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COMBINATION DRUG
Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children who weigh at least 17 kilograms.
These insights are based on 693 comments about Truvada from myHIVteam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.
This medication often helps lower viral load quickly and supports long-term undetectable results.
Once-daily dosing feels straightforward and easy to build into a routine.
Some people stay on it for years without noticeable side effects.
Kidney problems and higher creatinine are a major concern and need regular monitoring.
Bone loss, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures are frequent long-term worries.
Diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and fatigue can affect daily life.
Truvada contains two medicines: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.
Truvada is an antiviral medicine. Its ingredients block an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which HIV-1 needs to make more copies of itself.
For HIV-1 treatment, Truvada is used with other HIV medicines. It may be used in adults and children who weigh at least 17 kilograms.
Truvada is also used for pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. PrEP is medicine taken before possible exposure to HIV-1 to help reduce the risk of infection. Truvada is approved for at-risk adults and adolescents who weigh at least 35 kilograms to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. A person must test negative for HIV-1 immediately before starting Truvada for PrEP.
Truvada can only help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 before a person is infected.
HIV-1 is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Truvada is taken by mouth with or without food. Most people taking Truvada for HIV-1 treatment take it once a day. For children who weigh at least 17 kilograms and less than 35 kilograms, the tablet strength depends on body weight.
For adults and children who weigh at least 35 kilograms, the recommended dose is one tablet containing 200 milligrams of emtricitabine and 300 milligrams of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate once daily, with or without food.
For children who weigh at least 17 kilograms and less than 35 kilograms and can swallow a tablet:
People with kidney problems may need a different Truvada dosing schedule, and Truvada may not be recommended if kidney function is too low. Your healthcare provider will check your kidney function and decide if Truvada is right for you.
This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.
These insights are based on 693 comments about Truvada from myHIVteam members.Members who use Truvada often say it helps to stay in close contact with your doctor, especially if side effects or lab changes come up. Many members also stress the importance of taking it consistently, keeping up with monitoring, and speaking up early if something feels off.
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In clinical studies, side effects differed depending on whether Truvada was used to treat HIV-1 or to help prevent HIV-1 with PrEP.
For people taking Truvada as part of HIV-1 treatment, the most common side effects include:
For people taking Truvada for PrEP, common side effects include:
Truvada can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:
Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.
Gilead Sciences, Inc, the manufacturer of Truvada, offers the Gilead Advancing Access Co-pay Savings Program. Eligible people with commercial or private insurance may receive up to $7,200 in cost-sharing assistance per calendar year, with no monthly limit. If you have government insurance or no insurance, the program also provides information about other financial assistance options that may be available.
The Gilead Advancing Access Program also offers benefits investigations and help understanding prior authorization requirements.
To learn more, visit the Gilead Advancing Access Program website or call 800-226-2056.
Before starting Truvada, your doctor will test for:
Before starting Truvada, tell your doctor if you:
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Truvada can interact with other medicines.
If you are taking Truvada for PrEP, you must test negative for HIV-1 before starting it. Some HIV-1 tests may miss a very recent infection. Tell your healthcare provider if you had flu-like symptoms within the past month or develop them while taking Truvada. These can include:
Do not take Truvada for PrEP if you have HIV-1 or do not know your HIV-1 status. If you have HIV-1, Truvada must be used with other HIV medicines because Truvada alone is not a complete HIV-1 treatment.
Do not miss doses or let your supply of Truvada run out. Missing doses can increase the risk of getting HIV-1 during PrEP. For HIV-1 treatment, missing doses can also make the virus harder to treat.
If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, talk with your healthcare provider.
A pregnancy registry tracks pregnancy outcomes in people exposed to Truvada. Healthcare providers can register pregnancies by visiting the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry or calling 800-258-4263.
If you take Truvada to treat HIV-1, do not breastfeed. If you take Truvada for PrEP, talk with your healthcare provider about breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed if a recent HIV-1 infection is suspected because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby.
These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.
How effective is Truvada for HIV?
In a study of adults starting HIV-1 treatment for the first time, Truvada’s two ingredients, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, were used with efavirenz. After 48 weeks, 84 percent of people had HIV-1 levels below 400 copies per milliliter, compared with 73 percent of people taking zidovudine/lamivudine with efavirenz. At 144 weeks, the results were 71 percent and 58 percent.
People taking emtricitabine plus tenofovir also had increases in CD4 cells, which are immune cells that HIV-1 attacks. The average increase was 190 cells per cubic millimeter at 48 weeks and 312 cells per cubic millimeter at 144 weeks.
What other medicines can interact with Truvada?
Truvada can interact with some other medicines. These include certain HIV medicines, some hepatitis C medicines, and medicines that can affect the kidneys.
Examples include didanosine, atazanavir, some HIV protease inhibitors, and certain hepatitis C treatments. High doses or multiple doses of some pain relievers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also raise the risk of kidney problems.
Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your healthcare provider can check for possible interactions.
Do I need to stay HIV-negative to keep taking Truvada for HIV-1 PrEP?
Yes. You must remain HIV-negative while taking Truvada for PrEP.
To help protect yourself:
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