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 | Medical Alert
WARNING: This medication may rarely cause severe (sometimes fatal) liver and blood disorders (e.g., lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly) when used alone or with other drugs that also treat HIV. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, stomach/abdominal pain, rapid/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, or muscle aches. If this drug is stopped, you must continue to be closely monitored by your doctor. After the last dose of this drug, you will need your liver function tested for at least several months.
USES: This drug is a combination of two different antivirals, emtricitabine and tenofovir. It is used in combination with other antiviral drugs for the treatment of HIV infection. They work by slowing the growth of the virus. Emtricitabine is also called a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, while tenofovir is also called a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Antiviral drugs help to control your HIV infection thereby improving your quality of life and lowering your risk of getting HIV disease complications (e.g., opportunistic infections, cancer). However, this drug 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 dirty needles).
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth usually once daily with or without food; or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. This drug should be prescribed along with other medicines used to treat HIV. If you are also taking didanosine enteric-coated tablets, take both drugs either on an empty stomach or with a light meal. If you are taking the didanosine buffered tablets, take both drugs on an empty stomach. Continue taking this medication and 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. Remember to use 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-related medicine) 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, or worsen side effects.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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