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Descovy

Pronunciation: Des-co-vee
Generic name: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide
Dosage form: oral tablet
Drug class: Antiviral combinations

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 19, 2025.

What is Descovy?

Descovy is used to protect against getting HIV (this is called HIV-PreP) and also to treat HIV in those with an established HIV-1 infection in combination with other antivirals.

Descovy is a prescription medicine containing 2 antivirals, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. Both work by blocking the activity of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme HIV produces that allows it to infect cells and make more viruses. They both belong to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).

Descovy is a similar drug to Truvada, also used to prevent and treat HIV-1 infection. The difference between them is that Descovy contains a newer form of tenofovir that is more efficient (see Truvada vs Descovy: How do they compare for HIV and PrEP?).

Indications and FDA approvals

Descovy was approved on April 4, 2016 for: 

  1. HIV Prevention (PrEP) in adults and adolescents weighing at least 77 pounds (35 kg).
    • Descovy is taken daily by HIV-negative individuals to prevent HIV.
  2. HIV-1 treatment in combination with other HIV medications in:
    • adults and children who weigh at least 77 pounds (35 kg)
    • children who weigh at least 31 pounds (14 kg) and less than 77 pounds (35 kg) together with specific other HIV-1 medicines.

Important Note: Descovy for PrEP is not approved for use in people assigned female at birth (cisgender females) who are at risk of HIV-1 infection from vaginal sex because clinical trials have not studied Descovy in this population. Descovy is only approved for males and transgender women.

Critical Safety Information

Before Starting Descovy for PrEP

You must:

For PrEP Users

To use Descovy safely for HIV prevention:

Descovy side effects

The most common Descovy side effects are:

Serious side effects and warnings

Critical Side Effects to Watch For:

Worsening of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection

Immune System Changes

Kidney Problems

Lactic Acidosis

Rarely, Descovy may cause too much lactic acid to build up in your blood. Seek immediate medical attention for:

Liver Problems

Rarely, Descovy may cause severe liver problems that can lead to death. Watch for:

Do not take Descovy if you also take other medicines that contain emtricitabine, tenofovir, lamivudine, or adefovir. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Descovy: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

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 the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking this medicine

For people taking Descovy for HIV-1 PrEP:

Do not take Descovy for HIV-1 PrEP if:

Descovy can only help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection before you are infected.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Descovy?

Before taking Descovy, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Pregnancy

It is not known if Descovy can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during treatment with Descovy.

Pregnancy Registry: There is a pregnancy registry for people who take Descovy during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

Breastfeeding

Do not breastfeed if you take Descovy for treatment of HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

One of the ingredients in Descovy (emtricitabine) passes into 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 (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.

How long does Descovy take to work? 

When taking Descovy for PrEP, the time to reach maximum protection varies depending on your risk factors.

For Receptive Anal Sex

For Receptive Vaginal Sex

For Injection Drug Use

Important Notes:

Currently Unknown Factors:

The following is not known:

Always consult your healthcare provider about your specific situation and risk factors.

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 HIV from spreading.

Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Ask your doctor how to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing 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.

Does Descovy interact with my other drugs?

Enter medications to view a detailed interaction report using our Drug Interaction Checker.

Descovy ingredients

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.

Available as

Storage

Who makes Descovy?

Descovy is manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company based in Foster City, California. Some of Gilead's other notable HIV medications include:

Beyond HIV treatments, Gilead is known for:

Popular FAQ

Descovy vs Truvada: How do they compare for HIV / PrEP?

Truvada and Descovy are both two-drug, antiviral combinations containing emtricitabine and tenofovir for the treatment of HIV-1 infection, and for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection. Descovy contains a newer form of tenofovir called tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and Truvada contains the original form of tenofovir as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). TAF has less toxicities related to bone and kidneys. Continue reading

Apretude vs Descovy: How do they compare?

Apretude (cabotegravir) and Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) are both effective options for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but they differ in how they are taken, dosing frequency, and side effects. In addition to PrEP, Descovy may also be taken to treat HIV-1 infection. Continue reading

How do I get a Descovy copay card and save on costs?

You can get a Descovy copay card by signing up for the Gilead Advancing Access Program online or by calling 1-800-226-2056. If you have commercial insurance you may be eligible to save up to $7,200 per calendar year on your prescription copay with no monthly limit. Continue reading

Does Descovy cause weight gain?

Yes, Descovy can lead to weight gain, with studies showing an increase of 1.8 kg to 4.47 kg (4 to 9.8 lb) per year in people living with HIV, and around 1 kg (2.2 lb) over 48 weeks when used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Weight gain typically occurs within the first 9 months and slows after this time. Continue reading

More FAQ

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Further information

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