This product contains 3 different medications:
emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir. It is used 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. Emtricitabine and tenofovir belong to a class of drugs known as
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Rilpivirine belongs to
a class of drugs known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
(NNRTIs).
Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/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 this medication and each time you
get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by
your doctor, usually once daily.
Medications which reduce or block stomach acid (such as
proton pump inhibitors/PPIs, H2 blockers, antacids) may reduce the
absorption of rilpivirine, making it work less well. Do not take PPIs (such
as omeprazole, lansoprazole) while using this medication. If you take
antacids, take the antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours
after this medication. If you take H2 blockers (such as famotidine,
ranitidine), take them at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after
this medication.
It is very important to keep taking this medication
exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take less of this drug than
prescribed or stop taking it even for a short time unless directed to do so
by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase and/or
make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant).
Do not increase your dose or take this medication more
often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your
risk of side effects may increase.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time
every day.
Headache, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, tiredness,
dizziness, and skin discoloration (such as small spots/freckles, darkening
of the palms of the hands/soles of the feet) may 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)
- signs of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't
stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark
urine)
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of
urine, pink/bloody urine)
- mental/mood changes (such as depression, thoughts of
suicide)
Rarely, this medication can cause a severe (sometimes
fatal) blood problem (lactic acidosis). Tell your doctor right away if you
develop symptoms of 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
This medication 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
- 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 this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to emtricitabine, rilpivirine, or tenofovir;
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 disease
- liver disease (such as hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis)
- alcohol use
- bone problems (such as bone disease, bone loss/osteoporosis,
weak/broken bones)
- mental/mood disorders (such as depression)
This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana
(cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do
anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic
beverages. 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).
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. Treatment can lower the risk of passing HIV infection
to your baby, and this medication 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.
See also How to Use section.
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:
- adefovir
- orlistat
- other drugs that may be harmful to the kidneys (including
aminoglycosides such as amikacin/gentamicin)
- proton pump inhibitors (PPIs such as dexlansoprazole,
esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole,
rabeprazole)
Do not take this medication with other products that
treat HIV infection, especially products that contain didanosine,
emtricitabine, tenofovir, or lamivudine. In addition, do not take this
medication with other products that contain rilpivirine, unless you are
also taking rifabutin.
Other medications can affect the removal of rilpivirine
from your body, which may affect how this medication works. Examples
include dexamethasone, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin),
rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifapentine), St. John's wort, certain drugs
used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine,
phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), telithromycin, among
others.
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. Symptoms of overdose may include:
fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as kidney/liver function,
urine glucose/protein, viral load, test for hepatitis B virus, T-cell
counts, blood mineral levels, bone density tests) 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 with food as soon as you
remember. If it is more than 12 hours after the missed 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 bottle 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.