Truvada
Generic Name: emtricitabine and tenofovir (em tri SYT uh been, ten O fo veer)
Brand Names: Truvada
What is Truvada?
Truvada is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from reproducing in your body.
Truvada treats HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Truvada is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Truvada may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Truvada
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). Truvada 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. Truvada 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.HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.
Before taking Truvada
Before taking Truvada, 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 Truvada, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category B. Truvada 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 Truvada. 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.How should I take Truvada?
Take Truvada exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from Truvada.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.Truvada can be taken with or without food.
It is important to take Truvada regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.
To be sure Truvada is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Store Truvada at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and direct light. Keep the medicine in its original bottle with the cap tightly closed.What happens if I miss a dose?
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.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an Truvada overdose are not known.What should I avoid while taking Truvada?
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 Truvada 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.
Truvada 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. Truvada 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. Truvada 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 Truvada and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
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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;
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joint or muscle pain;
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sleep problems (insomnia) or strange dreams; or
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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.
What other drugs will affect Truvada?
Before taking Truvada, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
didanosine (Videx, ddI);
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atazanavir (Reyataz);
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lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra);
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acyclovir (Zovirax), ganciclovir (Cytovene), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or valganciclovir (Valcyte);
-
adefovir (Hepsera); or
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cidofovir (Vistide).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Truvada, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Truvada. 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.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist has more information about Truvada written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Emtricitabine and tenofovir is available with a prescription under the brand name Truvada. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
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Truvada 200mg /300 mg-blue tablets
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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More Truvada resources:
Truvada - Includes detailed dosage instructions.
HIV Infection, Nonoccupational Exposure
