Tenofovir

Tenofovir is used for:

Treating HIV infection in combination with other medicines. Tenofovir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Tenofovir is an antiviral reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It works by stopping the HIV virus from duplicating.

Do NOT use Tenofovir if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Tenofovir
• you have a history of abnormal liver function tests, severe liver problems (eg, an enlarged liver), or lactic acidosis
• you take other medicines that contain tenofovir

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Tenofovir :

Some medical conditions may interact with Tenofovir . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of bone problems or kidney problems, including dialysis treatment, or if you are overweight
• if you have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Tenofovir . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Medicines that may harm the kidney (eg, aminoglycoside antibiotics [eg, gentamicin], amphotericin B, cyclosporine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] [eg, ibuprofen], tacrolimus, vancomycin) or certain antiviral medicines (eg, acyclovir, cidofovir, ganciclovir) because they may increase the risk of Tenofovir 's side effects. Ask your doctor if you are not sure if any of your medicines might harm your kidneys.
• HIV protease inhibitors (eg, atazanavir) or medicines that contain tenofovir because they may increase the risk of Tenofovir 's side effects
• Didanosine because the risk of its side effects may be increased by Tenofovir

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if this medicine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Tenofovir :

Use Tenofovir as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Tenofovir . Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Take Tenofovir by mouth with or without food.
• It is important to not miss any doses of Tenofovir . Taking Tenofovir at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
• Continue to take Tenofovir even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. Failure to do so may decrease the effectiveness of Tenofovir and increase the risk that your HIV will no longer be sensitive to Tenofovir or to other similar medicines.
• If you miss a dose of Tenofovir , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Tenofovir .

Important safety information:

• Tenofovir may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Tenofovir with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Certain medicines should not be used with Tenofovir . Keep a list of all the medicines that you take. Make a new list when medicines are added or stopped. Give copies of this list to all of your health care providers and your pharmacist every time you visit your health care provider or fill a prescription.
• When your medicine supply is low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. Do not stop taking Tenofovir , even for a short period of time. If you do, the virus may grow resistant to the medicine and become harder to treat.
• Tenofovir is not a cure for HIV infection. Patients may still get illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.
• Tenofovir does not stop the spread of HIV to others through blood or sexual contact. Use barrier methods of birth control (eg, condoms) if you have HIV infection. Do not share needles, injection supplies, or items like toothbrushes or razors.
• Tenofovir is not for the treatment of HBV. If you have HBV and HIV, you will need close medical follow-up for several months after stopping treatment with Tenofovir . Follow-up includes medical exams and blood tests to check for HBV infection that could be getting worse.
• Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Tenofovir . The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.
• Lab tests, including liver and kidney function tests and bone mineral density tests, may be performed while you use Tenofovir . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Tenofovir with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Tenofovir while you are pregnant. It is not known if Tenofovir is found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Tenofovir to the baby. Do not breast-feed while taking Tenofovir .

Possible side effects of Tenofovir :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal skin sensations; back pain; changes in body fat; diarrhea; dizziness; gas; headache; indigestion; loss of appetite; nausea; sleeplessness; sweating; vomiting; weakness; weight loss.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); anxiety; bone pain; chest pain; dark urine; decreased urination or difficulty urinating; extreme weakness or tiredness; fast or irregular heartbeat; feeling cold, especially in the arms and legs; fever, chills, or sore throat; light-colored bowel movements (stools); lightheadedness; mental or mood changes (eg, depression); muscle or joint aches; not feeling like eating for several days; numbness, burning, pain, or tingling in the hands or feet; pneumonia; rapid breathing; severe or persistent nausea or vomiting; shortness of breath; stomach pain; unusual muscle pain; unusual stomach discomfort; unusual tiredness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http: / / www.aapcc.org / dnn / Resources / FindLocalPoisonCenters / tabid / 130 / Default.aspx), or emergency room immediately.

Store Tenofovir at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not use Tenofovir if the seal over the bottle opening is broken or missing. Keep Tenofovir in its original container and keep the container tightly closed. Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. If you throw any medicines away, make sure that children or pets cannot find them. Keep Tenofovir out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Tenofovir , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Tenofovir is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Tenofovir . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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