Final answer:
Atripla should be taken on an empty stomach, preferably before bedtime to minimize potential CNS side effects and due to the way its components are absorbed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is whether Atripla needs to be taken on an empty stomach or with food.
The recommended way to take Atripla, which is a combination medication used to treat HIV, is on an empty stomach, preferably before bedtime.
This recommendation is based on how the medication's components are absorbed by the body and how they can affect the central nervous system (CNS).
Food, particularly high-fat meals, can increase the absorption of one of the components in Atripla, efavirenz, which might lead to increased side effects.
Therefore, patients are generally advised to take it without food.
Taking it before bedtime can help minimize the potential CNS side effects such as dizziness and impaired concentration because the patient is likely to sleep through them