tenofovir disoproxil vs valacyclovir
Side-by-side comparison of tenofovir disoproxil and valacyclovir. 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
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)].
Recommendation: Your doctor should check your kidney function regularly while you are using these medications together.
Viread
Valtrex
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is a medicine used to treat HIV and hepatitis B. It helps to lower the amount of virus in your body.
Valacyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
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.
Valacyclovir treats cold sores, genital herpes, and shingles. For genital herpes, it can treat initial outbreaks, repeat outbreaks, and also prevent outbreaks. It can also lower the chance of spreading genital herpes to others.
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.
Valacyclovir stops the virus from growing and spreading. It does this by blocking a key enzyme the virus needs to reproduce. This helps your body fight off the infection.
- • Rash
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Pain
- • Depression
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- Bone Density Decreased 10,625
- Renal Injury 9,276
- Skeletal Injury 8,327
- Chronic Kidney Disease 7,247
- Osteonecrosis 7,245
- Feeling very tired 2,294
- Loose, watery stools 2,120
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,838
- Fever with low white blood cell count 1,545
- Fever 1,490
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.
Valacyclovir can cause serious problems like TTP/HUS, which is a blood disorder. This is more likely in people with advanced HIV or who have had bone marrow or kidney transplants, especially if they take high doses (8 grams per day). It can also cause kidney failure, especially in older adults or people with kidney problems. Rarely, it can cause confusion, hallucinations, or agitation. Stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these side effects.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Studies haven't shown a risk of major birth defects, but there isn't enough data to be sure about miscarriage or other problems. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
How to Read This tenofovir disoproxil vs valacyclovir Comparison
tenofovir disoproxil is classified in the Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor drug class, while valacyclovir sits within the Antiviral 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, tenofovir disoproxil has 42,720 submissions while valacyclovir has 9,287. 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 both of these drugs are removed from the body by the kidneys, and taking them together can put extra stress on your kidney function.. 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 tenofovir disoproxil and valacyclovir - 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.