Triumeq works quickly to suppress the HIV-1 virus and some people have reported an undetectable viral load within a month of starting Triumeq (corresponds to an HIV‑1 RNA level of fewer than 50 copies/mL). However, results can vary among individuals, and most trials have ranged from 48 weeks duration for treatment-experienced patients to 96 or 144 weeks for treatment-naïve patients. After 48 weeks, 88% of people had achieved HIV‑1 RNA levels of less than 50 copies/mL³ (considered undetectable) and after 144 weeks, 71% of patients taking Triumeq had HIV‑1 RNA levels of less than 50 copies/mL³.

Triumeq is a combination medicine containing dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine that is approved to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 40 kg (88 pounds). The recommended dose of Triumeq is one tablet once a day with or without food, preferably taken at the same time each day.

How effective is Triumeq?

The effectiveness of Triumeq is based on studies such as SINGLE and SAILING, which used dolutegravir (an integrase inhibitor) in combination with a background regimen of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), usually abacavir and lamivudine. Trials ranged from 48 weeks for treatment-experienced patients to 96 or 144 weeks for treatment naïve patients.

71% of patients who took Trimeq reached undetectable viral loads in the blood (the equivalent of fewer than 50 copies/ml of HIV-1). 4% of patients stopped taking Triumeq because of side effects. Triumeq increased CD4⁺ T-cell count by an average of 378 cells/mm³. These are white blood cells that help fight infection.

Before taking Triumeq, you will need to take a genetic screening test for the HLA-B*5701 gene variation. If you test positive for this gene variation, you won’t be able to take Triumeq, because you will be at higher risk for a serious allergic reaction that can cause death since Triumeq contains abacavir.