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bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs metformin

Side-by-side comparison of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir and metformin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Metformin ↑ Metformin Refer to the prescribing information of metformin for assessing the benefit and risk of concomitant use of BIKTARVY and metformin.

Recommendation: Your doctor should watch you closely for metformin side effects and may need to lower your metformin dose.

Drug Class
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination
metformin Biguanide
Type
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir Prescription
metformin Prescription
Summary
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Biktarvy is a complete HIV-1 treatment for adults and children who weigh at least 31 pounds. It combines three medicines into one tablet to help control the virus.

metformin

No summary available.

What It Treats
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds. It can be used if you have never taken HIV medicine before. It can also replace your current HIV medicine if your virus is under control and you have no resistance to Biktarvy's components.

metformin

Information not available.

How It Works
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Biktarvy contains three drugs that each block HIV in different ways. Bictegravir stops HIV from inserting its DNA into your cells. Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide interfere with an enzyme HIV needs to make copies of itself.

metformin

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Headache
metformin
  • Diarrhea
  • Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold)
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

No adverse event reports.

metformin
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 21,946
  • Loose or watery stools 21,887
  • High blood sugar 18,329
  • Feeling tired 17,252
  • Sudden kidney damage 16,440
Serious Warnings
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

If you have both HIV and hepatitis B, stopping Biktarvy can cause your hepatitis B to suddenly get worse. Your doctor will need to monitor your liver closely for several months after you stop taking Biktarvy. You may need to take medicine for hepatitis B.

metformin

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take Biktarvy during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Biktarvy if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. There is not enough data to assess the risk of major birth defects.

metformin

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir with

How to Read This bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs metformin Comparison

bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir is classified in the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination drug class, while metformin sits within the Biguanide class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir has 0 submissions while metformin has 95,854. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to this hiv medication can increase the amount of metformin that stays in your blood. this happens because the medicine interferes with how metformin is cleared from your system.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir and metformin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.