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Descovy

Generic name: emtricitabine and tenofovirEM-trye-SYE-ta-been-and-ten-OF-oh-vir- ]
Drug class: Antiviral combinations

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Oct 27, 2023.

What is Descovy?

Descovy is an antiviral combination medicine that is used together with other HIV medications in adults and children who are at least 12 years old and weigh at least 17 kilograms (37 pounds, to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Descovy is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Descovy is also used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults and teenagers to reduce the risk of >HIV infection.

Descovy is used together with safer-sex practices to reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV. You must be HIV-negative and an adult to use this medicine for this purpose.

There is more than one emtricitabine and tenofovir brand form available. Your doctor will determine which brand form is the right treatment for you based on weight, age, and other factors.

Descovy side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Descovy: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir can affect your immune system (even weeks or months after you've used this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have:

Mild symptoms of lactic acidosis may worsen over time, and this condition can be fatal. Get emergency medical help if you have: unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, fast/slow or irregular heartbeats, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

Common Descovy side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Do not take Descovy if you also take other medicines that contain emtricitabine, tenofovir, lamivudine, or adefovir.

You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.

If you've ever had hepatitis B, it may become active or get worse after you stop using Descovy. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.

Before taking this medicine

Do not use Descovy for PrEP if you are HIV-positive or have not confirmed you are HIV-negative.

To make sure Descovy is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. To prevent HIV in a newborn baby, use all medications to control your infection during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry.

Women with HIV should not breastfeed. The virus can pass to your baby in your breast milk.

How should I take Descovy?

Take Descovy exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Descovy is taken once per day. You may take this medicine with or without food.

If you are on dialysis, take this medicine after dialysis.

Use all HIV medications as directed. Do not change your dose, skip doses or stop using a medicine without your doctor's advice. Remain under the care of a doctor.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.

Descovy (PrEP) alone will not protect you from infection with HIV. You must also use safer sex practices and get tested for HIV before starting prophylaxis and at least once every 3 months.

If you've had hepatitis B, it may come back or get worse after you stop using this medicine. You may need frequent blood tests to check your liver function and other medical tests before starting this medicine and for several months after you stop.

You will also need medical tests and your kidney function to be checked often while using this medicine.

Doses are based on weight. Your dose may change if you gain or lose weight.

Store tightly closed in the original container at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you remember, and then go back to your regular schedule. Do not use two doses at one time.

Skipping doses could make the virus resistant to medication or increase your risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Descovy?

Using this medicine will not prevent your disease from spreading. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Ask your doctor how to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe.

What other drugs will affect Descovy?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir can harm your kidneys, especially if you also use certain medicines for infections, cancer, osteoporosis, organ transplant rejection, high blood pressure, or pain or arthritis (including Advil, Motrin, and Aleve).

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with emtricitabine and tenofovir. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Active ingredient: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide.
Inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. The 200 mg/25 mg tablets are film-coated with a coating material containing indigo carmine aluminum lake, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide. The 120 mg/15 mg tablets are film-coated with a coating material containing polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, and talc.

Manufacturer

Manufactured for and distributed by: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA 94404, USA.

Popular FAQ

Females cannot take Descovy because it has not been studied in people assigned female at birth who are at risk of getting HIV from vaginal sex.

Descovy is only approved for males and transgender women and the approval explicitly excludes cisgender women. This is because Descovy has not been studied in people assigned female at birth who are at risk of getting HIV from vaginal sex.

Yes, the manufacturer Gilead offers a Descovy copay card. The copay card (“Coupon”) is only valid only for eligible patients in the US with commercial insurance. It is not valid for prescriptions that are reimbursed by the government, such as Medicare, Medicaid or TriCare. The program covers up to $7,200 in copays per year with no monthly limit for these prescription regimens. Call Gilead Call Advancing Access at 1-800-226-2056 (M-F 9am to 8pm EST) or sign up online.

Descovy is a once-daily prescription tablet used to treat or prevent HIV infection. For treatment, it is used in combination with other HIV treatments in adults and children weighing at least 14 kg (30.8 lbs). For pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Descovy is used alone in patients weighing at least 35 kg (77 lbs). You must remain HIV-negative while using this medicine for PrEP.

It takes about 7 days of daily use of PrEP pills like Descovy to reach maximum protection for receptive anal sex. For receptive vaginal sex or injection drug use, daily use of PrEP pills takes about 21 days to reach maximum protection. PrEP pills, if used daily, are over 99% effective at preventing HIV infection from sex. Among people who inject drugs, PrEP pills reduce the risk of getting HIV by at least 74%. It’s not known how effective PrEP is for insertive anal sex, insertive vaginal sex, or how long it takes for the PrEP injection to work.

In one study, Descovy weight gain ranged from 1.8 kg (4 lbs) to 4.47 kg (9.8 lbs) per year, and occurred within the first 9 months, but slowed after this time period. In this trial, weight gain with emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide was assessed in 6908 people living with HIV (PLWH) who switched from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Weight gain occurred regardless of whether they were taking an integrase inhibitor or a drug from another class with TAF. In the DISCOVER study for PrEP, participants gained an average of 1 kg (2.2 lbs) after taking Descovy for 48 weeks. There is also evidence that increases in lipid levels may occur with use of TAF.

Yes, Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) is used as a treatment for HIV infection, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide are classified as antiviral medicines. For treatment, it is used in people weighing at least 14 kg along with certain other HIV treatments. Descovy is also used for PrEP to prevent HIV infection.

More FAQ

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and take Descovy only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.