I am on Atripla and am very happy with the ease and effectiveness of the medication. However, I have noticed that I have more frequent diarrhea. Is there a simple regimen that I could take that would provide the efficacy of Atripla, but without the lower intestinal issues?

There is little firm data regarding whether switching off Atripla for gut complaints would quickly relief the gut complaints. Gut complaints are common in the general population and perhaps even more common in HIV+ persons so difficult to be certain that one of the components of Atripla is causing your loose stools. Tenofovir (and less often efavirenz) can sometime cause loose stools (a fairly common side effect for many of the other HIV medications). A switch from tenofovir to abacavir could be tried on a trial basis (if HLA B5701 negative) that requires taking more pills or the efavirenz could be switched to rilpivirine on a trial basis (Complera is a one pill as well). A discussion with your HIV provider is recommended (as well as consider a work up for loose stools that can be due to other conditions such as infections, lactose or gluten intolerance). KH