This study will look at whether emtricitabine is as safe and effective as abacavir (ABC) when taken with stavudine (d4T) and efavirenz (EFV) in patients who have never taken anti-HIV drugs.

Patients are randomized to receive open-label emtricitabine or ABC in combination with stavudine and efavirenz. Viral load and CD4+ cell counts are compared at Weeks 24 and 48. Patients are followed for 48 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you:

• Are HIV-positive and generally healthy.
• Have a viral load of 5,000 copies/ml or more.
• Have CD4 cell counts of 200 cells/mm3 or more.
• Are age 18 or older.
• Agree to practice sexual abstinence or use effective barrier methods of birth control (such as condoms).

Exclusion Criteria

You will not be eligible if you:

• Have ever taken anti-HIV drugs for 3 days or more.
• Have had certain AIDS-related infections.
• Have had severe diarrhea within the past 30 days.
• Are unable to eat at least 1 meal a day due to nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
• Are being treated for active tuberculosis (TB).
• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Use illegal drugs or alcohol that make it difficult for you to take study drugs or keep clinic appointments.
• Are taking certain medications, or have certain other conditions or diseases (see the technical summary for more detail).