Viread (Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) for HIV

Viread (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) infection in adults and children 2 years of age and older who weigh at least 10 kilograms.

How Viread Works and How It’s Taken

Viread is an antiviral medicine. It blocks an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that HIV-1 needs to make copies of itself, which helps interfere with the virus’s ability to multiply in the body.

Doctors prescribe Viread when treating HIV-1 in adults and children 2 years of age and older who weigh at least 10 kilograms, together with other antiretroviral medicines.

HIV-1 is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Viread is available as tablets and an oral powder.

Typical Dosing for HIV

For adults and children who weigh at least 35 kilograms, the recommended dose is one 300-milligram tablet once daily.

For children 2 years of age and older who can swallow a tablet and weigh at least 17 kilograms, the dose is based on body weight:

17 to less than 22 kilograms — 150 milligrams once daily
22 to less than 28 kilograms — 200 milligrams once daily
28 to less than 35 kilograms — 250 milligrams once daily
At least 35 kilograms — 300 milligrams once daily

Viread tablets can be taken with or without food.

For adults and children 2 years of age and older who weigh at least 10 kilograms and cannot swallow a tablet, the oral powder dose is 8 milligrams per kilogram of body weight once daily, up to a maximum of 300 milligrams. The oral powder should be taken with food.

Adults with kidney problems may need to take Viread less often. The dosing schedule depends on kidney function and whether the person is receiving hemodialysis.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Viread Side Effects

In clinical studies of Viread, the most common side effects occurred in about 5 percent to 18 percent of people. These include:

Rash
Diarrhea
Headache
Pain
Depression
Weakness (asthenia)
Nausea

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Viread can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Worsening hepatitis B after stopping Viread — A hepatitis B flare can lead to serious liver problems.
New or worsening kidney problems — Kidney function can worsen, including kidney failure.
Immune reconstitution syndrome — Immune system changes can trigger inflammation as the body starts fighting infections again.
Bone loss and bone softening — Lower bone mineral density or osteomalacia can cause bone pain and may contribute to fractures.
Lactic acidosis and severe liver problems — A buildup of lactic acid in the blood and severe liver enlargement with fat can be life-threatening.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

What To Know Before Taking Viread

Before starting Viread, your doctor will test for:

HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection
Kidney function, including blood and urine tests

Before starting Viread, tell your doctor if you have any allergies to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or any ingredients in Viread.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Also tell your doctor if you:

Have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection
Have kidney problems or receive kidney dialysis
Have bone problems
Have HIV infection

Viread is also FDA-approved to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults and children.

Do not miss doses or let your supply of Viread run out. The amount of virus in your blood may increase, and the virus may become harder to treat.

A pregnancy registry tracks pregnancy outcomes in people exposed to Viread. Healthcare providers can register pregnancies through the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry or by calling 800-258-4263.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. If you are taking Viread to treat HIV-1, do not breastfeed because HIV-1 can pass to your baby through breast milk.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Viread for HIV?

In one 144-week study of people starting HIV treatment, 68 percent of those taking Viread with lamivudine and efavirenz achieved and maintained an HIV-1 RNA level below 400 copies per milliliter. In the same study, 62 percent achieved and maintained a level below 50 copies per milliliter.

In another study, 84 percent of people taking emtricitabine, Viread, and efavirenz achieved and maintained an HIV-1 RNA level below 400 copies per milliliter through week 48. By week 144, 71 percent had maintained this result.

In a 24-week study of people who had already received HIV treatment, 19 percent of those who added Viread to their treatment had an HIV-1 RNA level below 50 copies per milliliter, compared with 1 percent of those who received placebo (an inactive treatment).

What tests or monitoring are needed with Viread for HIV?

Before starting Viread and during treatment, your healthcare provider should check your kidney function on a clinically appropriate schedule. This includes blood tests for serum creatinine and estimated creatinine clearance, as well as urine tests for glucose and protein.

If you have chronic kidney disease, your healthcare provider should also check your serum phosphorus level.

What medications can interact with Viread?

Viread can interact with several medicines. Important examples include didanosine, atazanavir, certain HIV protease inhibitors, some hepatitis C medicines, and drugs that can affect kidney function.

Viread can increase didanosine levels, so dose changes and close monitoring may be needed. Viread can also lower atazanavir levels. When they are used together, atazanavir should be given with ritonavir.

Some HIV medicines, including lopinavir/ritonavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, and darunavir/ritonavir, can increase tenofovir levels. Certain hepatitis C medicines can also increase tenofovir levels and may require closer monitoring.

Medicines that affect kidney function may also interact with Viread. These include some antiviral medicines, aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin, and high-dose or multiple nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Adefovir dipivoxil should not be used with Viread for chronic hepatitis B.

This is not a complete list of possible drug interactions. Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take.