Prescription medication · NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP)

emtricitabine/tenofovir

Also sold as Truvada, Descovy. Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds.

Data updated 2026-05-15

3,791
FDA reports
9
InteractionsFew interactions
$71.05
Brand price (NADAC)

What the data shows

emtricitabine/tenofovir (Truvada) is a prescription NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP), with 3,791 FDA adverse-event reports on file, with 9 documented drug interactions.

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

emtricitabine/tenofovir (Truvada) is a prescription NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP). Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds.

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.

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Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$71.05/unit

Generic Available

No

GILEAD

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

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What it does

Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds.

Common side effects

Diarrhea, Nausea, Tiredness

Key warnings

Truvada can cause serious side effects, including lactic acidosis and severe liver problems.

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

How It Works

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.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 3,791 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for emtricitabine/tenofovir, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Serious Warnings

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.

Known Drug Interactions

minor valacyclovir

Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, adefovir dipivoxil, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .

Mechanism: Both of these drugs are removed from the body through the kidneys, and taking them together can increase the risk of kidney damage.

minor acyclovir

Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, adefovir dipivoxil, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .

Mechanism: These medicines are cleared from the body using the same pathway in the kidneys, which can lead to higher levels of the drugs in your system.

minor gentamicin

Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, adefovir dipivoxil, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .

Mechanism: Both of these drugs are removed from the body through the kidneys. Taking them at the same time can increase the risk of kidney damage or raise drug levels in your blood.

minor tenofovir disoproxil

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.

Mechanism: These medications contain the same active ingredient. Taking both at once can lead to having too much of the medicine in your body.

minor darunavir

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.

Mechanism: 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.

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

Common Questions

Can I take Truvada if I have kidney problems?
If you have kidney problems, your doctor may adjust your dose or tell you not to take Truvada.
Can I take Truvada with other medicines?
Do not take Truvada with medicines that contain emtricitabine, tenofovir alafenamide, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or lamivudine. Also, do not take Truvada with HEPSERA.
What should I do if I think I have a side effect from Truvada?
Tell your doctor right away if you have any side effects from Truvada.
How often should I be tested for HIV if I am taking Truvada for PrEP?
You should be tested for HIV at least every 3 months while you are taking Truvada for PrEP.
Can Truvada cure HIV?
No, Truvada does not cure HIV. It helps to control the virus and prevent it from multiplying.
Can I stop taking Truvada if I feel better?
Do not stop taking Truvada without talking to your doctor first. If you have hepatitis B, your hepatitis B may get worse if you stop taking Truvada.
Does Truvada interact with other drugs?
Yes, Truvada can interact with other drugs, including didanosine and some HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
Can Truvada cause bone problems?
Truvada can cause decreases in bone mineral density. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of bone problems.
What are the ingredients in Truvada?
The active ingredients are emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Inactive ingredients include croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and pregelatinized starch.
What does Truvada look like?
Truvada 200 mg/300 mg tablets are blue, capsule-shaped, film-coated, and debossed with "GILEAD" on one side and "701" on the other side.
What are the common side effects of emtricitabine/tenofovir?
The registry lists Diarrhea, Nausea, Tiredness, Headache, Dizziness among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for emtricitabine/tenofovir. The compiled record contains 3,791 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does emtricitabine/tenofovir interact with other medications?
The registry has 9 documented interaction rows for emtricitabine/tenofovir. Notable source-record pairings include valacyclovir, acyclovir, gentamicin. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is emtricitabine/tenofovir?
emtricitabine/tenofovir belongs to the NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP) drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for emtricitabine/tenofovir?
The FDA label for emtricitabine/tenofovir contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP)

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

acyclovir

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albendazole

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amphotericin B

Ambisome, Fungizone

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anidulafungin

Eraxis

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atovaquone/proguanil

Malarone

Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.

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What the FDA Data Shows for emtricitabine/tenofovir

The FDA label for emtricitabine/tenofovir (sold under brand names such as Truvada, Descovy) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the NRTI Combination (HIV PrEP) class. Truvada is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 37 pounds. Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Tiredness.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,791 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor 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: July 16, 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