darunavir vs emtricitabine/tenofovir
Side-by-side comparison of darunavir and emtricitabine/tenofovir. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
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.
Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor you closely for any side effects while you are taking these medications together.
Prezista
Truvada, Descovy
Darunavir is a medicine used to treat HIV. It belongs to a class of drugs called protease inhibitors and must be taken with ritonavir.
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.
Darunavir is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children 3 years and older. It must be taken with ritonavir and other HIV medicines. Darunavir helps to lower the amount of HIV in your body.
Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds. It must be used with other HIV medicines. Truvada can also be used to help prevent getting HIV-1 in adults who are at high risk. When used for prevention, it is called PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and should be used with safer sex practices.
Darunavir is a protease inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme called protease that HIV needs to make copies of itself. This helps to slow down the spread of HIV in your body.
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.
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Rash
- • Headache
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Tiredness
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- Baby exposed to drug during pregnancy 1,150
- Interaction between medicines 981
- Pain 889
- Emotional upset 812
- Worry 811
- Drug Interaction 655
- Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy 621
- Anxiety 432
- Drug Resistance 431
- Virologic Failure 402
Darunavir can cause liver problems. Your doctor should check your liver before you start taking darunavir and during treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of liver problems, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The recommended dose during pregnancy is 600 mg twice daily with ritonavir 100mg and food. Women with HIV should not breastfeed because HIV can be passed to the baby through breast milk.
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.
How to Read This darunavir vs emtricitabine/tenofovir Comparison
darunavir is classified in the HIV Protease Inhibitor drug class, while emtricitabine/tenofovir sits within the NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP) 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, darunavir has 4,643 submissions while emtricitabine/tenofovir has 2,541. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to 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.. 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 darunavir and emtricitabine/tenofovir - 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.