Truvada

Generic name: Emtricitabine And Tenofovir
Drug class: Antiviral combinations

Usage of Truvada

Truvada is an antiviral combination medicine that is used together with other HIV medications in adults and children to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Truvada is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Truvada is also used along with practicing safer sex (e.g., condom use) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults and teenagers to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Taking Truvada, along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes, may decrease the risk of getting or transmitting the HIV virus to other people.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir belongs to a class of medications called nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). They work by slowing the spread of HIV in the body. Although Truvada will not cure HIV, these medications may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer.

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.

Truvada side effects

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

Truvada 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 Truvada 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 Truvada

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

To make sure Truvada 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.

A child receiving Truvada must weigh at least 37 pounds.

It is not known if Truvada is safe and effective in children with HIV-1 infection who weigh less than 37 pounds (less than 17 kilograms).

The dosing schedule for Truvada for the treatment of HIV-1 Infection in pediatric patients weighing 37 pounds (17) kg to less than 77 pounds (35) kg is as follows:

Body weight 37 lb (17 kg) to less than 48 lb (22 kg) - one 100 mg/150 mg tablet once daily

Body weight 48 lb (22 kg) to less than 62 lb (28 kg) - one 133 mg/200 mg tablet once daily

Body weight 62 lb (28 kg) to less than 77 ln (35 kg) - one 167 mg/250 mg tablet once daily.

Relate drugs

How to use Truvada

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

Truvada 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.

Truvada (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 Truvada.

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 Truvada if you also take other medicines that contain emtricitabine, tenofovir, lamivudine, or adefovir.

Truvada pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is used to reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV in adults who are HIV-negative. Truvada alone will not protect you from infection with HIV. You must also use safer sex practices and get tested for HIV at least every 3 months. Do not use Truvada for PrEP if you are HIV-positive or have not confirmed you are HIV-negative

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 this medicine. You may need frequent blood tests to check your liver function and other medical tests before starting Truvada and for several months after you stop.

What other drugs will affect Truvada

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.

Disclaimer

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