GENERIC NAME: TENOFOVIR - ORAL (te-NOE-fo-veer)

BRAND NAME(S): Viread

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

WARNING: Rarely, this medication may cause severe (sometimes fatal) liver and blood disorders (e.g., lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly) when used alone or with other HIV medications. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, stomach/abdominal pain, rapid/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, or muscle aches.

USES: Tenofovir is used in combination with other medications to treat HIV infection, especially HIV that may appear to be developing resistance to other medications. It works by affecting the enzyme needed by HIV to spread to other cells of the body. Tenofovir is not a cure for HIV and does not prevent the passing of HIV to others. One group of HIV medications (the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors-NRTIs such as zidovudine and lamivudine) are very useful. However, NRTIs are recommended to be used in combination with other groups of HIV medications in order to be effective. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth usually once daily with a meal; or take as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Tenofovir may be prescribed along with other HIV medications. If you are also prescribed didanosine, take your tenofovir 2 hours before or 1 hour after your didanosine to decrease your risk of drug interactions. It is very important to continue taking this medication and other anti-HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any doses. Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other HIV-related medicine) even for a brief time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping doses or changing your dose without approval may cause the amount of virus to increase, may make the virus more difficult to treat, or may cause side effects to worsen.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Read about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes, symptoms, signs, treatment, prevention, transmission, facts, testing, research (vaccine), statistics and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
• Hepatitis B - Read about hepatitis B, a virus spread through infected blood or body secretions (blood, semen, vaginal discharge, breast milk, and saliva). Symptoms, diagnosis, and treamtent information is included in the article.

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