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emtricitabine/tenofovir - oral, Truvada

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GENERIC NAME: EMTRICITABINE/TENOFOVIR - ORAL (em-tri-SITE-ah-bean/te-NOE-fo-veer)

BRAND NAME(S): Truvada

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

WARNING: Rarely, this medication can cause severe (sometimes fatal) liver and blood problems (lactic acidosis). Immediately tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of liver problems (e.g., persistent nausea, light-colored stools, stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin) or lactic acidosis (e.g., rapid breathing, drowsiness, fast/irregular heartbeat, unusual weakness, feeling cold especially in the arms/legs).

If you have hepatitis B infection along with HIV, your hepatitis symptoms may get worse or become very serious if you stop taking this medication. Talk with your doctor before stopping this medication. Your doctor will perform liver function tests for several months after you stop. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of worsening liver problems.

USES: This product is a combination of two different drugs, emtricitabine and tenofovir. This product is used to treat HIV infection. It works by slowing the growth of the virus. Emtricitabine is called a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, while tenofovir is called a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor. They are often referred to as NRTIs.NRTIs are usually used in combination with other HIV medications (e.g., protease inhibitor). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.This product and other anti-HIV drugs may help to control your HIV infection, thereby improving your quality of life and lowering your risk of getting complications from HIV (e.g., opportunistic infections, cancer).This product is not a cure for HIV infection, and it does not prevent the spread of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination (e.g., sharing used needles).

HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking this medication and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily with or without food or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your kidney function, medical condition, and response to treatment.This product is taken with other medicines to treat HIV. If you are also taking didanosine enteric-coated tablets, take both products either on an empty stomach or with a light meal. If you are taking the didanosine buffered tablets, take both drug products on an empty stomach.Continue taking this medication and your other anti-HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. This medication works best when the amount of drugs in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping or changing your dose without approval from your doctor may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects. Order your refills early to make sure you do not run out of medication.

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