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What is emtricitabine-tenofovir?

Emtricitabine and tenofovir is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from reproducing in your body.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir treats HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Emtricitabine and tenofovir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Precautions

Instructions

Side-effects

Interactions

Precautions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• bone problems; or
• hepatitis B (HBV) infection.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use emtricitabine and tenofovir, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, but HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.

Your name may need to be listed on a pregnancy patient registry when you start using this medication.

You should not breast-feed while you are using emtricitabine and tenofovir. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk.

Do not take other medicines that also contain emtricitabine or tenofovir (such as Emtriva or Viread), or lamivudine (such as Combivir, Epivir, Epzicom, or Trizivir).

Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an emtricitabine and tenofovir overdose are not known.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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Side-effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

This medication may cause lactic acidosis (the build-up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic acidosis symptoms can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual muscle pain and weakness, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and numbness or cold feeling in your arms or legs. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir can cause severe or fatal liver problems. Symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite, weakness, constipation; or
• fever, cough, sore throat, or other signs of a new infection;

Continue using this medication and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• anxiety, headache, dizziness, mild weakness;
• mild stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• freckled or darkened skin on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet;
• joint or muscle pain;
• sleep problems (insomnia) or strange dreams; or
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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Interactions

Before taking emtricitabine and tenofovir, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• didanosine (Videx, ddI);
• atazanavir (Reyataz);
• lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra);
• acyclovir (Zovirax), ganciclovir (Cytovene), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or valganciclovir (Valcyte);
• adefovir (Hepsera); or
• cidofovir (Vistide).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take emtricitabine and tenofovir, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect emtricitabine and tenofovir. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

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