Truvada

Truvada is an anti-viral drug, used to treat HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. This is a drug combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir. This medication is not a definite HIV infection cure neither it prevents transmission of such disease to others during sexual contact or blood contamination.

However, this medication delays the progress of HIV infection to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and it also prevents complications. Likewise, Truvada helps in preventing the transmission of HIV from an infected mother to her unborn child.

Read your medication guide and follow your doctor’s prescription at all times. Take Truvada orally/ by mouth before or after meals, once a day per doctor’s prescription.

The dosage depends on your medical condition, kidney function or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.

Avoid alcohol intake and activities that require mental alertness (i.e. driving, operating machinery) because this medication can cause dizziness.

Consult your doctor regularly and submit yourself to blood test per doctor’s recommendation to check if the medication is working efficiently. Your doctor will also check for your kidney and liver function during your visit.

Continue taking Truvada on a regular schedule (same time of the day). Do not stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor to prevent drug- resistant infection, which is more difficult to treat. Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.

Take your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that the time interval between the missed and the next dose is not too close. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Do not double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed doses and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Truvada may interact with:

• Adefovir
• Didanosine
• Emtricitabine
• Tenofovir
• Aminoglycosides (i.e. gentamycin)
• Amphotericin B
• Cyclosporine
• Ibuprofen
• Tacrolimus
• Vancomycin
• Atazanavir
• Cidofovir
• Acyclovir
• Valacyclovir
• Ganciclovir
• Valganciclovir

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of Truvada. Likewise, Truvada may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with Truvada.

Never alter the doses of other medications while on Truvada neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects: There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Before taking Truvada, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to emtricitabine and tenofovir (Truvada);
• Medical history or a present condition such as:
  • Kidney disease or if you are on dialysis
  • Pancreatitis
• Liver disease (i.e. hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis)
• Alcohol dependence
• Bone disorder (i.e. osteoporosis, osteopenia, broken bone/ fracture)
• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a baby (Truvada has no expected harmful effects to the unborn child. It is unknown if this medication can pass into breast milk but an HIV-infected mother is not recommended to breastfeed her child because breast milk can transmit HIV. The risks and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy must be discussed well with your doctor.)