This product contains 3 different medications:
efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. It is used alone or with other HIV
medications to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount
of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your
chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and
improves your quality of life. Efavirenz belongs to a class of drugs known
as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Emtricitabine
and tenofovir belong to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir is not a cure for HIV
infection. To decrease your risk of spreading HIV disease to others,
continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Use an effective barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams)
during sexual activity as directed by your doctor. Do not share personal
items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have
contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for
more details.
This section contains uses of this drug that are not
listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be
prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition
that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your
health care professional.
This product may also be used to lessen the risk of HIV
infection after contact with the virus (for example, due to a needle
stick). Ask your doctor for more details.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from
your pharmacist before you start taking efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir
and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor
or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth on an empty stomach as
directed by your doctor, usually once daily at bedtime. Taking this
medication at bedtime helps to decrease some of the side effects. See Side
Effects section.
Because this combination product has fixed doses of
efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, you should only use it if your
doctor has determined that the doses of all 3 medications in this product
are right for you.
It is very important to keep taking this medication (and
other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip
any doses. Do not increase your dose, take this drug more often than
prescribed, or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short
time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping or changing your
dose without approval from your doctor may cause the amount of virus to
increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen
side effects.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time
every day.
Dizziness, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, unusual dreams,
and trouble concentrating may often occur. These side effects may begin 1-2
days after starting this medication and usually go away in 2-4 weeks. They
are also reduced by taking this medication on an empty stomach at
bedtime.
Tiredness, headache, diarrhea, and skin discoloration
(such as small spots/freckles, darkening of the palms of the hands/soles of
the feet) may also occur.
If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your
doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
As your immune system gets stronger, it can begin to
fight off infections you already had, possibly causing disease symptoms to
come back. You could also have symptoms if your immune system becomes
overactive. This reaction may happen at any time (soon after starting HIV
treatment or many months later). Get medical help right away if you have
any serious symptoms, including:
- unexplained weight loss
- severe tiredness
- muscle aches/weakness that doesn't go away
- headaches that are severe or don't go away
- joint pain
- numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs
- vision changes
- signs of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph
nodes, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores)
- signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability,
nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging
eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter)
- signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre
syndrome (such as unsteadiness, loss of coordination, trouble
swallowing/speaking/chewing, trouble moving your eyes)
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- mental/mood changes (such as depression, rare thoughts of
suicide, strange thoughts, anxiety, angry behavior, hallucinations,
confusion)
- loss of coordination
- signs of kidney problems (such as a change in the amount of
urine)
- unusual thirst
- signs of pancreatitis (such as nausea, vomiting,
stomach/abdominal/back pain, fever)
Rarely, this medication can cause severe (sometimes
fatal) liver and blood problems (lactic acidosis). Tell your doctor right
away if you develop symptoms of liver problems (such as nausea/vomiting
that doesn't stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing
eyes/skin, dark urine) or lactic acidosis (such as deep/rapid breathing,
drowsiness, nausea/vomiting, unusual weakness).
Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking this
medication (such as increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas,
decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of
these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with
your doctor, as well as the possible use of exercise to reduce this side
effect.
Tenofovir may increase the risk of bone loss. Discuss
the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor, as well as the
possible use of calcium and vitamin D to reduce this side effect. If you
are at risk for bone loss, your doctor may monitor your bone mineral
density. Tell your doctor right away if any of the following serious side
effects occur:
- bone pain
- easily broken bones
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- fast/irregular heartbeat
- severe dizziness
- fainting
Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir can commonly cause a
rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it
apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Get
medical help right away if you develop any rash.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- blisters
- peeling skin
- fever
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir, tell
your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any of the ingredients; or
if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive
ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to
your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- kidney problems
- liver problems (such as hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis)
- mental/mood conditions (such as depression, thoughts of
suicide, psychosis)
- drug/substance/alcohol abuse
- seizures
- high cholesterol/triglyceride levels
- bone problems (such as bone disease, bone loss/osteoporosis,
weak/broken bones)
- disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir may cause a condition
that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely
cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms
(such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right
away.
The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have
certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT
prolongation. Before using efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir, tell your
doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the
following conditions:
- certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT
prolongation in the EKG)
- family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in
the EKG, sudden cardiac death)
Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may
also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you
use certain drugs (such as diuretics "water pills") or if you have
conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your
doctor about using efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir
safely.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause trouble
concentrating. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can worsen these effects. Do
not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can
do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages because they may also worsen the
side effects of this medication (such as liver problems, pancreatitis,
mental/mood symptoms). Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana
(cannabis).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
A rash may be more common and serious in children taking
this medication. Report any rash right away. The doctor may prescribe an
antihistamine for your child to take before this medication is started.
Consult the doctor for more information.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects
of this drug, especially QT prolongation (see above).
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. Treatment can lower the risk of passing HIV infection
to your baby, and efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir may be part of that
treatment. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
This medication passes into breast milk. Because breast
milk may transmit HIV, consult your doctor before
breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- orlistat
- other drugs that may affect the kidneys (including adefovir,
cidofovir, aminoglycosides such as amikacin/ gentamicin)
- a certain combination product used to treat chronic hepatitis
C (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir/dasabuvir)
Do not take this medication with other products that
contain emtricitabine or tenofovir. Do not take this medication with
another efavirenz product unless specifically directed by your doctor.
Also, lamivudine is similar to emtricitabine and should not be taken with
this medication.
Other medications can affect the removal of
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir from your body, which may affect how this
product works. Examples include some drugs used to treat seizures (such as
carbamazepine), among others.
Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir can speed up the
removal of many other medications from your body, which may affect how they
work. Examples of affected drugs include atazanavir, atovaquone/proguanil,
azole antifungals (such as voriconazole), bedaquiline, cabotegravir,
cobicistat, elbasvir/grazoprevir, elvitegravir, macrolide antibiotics (such
as clarithromycin), rilpivirine, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, among
others.
This medication may decrease the effectiveness of
hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause
pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use
reliable backup birth control methods while using this medication. Also
tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding,
because these may be signs that your birth control is not working
well.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other
products that cause drowsiness including alcohol, marijuana (cannabis),
antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or
anxiety (such as diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and opioid pain
relievers (such as codeine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy
or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause
drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products
safely.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests
(such as urine cannabinoid tests), possibly causing false test results.
Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this
drug.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as kidney/liver function,
test for hepatitis B virus, viral load, T-cell counts, cholesterol and
triglyceride levels, blood mineral levels, bone density tests, urine
glucose/protein) should be done before you start taking this medication and
while you are taking it. Keep all medical and lab
appointments.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If
it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next
dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
Store in the original container at room temperature away
from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications
away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.