Descovy

Generic name: Emtricitabine And Tenofovir
Drug class: Antiviral combinations

Usage of Descovy

Descovy is an antiviral combination medicine that is used together with other HIV medications in adults and children who are at least 12 years old and weigh at least 17 kilograms (37 pounds, to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Descovy is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Descovy is also used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults and teenagers to reduce the risk of >HIV infection.

Descovy is used together with safer-sex practices to reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV. You must be HIV-negative and an adult to use this medicine for this purpose.

There is more than one emtricitabine and tenofovir brand form available. Your doctor will determine which brand form is the right treatment for you based on weight, age, and other factors.

Descovy side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Descovy: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir can affect your immune system (even weeks or months after you've used this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have:

signs of a new infection - fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;

trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or

swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Mild symptoms of lactic acidosis may worsen over time, and this condition can be fatal. Get emergency medical help if you have: unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, fast/slow or irregular heartbeats, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

symptoms of new HIV infection - fever, night sweats, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swollen glands in your neck or groin;

sudden or unusual bone pain;

kidney problems - swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath; or

liver problems - swelling around your midsection, right-sided upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common Descovy side effects may include:

headache, dizziness, feeling depressed or tired;

sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;

diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain;

weight loss; or

rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Descovy

Do not use Descovy for PrEP if you are HIV-positive or have not confirmed you are HIV-negative.

To make sure Descovy is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

flu-like symptoms;

if you are sexually active;

may have been exposed to HIV within the past month;

been recently tested for other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea;

bone problems, low bone mineral density;

hepatitis B (you may be tested for hepatitis B before you can use this medicine);

liver disease; or

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis).

You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. To prevent HIV in a newborn baby, use all medications to control your infection during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry.

Women with HIV should not breastfeed. The virus can pass to your baby in your breast milk.

Relate drugs

How to use Descovy

Take Descovy exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Descovy is taken once per day. You may take this medicine with or without food.

If you are on dialysis, take this medicine after dialysis.

Use all HIV medications as directed. Do not change your dose, skip doses or stop using a medicine without your doctor's advice. Remain under the care of a doctor.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.

Descovy (PrEP) alone will not protect you from infection with HIV. You must also use safer sex practices and get tested for HIV before starting prophylaxis and at least once every 3 months.

If you've had hepatitis B, it may come back or get worse after you stop using this medicine. You may need frequent blood tests to check your liver function and other medical tests before starting this medicine and for several months after you stop.

You will also need medical tests and your kidney function to be checked often while using this medicine.

Doses are based on weight. Your dose may change if you gain or lose weight.

Store tightly closed in the original container at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

Do not take Descovy if you also take other medicines that contain emtricitabine, tenofovir, lamivudine, or adefovir.

You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.

If you've ever had hepatitis B, it may become active or get worse after you stop using Descovy. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.

What other drugs will affect Descovy

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir can harm your kidneys, especially if you also use certain medicines for infections, cancer, osteoporosis, organ transplant rejection, high blood pressure, or pain or arthritis (including Advil, Motrin, and Aleve).

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

seizure medicine - Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital; or

other antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with emtricitabine and tenofovir. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Active ingredient: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. Inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. The 200 mg/25 mg tablets are film-coated with a coating material containing indigo carmine aluminum lake, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide. The 120 mg/15 mg tablets are film-coated with a coating material containing polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, and talc.

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