Prescription medication · NNRTI / NRTI Combination

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Also sold as Atripla. Efavirenz is used to treat HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Data updated 2026-05-15

6,041
FDA reports
32
InteractionsSeveral interactions
Rx
Availability

What the data shows

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Atripla) is a prescription NNRTI / NRTI Combination, with 6,041 FDA adverse-event reports on file, with 32 documented drug interactions.

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Atripla) is a prescription NNRTI / NRTI Combination. Efavirenz is used to treat HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Efavirenz is a drug used to treat HIV-1 infection. It belongs to a class of drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI).

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Compare with Another Drug →

What it does

Efavirenz is used to treat HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Common side effects

Rash, Dizziness, Nausea

Key warnings

Efavirenz can cause serious side effects, including psychiatric problems like depression or suicidal thoughts.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Efavirenz blocks an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. HIV needs this enzyme to make copies of itself. By blocking it, efavirenz helps to slow down the spread of HIV in your body.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 6,041 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Serious Warnings

Efavirenz can cause serious side effects, including psychiatric problems like depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Efavirenz can also harm your liver. Your doctor should check your liver function before and during treatment. Do not take efavirenz by itself.

Known Drug Interactions

moderate clarithromycin

Anti-infective: Clarithromycin ↓ clarithromycin * ↑ 14-OH metabolite * Consider alternatives to macrolide antibiotics because of the risk of QT interval prolongation.

Mechanism: This combination can change how the antibiotic is processed and may cause a dangerous heart rhythm problem.

moderate sofosbuvir/velpatasvir

Velpatasvir/ Sofosbuvir ↓ velpatasvir Co-administration of efavirenz and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir is not recommended because it may result in loss of therapeutic effect of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir Velpatasvir /Sofosbuvir/Voxilaprevir ↓ velpatasvir ↓ voxilaprevir Co-administration of efavirenz and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir is not recommended because it may result in loss of therapeutic effect of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir.

Mechanism: One medicine lowers the amount of the hepatitis C drug in your body, which can stop it from working correctly.

moderate posaconazole

Posaconazole ↓ posaconazole* Avoid concomitant use unless the benefit outweighs the risks.

Mechanism: Efavirenz causes the body to break down posaconazole more quickly, which lowers the amount of medicine available to fight infections.

minor atorvastatin

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: Atorvastatin Pravastatin Simvastatin ↓ atorvastatin * ↓ pravastatin * ↓ simvastatin * Plasma concentrations of atorvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin decreased.

Mechanism: The HIV medicine makes your body process the cholesterol drug more quickly, lowering its level in your blood.

minor sertraline

Antidepressant: Bupropion Sertraline ↓bupropion* ↓ sertraline * Increases in bupropion dosage should be guided by clinical response. Increases in sertraline dosage should be guided by clinical response.

Mechanism: Taking these drugs together can lower the amount of the antidepressant in your body.

Check all your medications →

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

Can I take efavirenz by itself?
No, efavirenz must be taken with other HIV medicines.
What should I do if I start feeling depressed or suicidal?
Seek medical help right away.
Does efavirenz interact with other medications?
Yes, efavirenz can interact with many other medications. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
Can I drink alcohol while taking efavirenz?
Talk to your doctor about drinking alcohol while taking efavirenz.
What if I have liver problems?
Efavirenz is not recommended if you have moderate or severe liver problems.
How often will my doctor check my liver?
Your doctor should check your liver function before and during treatment.
Can efavirenz cause rash?
Yes, rash is a common side effect. Tell your doctor if you develop a severe rash.
Should I take efavirenz with food?
No, take efavirenz on an empty stomach.
What if I am taking voriconazole?
Your doctor will adjust the doses of both medications.
What if I am taking rifampin?
Your efavirenz dose may need to be increased.
What are the common side effects of efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir?
The registry lists Rash, Dizziness, Nausea, Headache, Fatigue among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir. The compiled record contains 6,041 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir interact with other medications?
The registry has 32 documented interaction rows for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir. Notable source-record pairings include clarithromycin, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, posaconazole. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir?
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir belongs to the NNRTI / NRTI Combination drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Efavirenz is used to treat HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir?
The FDA label for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in NNRTI / NRTI Combination

Other drugs grouped near efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir - same-class peers and common alternatives.

acyclovir

Zovirax

Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.

Compare with efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

albendazole

Albenza

Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.

Compare with efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

amphotericin B

Ambisome, Fungizone

Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.

Compare with efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

anidulafungin

Eraxis

Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.

Compare with efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

atovaquone/proguanil

Malarone

Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.

Compare with efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

Compare efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs acyclovir side-by-side →

Medication Guides

Understanding Drug Interactions

How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications

Generic vs Brand Name Drugs

FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters

Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs

FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines

Common Drug Interactions

Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself

Save on efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.

Check Prices on GoodRx →

Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.

What the FDA Data Shows for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

The FDA label for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir (sold under brand names such as Atripla) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the NNRTI / NRTI Combination class. Efavirenz is used to treat HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. Official labeling lists 9 commonly reported side effects, including Rash, Dizziness, Nausea.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 6,041 voluntary reports. The database also lists 32 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: June 28, 2024

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page