efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs tenofovir disoproxil
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir and tenofovir disoproxil. 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
7.5 Drugs Without Clinically Significant Interactions with Efavirenz No dosage adjustment is recommended when efavirenz is given with the following: aluminum/magnesium hydroxide antacids, azithromycin, cetirizine, famotidine, fluconazole, lorazepam, nelfinavir, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (abacavir, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, zidovudine), paroxetine, and raltegravir.
Viread
Efavirenz is a drug used to treat HIV-1 infection. It belongs to a class of drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI).
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is a medicine used to treat HIV and hepatitis B. It helps to lower the amount of virus in your body.
Efavirenz is used to treat HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. It helps to lower the amount of virus in your body. This medicine must be used with other HIV medicines.
This medicine treats HIV-1 in adults and children at least 2 years old. It is always used with other HIV medicines. It also treats chronic hepatitis B in adults and children at least 12 years old.
Efavirenz blocks an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. HIV needs this enzyme to make copies of itself. By blocking it, efavirenz helps to slow down the spread of HIV in your body.
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.
- • Rash
- • Dizziness
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Fatigue
- • Rash
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Pain
- • Depression
- Virologic Failure 952
- Drug Interaction 748
- Drug Resistance 735
- Viral Mutation Identified 674
- Pathogen Resistance 623
- Bone Density Decreased 10,625
- Renal Injury 9,276
- Skeletal Injury 8,327
- Chronic Kidney Disease 7,247
- Osteonecrosis 7,245
Efavirenz can cause serious side effects, including psychiatric problems like depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Efavirenz can also harm your liver. Your doctor should check your liver function before and during treatment. Do not take efavirenz by itself.
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.
Efavirenz can harm your unborn baby, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about using birth control while taking this medicine. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking efavirenz.
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.
How to Read This efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs tenofovir disoproxil Comparison
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir is classified in the NNRTI / NRTI Combination drug class, while tenofovir disoproxil sits within the Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor 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, efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir has 3,732 submissions while tenofovir disoproxil has 42,720. 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 these two medications do not interfere with each other in a way that changes how they work in your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir or tenofovir disoproxil.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.