Emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide for HIV Infection User Reviews

• Pet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2019

"I started taking Descovy in early 2017, and it's been about 2 years. The drug kept my viral load undetectable. I did not experience any side effects at first, but after about 1 to 1.5 years of taking it, I slowly began to experience aches in my joints and bones, and I feel tired waking up in the morning. I also notice that I feel depressed and down pretty much every day, even when I am on vacation and I'm supposed to feel happy. And now my arms have lost muscle mass, they look very bony, and I can barely lift 20 lbs without pains in my joints."

• Ada...
• July 8, 2018

"I was on Truvada for a number of years and was switched to Descovy in August 2017. At first, all was fine, but after a couple of months, I became unwell, feeling like I have a constant cold, not getting good sleep, only able to sleep for four hours, being woken up with pounding in my head, a very fast heartbeat, my head feels foggy, and severe sweating, and my legs feel cold to touch. I read the leaflet that came with my Descovy, but it doesn’t mention my symptoms, so then I did some research and looked at Descovy on a site called medbroadcast.com, and sure enough, it mentions all my symptoms as Descovy side effects. Going to see my HIV consultant tomorrow and taking back all my Descovy as they have totally ruined my summer. I suggest to anyone going to start Descovy please do your research and don’t just read the leaflet or take your doctor's word!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2022

"About the first month of taking, everything was fine, but now I started to feel a strong pain under the right shoulder blade. At first, I thought it was not from the therapy, but now I see that it is from it. I will change."

• Dim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 7, 2017

"Switching from Descovy back to Truvada probably saved my life since it improved my deep, existential depression (which I didn't experience this way since I've been on antidepressant medication since 1995). I was on Genvoya since March 2016 and had 8 months of upper respiratory tract infections: pleuritis, 2 pneumonia episodes, 2 severe middle ear infections, bronchitis, I think sepsis, because of candida, due to 4 rounds of antibiotics (Augmentin/amoxicillin), constant fluconazole use, and later resistance to it by another candida (glabrata). Then oral amphotericin B, but I still have a green/brown stinking plaque on my tongue, nothing is being done by my first and second opinion doctors. I'm now going to Nijmegen for the candida expertise center."

• Ken...
• March 11, 2018

"I have been on Descovy for two weeks. I actually feel better than when I was taking Truvada. My kidney function is better... my mind seems clearer, and I don't feel as doped up... if that makes sense. I can feel my own skin again... I guess less toxic. So far... it's good."

• jbh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 8, 2023

"I have taken Descovy for 10 years now. I originally started taking Truvada and Kaletra, but that combination caused serious GI issues and major lipodystrophy complications. My ID doctor switched me to Descovy, and the GI issues lessened. I still had diarrhea, but that was expected. I was then given Tivacay instead of Kaletra, and the GI symptoms were much less severe. I no longer had nausea or severe cramping that was present with the previous drug combination. I'll be honest, diarrhea has been a constant battle for me, and I do know that it's a symptom of the HIV medications. Last year, I allowed my health insurance to lapse and went without my HIV medication for a couple of months. My bowel movements returned to what was my body's normal before I started taking HIV medications. For me, it's a trade-off that I will take every time since it affords me the ability to have a semi-normal sex life, well, as normal a sex life that a 51-year-old gay meth user can have."

• Flo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2018

"I had terrible insomnia with this medication. The emtricitabine in this medication has an incidence of insomnia in adults of 5% to 16%. Plus it made me groggy in the morning."

• tel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2023

"I have experienced mood swings, not sleeping well, pressure under my rib cage, and coughing. Keeps the viral load undetectable but has too many side effects for me."