tenofovir disoproxil
Brand names: Viread
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is a medicine used to treat HIV and hepatitis B. It helps to lower the amount of virus in your body.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$40.52/unit
Generic Price
$0.42/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (7 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats HIV-1 in adults and children at least 2 years old.
Common side effects
Rash, Diarrhea, Headache
Key warnings
After stopping this medicine, hepatitis B may get worse.
How It Works
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate blocks an enzyme that HIV and hepatitis B need to multiply. This lowers the amount of virus in your body. It can help your immune system get stronger.
How to Take It
Take one 300 mg tablet once a day. You can take it with or without food. For children, the dose depends on their weight. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may adjust your dose.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. HIV-infected mothers should not breastfeed because of the risk of passing HIV to the baby.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, 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 the tablets at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C). Keep the bottle tightly closed.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 73,111 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
After stopping this medicine, hepatitis B may get worse. Your doctor will monitor your liver closely for several months after you stop taking it. If needed, you may have to restart hepatitis B treatment.
Known Drug Interactions
Elbasvir/grazoprevir Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Not recommended during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole can cause tenofovir levels to increase by changing how the body handles the drug.
What to do: You should not take these two medications at the same time or within two weeks of finishing your itraconazole treatment.
Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2)].
Mechanism: Both of these drugs are removed from the body by the kidneys, and taking them together can put extra stress on your kidney function.
What to do: Your doctor should check your kidney function regularly while you are using these medications together.
Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2)].
Mechanism: These two drugs are both filtered out of the body by the kidneys, which can increase the risk of kidney strain when used at the same time.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor your kidney health to make sure the drugs are not causing harm.
Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2)].
Mechanism: Both of these medications can be hard on the kidneys, and taking them at the same time increases the risk of kidney damage.
What to do: Your doctor should closely monitor your kidney function if you must take these two drugs at the same time.
HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors : atazanavir lopinavir/ritonavir atazanavir/ritonavir darunavir/ritonavir ↓ atazanavir ↑ tenofovir When coadministered with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets, atazanavir 300 mg should be given with ritonavir 100 mg. Monitor patients receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets concomitantly with lopinavir/ritonavir, ritonavir-boosted atazanavir, or ritonavir-boosted darunavir for tenofovir DF-associated adverse reactions.
Mechanism: Darunavir can cause the levels of tenofovir in your blood to go up, which makes side effects from tenofovir more likely.
What to do: Your doctor should watch you closely for any side effects while you are taking these two medicines together.
Common Questions
Can I take this medicine with other HIV drugs?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can this medicine cure HIV or hepatitis B?
Will this medicine interact with other medications I'm taking?
How often will I need to see my doctor while taking this medicine?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
What happens if I stop taking this medicine?
Are there any foods I should avoid while taking this medicine?
Can children take this medicine?
What do I do if I take too much?
What are the common side effects of tenofovir disoproxil?
Does tenofovir disoproxil interact with other medications?
What drug class is tenofovir disoproxil?
Is there a generic version of tenofovir disoproxil?
Is tenofovir disoproxil safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near tenofovir disoproxil — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.
Compare with tenofovir disoproxil →
albendazole
Albenza
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.
Compare with tenofovir disoproxil →
amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with tenofovir disoproxil →
anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with tenofovir disoproxil →
atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
Compare with tenofovir disoproxil →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for tenofovir disoproxil
The FDA label for tenofovir disoproxil (sold under brand names such as Viread) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor class. This medicine treats HIV-1 in adults and children at least 2 years old. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Rash, Diarrhea, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 73,111 voluntary reports. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.42 versus $40.52 for the brand — a 99% generic savings.
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: October 9, 2025
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