Drugs

What is Truvada?

Truvada is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the following uses:

• To treat HIV infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 lb (17 kg). Truvada for HIV treatment is always used in combination with other HIV medicines. HIV medicines can’t cure HIV/AIDS, but taking HIV medicines every day helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
• To reduce the risk of HIV infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 lb (35 kg), are HIV negative, and are at risk of getting HIV. This method of preventing HIV infection is called pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. Truvada for PrEP should always be used in combination with safer sex practices, such as using condoms. Read the AIDSinfo fact sheet on PrEP for more information, including information on who should consider taking PrEP.

Truvada contains two different HIV medicines: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Whether you are taking Truvada for HIV prevention or for HIV treatment (in combination with other HIV medicines), don’t cut down on, skip, or stop taking your HIV medicine(s) unless your health care provider tells you to.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking Truvada?

Before taking Truvada, tell your health care provider:

• If you are allergic to either of the HIV medicines in Truvada (emtricitabine or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) or any other medicines.
• If you have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection (HBV).
• If you have kidney problems or receive kidney dialysis treatment.
• If you have bone problems.
• If you have any other medical conditions.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of taking Truvada during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking PrEP, talk to your health care provider about whether to continue PrEP.
• If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV or are taking Truvada for HIV treatment. If you do not have HIV and are taking Truvada for HIV prevention, talk to your health care provider about the best way to feed your baby.
• If you are using hormone-based birth control (such as pills, implants, or vaginal rings). For more information about using birth control and HIV medicines at the same time, view the AIDSinfo HIV and Birth Control infographic.
• About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Truvada may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how Truvada works. Taking Truvada together with certain medicines or products may cause serious side effects.

Before taking Truvada to reduce your risk of getting HIV, you must get tested to be sure you are HIV negative. Do not take Truvada to reduce the risk of getting HIV unless you are confirmed to be HIV negative.

Before taking Truvada for PrEP, also tell your health care provider:

• If you had a flu-like illness anytime in the month before starting Truvada or if you have a flu-like illness at any time while taking Truvada). Flu-like symptoms may be a sign that you could have recently gotten HIV. The flu-like symptoms of a new HIV infection may include: tiredness, fever, nighttime sweating, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.
• If you think that you were exposed to HIV. Your health care provider may want to do more tests to be sure you are still HIV negative.

While taking Truvada for PrEP, you will get tested for HIV at least every 3 months.

How should I take Truvada?

Truvada comes in tablet form in the following strengths:

• 200 mg emtricitabine (brand name: Emtriva) and 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (brand name: Viread)
• 167 mg emtricitabine and 250 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• 133 mg emtricitabine and 200 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• 100 mg emtricitabine and 150 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

Take Truvada according to your health care provider’s instructions.

Take Truvada with or without food at the same time each day.

Take Truvada tablets whole. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child cannot swallow Truvada tablets.

If you take Truvada for PrEP, take it every day and not just when you think that you were exposed to HIV. Always combine use of PrEP with condoms and other safer sex practices.

If you take too much Truvada, contact your health care provider or local poison control center (1-800-222-1222) right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

For more information on how to take Truvada, see the FDA drug label.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

If you miss a dose of Truvada, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

What side effects can Truvada cause?

Truvada may cause side effects. Many side effects from HIV medicines, such as nausea or occasional dizziness, are manageable. See the AIDSinfo fact sheet on HIV Medicines and Side Effects for more information.

Some side effects of Truvada can be serious. Serious side effects of Truvada include a buildup of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis) and liver problems. (See section above: What are the most important things to know about Truvada?)

Other possible side effects of Truvada include:

• New or worsening kidney problems, including kidney failure.
• Changes in your immune system (called immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome or IRIS). IRIS is a condition that sometimes occurs when the immune system begins to recover after treatment with an HIV medicine. As the immune system gets stronger, it may have an increased response to a previously hidden infection.
• Bone problems (bone pain, softening, or thinning [osteopenia]).

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Truvada. To learn more about possible side effects of Truvada, read the drug label or package insert or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.

You can report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should Truvada be stored?

• Store Truvada at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Keep Truvada in the container that it came in and keep the container tightly closed. 
• Do not use Truvada if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
• Throw away Truvada that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
• Keep Truvada and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about Truvada?

More information about Truvada is available:

• The Truvada drug label. The Medication Guide in the Patient Counseling Information section of the label includes information for people taking Truvada.
• Truvada-related research studies, from the AIDSinfo database of ClinicalTrials.gov study summaries.
• A fact sheet about PrEP, from AIDSinfo.
• A list of FDA-approved HIV medicines, from AIDSinfo.