emtricitabine/tenofovir vs tenofovir disoproxil
Side-by-side comparison of 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
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.
Recommendation: You should not take these two medications together because they are redundant.
Truvada, Descovy
Viread
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.
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is a medicine used to treat HIV and hepatitis B. It helps to lower the amount of virus 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.
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.
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.
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.
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Tiredness
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Rash
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Pain
- • Depression
- Drug Interaction 655
- Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy 621
- Anxiety 432
- Drug Resistance 431
- Virologic Failure 402
- Bone Density Decreased 10,625
- Renal Injury 9,276
- Skeletal Injury 8,327
- Chronic Kidney Disease 7,247
- Osteonecrosis 7,245
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.
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.
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.
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 emtricitabine/tenofovir vs tenofovir disoproxil Comparison
emtricitabine/tenofovir is classified in the NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP) 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, emtricitabine/tenofovir has 2,541 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 medications contain the same active ingredient. taking both at once can lead to having too much of the medicine in your body.. 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 emtricitabine/tenofovir and tenofovir disoproxil - 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.