emtricitabine/tenofovir
Brand names: Truvada, Descovy
Truvada is a medicine that contains two drugs, emtricitabine and tenofovir. It is used to treat HIV-1 infection and to prevent getting HIV-1.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$71.05/unit
Generic Available
No
GILEAD
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Tiredness
Key warnings
Truvada can cause serious side effects, including lactic acidosis and severe liver problems.
How It Works
Truvada contains two medicines that block HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. This enzyme is needed for HIV to multiply. By blocking this enzyme, Truvada helps to lower the amount of HIV in your body and prevent HIV infection.
How to Take It
If you weigh 77 pounds or more, take one Truvada tablet once a day. You can take it with or without food. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may adjust your dose or tell you not to take Truvada. For children weighing between 37 and 77 pounds, a lower strength tablet is available, and the dose depends on the child's weight.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Truvada should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. If you are infected with HIV, you should not breastfeed because you could pass HIV to your baby.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Truvada, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store Truvada at room temperature, between 59°F and 86°F, in a tightly closed container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,924 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
Truvada can cause serious side effects, including lactic acidosis and severe liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of these problems. If you have hepatitis B and stop taking Truvada, your hepatitis B may get worse. Your doctor will need to monitor you closely for several months if you stop taking Truvada. If you are using Truvada to prevent HIV, you must be tested to be sure you do not have HIV. If you take Truvada when you have HIV, the HIV virus can become resistant to the medicine.
Known Drug Interactions
Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, adefovir dipivoxil, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .
Mechanism: Both of these drugs are removed from the body through the kidneys, and taking them together can increase the risk of kidney damage.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your kidney function closely while you are taking both of these medications.
Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, adefovir dipivoxil, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .
Mechanism: These medicines are cleared from the body using the same pathway in the kidneys, which can lead to higher levels of the drugs in your system.
What to do: Your doctor should check your kidney health regularly to ensure the medications are being cleared safely from your body.
Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, adefovir dipivoxil, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .
Mechanism: Both of these drugs are removed from the body through the kidneys. Taking them at the same time can increase the risk of kidney damage or raise drug levels in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your kidney function closely while you are taking these medications together.
Drug interaction trials have been conducted with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, the components of TRUVADA. This section describes clinically relevant drug interactions observed with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Didanosine: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate increases didanosine concentrations.
Mechanism: These medications contain the same active ingredient. Taking both at once can lead to having too much of the medicine in your body.
What to do: You should not take these two medications together because they are redundant.
Coadministration of TRUVADA with atazanavir and ritonavir, darunavir and ritonavir, or lopinavir/ritonavir increases tenofovir concentrations. Lopinavir/ritonavir, atazanavir coadministered with ritonavir, and darunavir coadministered with ritonavir have been shown to increase tenofovir concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Patients receiving TRUVADA concomitantly with lopinavir/ritonavir, ritonavir-boosted atazanavir, or ritonavir-boosted darunavir should be monitored for tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-associated adverse reactions.
Mechanism: This combination can cause the level of tenofovir in your blood to rise. Higher levels of the drug can increase your risk of experiencing side effects.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for any side effects while you are taking these medications together.
Common Questions
Can I take Truvada if I have kidney problems?
Can I take Truvada with other medicines?
What should I do if I think I have a side effect from Truvada?
How often should I be tested for HIV if I am taking Truvada for PrEP?
Can Truvada cure HIV?
Can I stop taking Truvada if I feel better?
Does Truvada interact with other drugs?
Can Truvada cause bone problems?
What are the ingredients in Truvada?
What does Truvada look like?
What are the common side effects of emtricitabine/tenofovir?
Does emtricitabine/tenofovir interact with other medications?
What drug class is emtricitabine/tenofovir?
Is emtricitabine/tenofovir safe during pregnancy?
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Medication Guides
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Common Drug Interactions
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What the FDA Data Shows for emtricitabine/tenofovir
The FDA label for emtricitabine/tenofovir (sold under brand names such as Truvada, Descovy) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP) class. Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds. Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Tiredness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,924 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: July 16, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages