Is Triumeq an immunosuppressant?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Aug 12, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

No, Triumeq is not classified as an immunosuppressant. Triumeq is an antiviral medicine used to treat people living with HIV. An immunosuppressant medicine can weaken your immune system and increase your risk of infections or other illnesses.

Triumeq is an antiretroviral medication used to treat people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and helps to strengthen your immune system. It can help to protect you from infections or cancers that may be more common in people with HIV. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

In some circumstances, Triumeq may affect your immune system.

Triumeq may cause a side effect called immune reconstitution syndrome. This can happen when you first start taking HIV medicines because your immune system will get stronger and fight infections that have been hidden in your body before treatment.
If you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) and take Triumeq, your HBV may get worse if you stop taking Triumeq. Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will test you for HBV if needed.
Some drug interactions may affect how well Triumeq works against HIV or lead to side effects. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you take, including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, or herbal medicines or dietary supplements.

What are examples of immunsuppressants?

Immunosuppressant medicines are often used to treat diseases that are characterized by inflammation (swelling, pain, and irritation) such as rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis or ulcerative colitis. Common drug examples include Cosentyx, Entyvio, Humira, or Xeljanz.

Another type of immunosuppressant called anti-rejection drugs are used to lower the chance that the body would reject a transplanted organ, such as a kidney.

Corticosteroid medicines like prednisone are used for many different conditions. They are often used for asthma, arthritis, or allergies, among many other uses. Corticosteroids can also weaken your immune system.

What's in Triumeq?

Triumeq tablet contains three medicines in one tablet: abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine. You may see the name Triumeq abbreviated ABC / DTG / 3TC. It is a combination integrase inhibitor (dolutegravir) and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (abacavir / lamivudine) used in the treatment of HIV in adults and in children who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg).

In general, Triumeq is usually well-tolerated by most patients. The most common side effects of Triumeq include:

trouble sleeping (insomnia)
tiredness
headache

These are not all the possible side effects of Triumeq. Tell your doctor right away if you have any symptoms or side effects after starting treatment with this drug.

This is not all the information you need to know about Triumeq (abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Triumeq information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

References

Triumeq prescribing information. 3/2021. ViiV Healthcare. Research Triangle Park. NC. Accessed Aug. 20, 2021 a https://gskpro.com/content/dam/global/hcpportal/en_US/Prescribing_Information/Triumeq/pdf/TRIUMEQ-PI-MG.PDF
Triumeq.com. FAQs. ViiV Healthcare. Accessed Aug. 20, 2021 at https://us.triumeq.com/

Triumeq vs Genvoya. How do they compare?

Both Triumeq and Genvoya are combination one-tablet-a-day medicines that are considered first-line treatments for HIV-1 by the HHS guidelines. Because Triumeq does not contain cobicistat, an antiviral booster, it is less likely to interact with other medications and may have fewer side effects than Genvoya. People taking Genvoya do not need to be tested for the HLA-B*5701 gene, because it does not contain abacavir. Continue reading

How long does it take for Triumeq to work?

Triumeq works quickly to suppress the HIV-1 virus and some people have reported an undetectable viral load within a month of starting Triumeq (this corresponds to an HIV‑1 RNA level of fewer than 50 copies/mL); however, results can vary among individuals. Research has shown that after 48 weeks of treatment, 88% of people had undetectable HIV‑1 RNA levels and after 144 weeks, 71% of patients have undetectable HIV-1 RNA. Continue reading

Does Triumeq cause weight gain?

Weight gain is an uncommon side effect of Triumeq that has been reported in post-marketing reports – these are studies done after a drug has been approved. Weight gain was not noted as a side effect of Triumeq in clinical trials and is not documented as a side effect in the product information. Recent studies report that one in six people starting HIV treatment gain at least 10% in body weight over one to two years. The risk is higher in people who start treatment with a combination that contains the integrase inhibitors dolutegravir, bictegravir, or elvitegravir, or the NRTI tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Trimueq contains dolutegravir. Continue reading

Is Triumeq an immunosuppressant?

What are examples of immunsuppressants?

Related questions

What's in Triumeq?

Read next

Triumeq vs Genvoya. How do they compare?

How long does it take for Triumeq to work?

Does Triumeq cause weight gain?

See also:

Aimovig

Botox

Biktarvy

Nurtec ODT

Emgality

Inderal

Ajovy

Vyepti

Botox Cosmetic

Fremanezumab

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups