharmacist if a generic is a good fit for you.
What should be checked
Before you start Triumeq, and while you take it, your care team checks a few things to keep you safe and confirm the medicine is working.
Your doctor should check:
- The HLA-B genetic test, before you start. This is required.
- Whether you have hepatitis B, which should be tested before you start.
- Your HIV viral load, to confirm it stays undetectable.
- How well your liver is working, and your heart risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.
Your pharmacist should:
- Give you the abacavir warning card with every fill, and make sure you understand it.
- Check every new medicine and supplement against Triumeq.
- Make sure you have your refills on time, with no gaps.
- Keep your information private, always.
At Fairview, we make sure every Triumeq patient understands the allergic reaction warning and carries the card. If a refill is running late, we call you. Your care is handled discreetly and with respect.
Special situations
The abacavir warning card.
Your pharmacy gives you a warning card with every Triumeq prescription. Carry it in your wallet. It tells any doctor or emergency team that you take abacavir, which matters if you ever have symptoms of the allergic reaction. It is a small card that does a big job.
If you also have hepatitis B.
You should be tested for hepatitis B before you start Triumeq. If you have both HIV and hepatitis B, stopping Triumeq later, without a plan, can cause a serious flare of the hepatitis B. Never stop on your own, and make sure your doctor knows your hepatitis B status.
Never stop on your own.
If you ever want to stop Triumeq or switch, plan it with your doctor. Stopping suddenly lets the virus rebound, and for people with hepatitis B it can cause a liver flare. A safe change is always possible with a plan.
Heart health.
Some studies have suggested a possible link between abacavir and heart attack risk, though the evidence is not settled. As a sensible precaution, your doctor will keep an eye on heart risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and smoking, and help you manage them.
Cost should never be the reason you stop.
HIV medicine is expensive, but there is real help. There are manufacturer savings programs, and assistance programs for people with limited income. Many people end up paying very little. If cost is a worry, call Fairview before you ever skip a dose.
How Fairview helps Triumeq patients
When you fill Triumeq at Fairview, here is what you get. This is normal care for us, and it is always private.
At your first fill:
- We confirm the genetic test was done before you start.
- We give you the abacavir warning card and explain the reaction signs.
- We check all your medicines and supplements against Triumeq.
- We talk through cost and help you find any program you qualify for.
At every refill:
- We give you a fresh warning card.
- We check your file for any new medicines.
- We make sure there is no gap before your next refill.
On our own, without being asked:
- If a refill is running late, we call you.
- If we see a medicine that does not mix with Triumeq, we call your doctor.
- We check your cost at every fill to keep it as low as possible.
- We keep your care discreet and respectful, always.
Questions people ask about Triumeq
One medicine in Triumeq, abacavir, can cause a serious allergic reaction in people who carry a certain gene. The one time HLA-B test finds out if you carry it. If positive, you should not take Triumeq. If negative, the risk is low. The test makes the medicine safe to use.
Related guides
Have a question about your Triumeq? Ask a pharmacist you can trust.
Triumeq has a strong track record, and once the genetic test is done and you carry your warning card, it is a steady, simple once a day treatment. Fairview is here to handle that safety work for you, privately and without judgment. Moving your prescription to us takes one phone call.