This product is used 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. This product is a combination of two different drugs:
emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. Emtricitabine is called a
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, while tenofovir alafenamide is
called a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor. They are often called
NRTIs.
This product should not be used by itself to help
control HIV infection. Doing so can make your treatment less effective. Use
combination treatment with at least one other HIV
medication.
This product is also approved in the US to help prevent
HIV infection in people who have a high risk for infection. Some things
that increase risk include having a partner infected with HIV, having
unprotected sex, having multiple sex partners, infection with a sexually
transmitted disease-STD, or use/abuse of drugs or alcohol.
Emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide 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.
Read the Medication Guide provided by 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 as directed by your
doctor, usually once daily with or without food. The dosage is based on
your medical condition and response to treatment. Children's dosage is also
based on weight.
When used to treat HIV infection, this product is taken
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.
It is very important to keep taking this medication (and
other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip
any doses.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time
every day.
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 doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to
increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen
side effects.
Diarrhea, headache, trouble sleeping, back pain, or
change in the color of skin on your palms or soles of your 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 with HIV treatment,
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, anxiety)
- signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of
urine, pink/bloody urine)
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).
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 product, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to emtricitabine 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:
- pancreatitis
- liver problems (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis)
- alcohol use
- bone problems (such as bone disease, bone loss/osteoporosis,
weak/broken bones)
- kidney disease
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. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. If
you have HIV infection, treatment can lower the risk of passing HIV
infection to your baby, and this medication may be part of that
treatment.
This medication passes into breast milk, but is unlikely
to harm a nursing infant. If you have HIV, 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
are:
- adefovir
- orlistat
- other drugs that may harm the kidneys (including
aminoglycosides such as amikacin/gentamicin)
Tenofovir alafenamide can decrease the effectiveness of
another medication, atazanavir (by decreasing blood levels). If you are
taking atazanavir with this product, you may need to also take another
medication (ritonavir). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more
details.
Check the labels on all your medicines for HIV infection
because they may contain the same or similar ingredients as those in this
product (such as tenofovir alafenamide, emtricitabine, lamivudine). Do not
take medications that contain the same or similar ingredients as this
product.
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,
viral load, test for hepatitis B virus, T-cell counts, blood mineral
levels, bone density) 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.