Truvada

Maker:
Gilead Sciences

What it does:
Helps prevent replication of HIV

Traditional dosage:
One tablet, containing 200 mg of emtricitabine and 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, once daily

Drug interactions, precautions, & recommendations:
Truvada contains two NRTIs, which act on reverse transcriptase, a substance HIV needs for replication. Do not take Truvada if you take Atripla, Combivir, Emtriva, Epivir or Epivir-HBV, Epzicom, Trizivir, or Viread, which have the same or similar active ingredients. You may need to adjust dosage if also taking Videx, Reyataz, or Kaletra. Do not take with Hepsera. If you have had kidney problems or take other drugs that can cause kidney problems, your doctor should do regular blood tests to check your kidneys. In 2012, the FDA approved Truvada for use in HIV prevention among HIV-negative people who are at high risk of acquiring the virus. The FDA’s updated labeling on the drug notes that persons using the drug preventatively need to be confirmed as HIV-negative every three months and use the drug as prescribed, in combination with safer-sex practices and counseling.

Side effects:
Most serious: buildup of lactic acid in the blood, serious liver problems, flare-ups of hepatitis B virus infection, kidney problems, thinning bones, changes in body fat, symptoms of inflammation from previous infections Other: diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, abnormal dreams, sleeping problems, rash, depression, shortness of breath, pain, fatty liver, stomach pain, weakness, indigestion, intestinal gas, high volume of urine, excessive thirst, skin discoloration. In patients using Truvada for prevention, the most common side effects have been headache, abdominal pain, and weight loss.