Truvada (Emtricitibane/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate)

Do’s

• Before beginning the administration of Truvada, read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist. If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider for clarification.
• Take Truvada by mouth as prescribed by your healthcare provider, typically once daily with or without food.
• The dosage is determined based on your kidney function, medical condition, and response to treatment. For children, the dosage is also based on weight.
• When used to treat HIV infection, Truvada is taken in combination with other medicines that treat HIV.
• If you are also taking didanosine enteric-coated tablets, take both products either on an empty stomach or with a light meal. If you are taking the didanosine buffered tablets, take both drug products on an empty stomach.
• Adhere to the prescribed dosage and continue taking Truvada (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. 
• For optimal effectiveness, take Truvada at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.

Don’ts

• Avoid skipping doses of Truvada and other HIV medications.
• Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.

Common Side Effects:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Respiratory infections
• Sinus infection
• Rash
• Headache
• Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• Bone pain
• Sore throat
• High cholesterol

Many of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they are more severe or do not go away, talk to your healthcare provider.

Serious Side Effects:

• Liver problems, indicated by symptoms such as pain or swelling in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

Long-Term Side Effects:

• Kidney problems
• Bone loss 

For more information on the possible side effects of Truvada and tips on how to deal with troubling side effects, consult with your healthcare provider.

Truvada is indicated in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection. Individuals must have a negative HIV-1 test immediately before initiating Truvada for HIV-1 PrEP.

Prior to or when initiating TRUVADA, individuals should be tested for hepatitis B virus infection.

Serum creatinine, estimated creatinine clearance, urine glucose, and urine protein should be assessed in all individuals prior to initiation and during the use of Truvada, on a clinically appropriate schedule. In individuals with chronic kidney disease, serum phosphorus should also be assessed.

Screen all individuals for HIV-1 infection immediately prior to initiating Truvada for HIV-1 PrEP and at least once every three months while taking the drug for HIV prevention.

Hepatic function should be monitored closely with both clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months in individuals who are infected with HBV and discontinue Truvada. If appropriate, anti-hepatitis B therapy may be warranted.

Truvada should not be taken for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if the individual already has HIV, as it may cause the virus to become resistant to Truvada, reducing its effectiveness in treating HIV.

Individuals should be aware of the potential for allergic reactions and should seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Discuss these warnings and precautions with your healthcare provider before starting Truvada and adhere to the recommended monitoring and testing protocols during its use.