Discover Stribild Dosage: Tailored Treatment for HIV-1 Infection

Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat HIV in certain situations. The drug comes as an oral tablet that you usually take once a day.

Stribild is approved for adults and some children to treat HIV. Specifically, it’s approved as a first treatment or to replace other HIV medications.

Before prescribing Stribild to replace other HIV medications, your doctor will confirm the following:

• your viral load is undetectable, and
• you’ve taken a stable treatment regimen for at least 6 months, and
• your past treatments haven’t stopped working, and
• your HIV hasn’t become resistant to any of Stribild’s active ingredients

* Viral load measures the amount of HIV in your blood. Doctors use this measure to help assess the effectiveness of treatment.
† If your HIV is resistant to any ingredients in Stribild, the drug may be less effective in treating your condition.

Stribild is a single-tablet HIV regimen. It contains four active ingredients in one tablet. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) These are:

• elvitegravir: an integrase inhibitor
• cobicistat: a cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitor which boosts the levels of elvitegravir in your body
• emtricitabine: a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)
• tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: another NRTI

This article describes the dosage of Stribild, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about Stribild, see this in-depth article.

Boxed warning: Risk of worsening hepatitis B

Stribild has a boxed warning about the risk of worsening hepatitis B. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you have hepatitis B and HIV, your hepatitis B may become worse if you stop taking Stribild. The worsening of hepatitis B could be severe and may lead to liver failure.

Due to this risk, your doctor will test you for hepatitis B before you start taking Stribild. If you have hepatitis B, your doctor will monitor you for symptoms for several months after you stop taking Stribild.

Symptoms of hepatitis B may include:• fever
• dark urine
• jaundice

If you develop hepatitis B, your doctor may prescribe additional medication.

What is Stribild’s dosage?

This section describes the usual dosages of Stribild. Keep reading to learn more about Stribild’s dosage for adults and children.

What is Stribild’s form?

Stribild is available as an oral tablet.

What strength does Stribild bring?

Stribild comes in one strength that contains:

• 150 milligrams (mg) of elvitegravir
• 150 mg of cobicistat
• 200 mg of emtricitabine
• 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

What is the usual dosage of Stribild in adults?

The information below describes the dosage that is commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for HIV

The typical Stribild dosage for adults is 1 tablet once a day with food.

Stribild is considered a complete HIV regimen. You won’t need to take any other HIV drugs while taking Stribild.

What’s the dosage of Stribild for children?

Stribild is approved for use in children ages 12 and older who weigh at least 35 kilograms (kg). This is about 77 pounds (lb).* The typical Stribild dosage in these children is 1 tablet once daily with food.

Talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist for more information about Stribild’s dosage for children.

* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

Is Stribild taken long-term?

Yes, Stribild is usually taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long-term.

Dosage adjustments

Your Stribild dosage will usually not be adjusted. But the time you take other medications may need to be adjusted once you start Stribild treatment. See the “How is Stribild taken?” section below for more information.

How is Stribild taken?

Stribild is available as an oral tablet. You’ll swallow 1 tablet once daily with food. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.

Note that the time for taking certain medications or supplements may need to be adjusted during Stribild treatment. For instance, to help Stribild work effectively, you should separate Stribild from certain medications or supplements by at least 2 hours. Some examples include:

• calcium supplements
• iron supplements
• certain antacids, such as calcium carbonate (Tums)
• certain laxatives, such as magnesium citrate (Citroma)

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Stribild, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Accessible drug containers and labels

Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

• have large print
• use braille
• feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Let your pharmacist know if you have difficulty opening medication bottles. They may have tips to help, or they may be able to supply Stribild in an easy-to-open container.

What if I miss a dose?

It’s important to take your Stribild doses every day. This allows the drug to work as effectively as possible in your body.

If you do miss a dose of Stribild, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. And then take your next dose at its usual time. If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Stribild on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

What should be done in cases of overdose?

Do not take more Stribild than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

What to do in case you take too much Stribild

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Stribild. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Stribild’s dosage.

Is Stribild’s dosage similar to the dosage of Genvoya?

The forms and how often you take Stribild and Genvoya are similar. Both drugs are oral tablets that you take once per day to treat HIV.

Each also contains the same four active ingredients: elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Stribild and Genvoya both contain the same amounts of elvitegravir, cobicistat, and emtricitabine.

But these drugs contain different forms and amounts of tenofovir. Genvoya contains 10 mg of tenofovir alafenamide, while Stribild contains 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Studies have shown that tenofovir alafenamide may cause fewer side effects than tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Your doctor will prescribe the drug at the dosage that’s right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Stribild to start working?

Stribild starts working soon after your first dose, but you likely won’t feel it working in your body. Your doctor will use blood tests regularly to confirm that the medication is working. They’ll check whether it’s lowering your viral load or keeping it undetectable.

If you have other questions about what to expect from your Stribild treatment, talk with your doctor.

What should I ask my doctor?

The sections above describe the usual dosage provided by the drugmaker. If your doctor recommends Stribild for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Stribild without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Stribild exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Do any of the other medications I take need to be changed or adjusted when I start taking Stribild?
• Can I crush or chew a Stribild tablet?
• How long will I need to take Stribild?

Stribild Dosage: Need-to-Knows

What is Stribild?

Stribild is a prescription medication used to treat HIV infection in adults and some children (age 12 and over, weighing at least 77 pounds) [1]. It combines four active ingredients into a single tablet for once-daily dosing [1].

Important Warning:

Stribild has a boxed warning regarding the risk of worsening hepatitis B if you have both conditions [2]. Talk to your doctor about testing for hepatitis B before starting Stribild [2].

Dosage:

• Adults and approved children typically take one Stribild tablet daily with food [1].
• Stribild is a complete HIV regimen, so no additional HIV medications are needed while taking it [1].

How to Take Stribild:

• Swallow the tablet whole with food [4].
• Certain medications and supplements may interact with Stribild. Space them at least 2 hours apart from your Stribild dose. Examples include calcium or iron supplements, some antacids, and some laxatives [4].
• Ask your pharmacist for tips on opening the bottle or using an easy-open container if needed [5].

Missed Dose:

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but skip it if it’s close to your next dose [6].
• Don’t take extra Stribild to make up for a missed dose [6].

Overdose:

• Call your doctor or poison control immediately if you take too much Stribild [7].

Comparison with Genvoya:

• Both Stribild and Genvoya are once-daily HIV medications with similar active ingredients [8].
• However, Genvoya may cause fewer side effects due to its different form of tenofovir [8].
• Your doctor will determine the most suitable medication for you [8].

Getting Started with Stribild

• Discuss any questions or concerns about your dosage with your doctor [9].
• Inform your doctor about other medications you take to avoid potential interactions [9].
• Ask your doctor how long you’ll need to stay on Stribild treatment [9].

Additional Resources:

• This article provides a general overview. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice [9].