Prescription medication · Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination

bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Also sold as Biktarvy. Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds.

Data updated 2026-05-15

19
InteractionsSeveral interactions
$128.87
Brand price (NADAC)

bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Biktarvy) is a prescription Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination. Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds.

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.

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$128.87/unit

Generic Available

No

GILEAD SCIENCES INC

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

View Alternatives → Compare with Another Drug →

What it does

Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds.

Common side effects

Diarrhea, Nausea, Headache

Key warnings

If you have both HIV and hepatitis B, stopping Biktarvy can cause your hepatitis B to suddenly get worse.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

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.

Serious Warnings

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.

Known Drug Interactions

major rifampin

Antimycobacterials: rifabutin rifampin , Strong inducer of CYP3Aand P-gp, and inducer of UGT1A1. rifapentine ↓ BIC ↓ TAF Coadministration with rifampin is contraindicated due to the effect of rifampin on the BIC component of BIKTARVY [see Contraindications (4) ] .

Mechanism: Rifampin speeds up how fast your body breaks down the HIV medicine, which makes the HIV medicine less effective. This can cause the HIV virus to become harder to treat.

major dofetilide

Coadministration of BIKTARVY with drugs that are substrates of OCT2 and MATE1 (e.g., dofetilide) may increase their plasma concentrations (see Table 3 ). Clinical Comment Antiarrhythmics: dofetilide ↑ Dofetilide Coadministration is contraindicated due to the potential for serious and/or life-threatening events associated with dofetilide therapy [see Contraindications (4) ] .

Mechanism: The HIV medicine blocks the way your body removes the heart medicine dofetilide, causing it to build up to dangerous levels. High levels of dofetilide can cause life-threatening heart rhythm problems.

moderate metformin

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

Mechanism: 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.

minor sertraline

7.6 Drugs without Clinically Significant Interactions with BIKTARVY Based on drug interaction studies conducted with BIKTARVY or the components of BIKTARVY, no clinically significant drug interactions have been observed when BIKTARVY is combined with the following drugs: ethinyl estradiol, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, midazolam, norgestimate, sertraline, sofosbuvir, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir.

Mechanism: These two medications do not have any meaningful effect on how the other is processed by the body.

minor estradiol

7.6 Drugs without Clinically Significant Interactions with BIKTARVY Based on drug interaction studies conducted with BIKTARVY or the components of BIKTARVY, no clinically significant drug interactions have been observed when BIKTARVY is combined with the following drugs: ethinyl estradiol, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, midazolam, norgestimate, sertraline, sofosbuvir, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir.

Mechanism: Clinical studies show that these drugs do not interfere with each other when taken at the same time.

Check all your medications →

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

Can I take Biktarvy with other HIV medicines?
No, Biktarvy is a complete treatment and should not be taken with other HIV medicines.
What tests should I have before starting Biktarvy?
Your doctor should test you for hepatitis B before you start Biktarvy.
Can Biktarvy affect my kidneys?
Yes, Biktarvy can cause new or worsening kidney problems. Your doctor will check your kidney function before and during treatment.
What are the symptoms of lactic acidosis?
Symptoms include feeling weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, feeling cold, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and a fast or irregular heartbeat.
Can Biktarvy cause liver problems?
In rare cases, Biktarvy can cause serious liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you develop symptoms like yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain in your upper right stomach area.
Can I take Biktarvy if I have severe liver problems?
Biktarvy is not recommended if you have severe liver problems.
What drugs should I avoid while taking Biktarvy?
You should not take Biktarvy with dofetilide or rifampin.
Can Biktarvy be used in children?
Yes, Biktarvy can be used in children weighing at least 31 pounds.
How will I know if Biktarvy is working?
Your doctor will monitor your HIV viral load to see if the medicine is working.
What should I do if I think I have a side effect from Biktarvy?
Tell your doctor right away if you have any side effects while taking Biktarvy.
What are the common side effects of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir?
The registry lists Diarrhea, Nausea, Headache among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir interact with other medications?
The registry has 19 documented interaction rows for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir. Notable source-record pairings include rifampin, dofetilide, metformin. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir?
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir belongs to the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir?
The FDA label for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination

Other drugs grouped near bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir - same-class peers and common alternatives.

acyclovir

Zovirax

Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.

Compare with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

albendazole

Albenza

Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.

Compare with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

amphotericin B

Ambisome, Fungizone

Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.

Compare with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

anidulafungin

Eraxis

Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.

Compare with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

atovaquone/proguanil

Malarone

Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.

Compare with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir →

Compare bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs acyclovir side-by-side →

Medication Guides

Understanding Drug Interactions

How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications

Generic vs Brand Name Drugs

FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters

Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs

FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines

Common Drug Interactions

Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself

Save on bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.

Check Prices on GoodRx →

Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.

What the FDA Data Shows for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

The FDA label for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir (sold under brand names such as Biktarvy) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination class. Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Headache.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 19 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: April 30, 2024

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page