What is tenofovir?
Tenofovir is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells
from multiplying in your body.
Tenofovir is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Tenofovir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS. Tenofovir is also used to treat chronic hepatitis B.
Tenofovir may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tenofovir?
Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine containing
tenofovir, including Truvada.
You should not take tenofovir if you are also taking Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) or
adefovir (Hepsera).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely
use this medication. Before taking tenofovir, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic
acidosis while taking tenofovir. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you have liver or
kidney disease, congestive heart failure, or if you drink large amounts of alcohol. Talk with your doctor
about your individual risk.
Tenofovir can also cause severe or fatal liver problems. Symptoms include nausea,
stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the
skin or eyes). Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn
baby, but HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Take all of your HIV
medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.
Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using
tenofovir. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate
whether tenofovir had any effect on the baby.
You should not breast-feed while you are using tenofovir. Women with HIV or AIDS
should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the
baby in your breast milk.
Tenofovir should not be given to a child unless your doctor has told you otherwise.
How should I take tenofovir?
Take tenofovir exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or
smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these
directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Take tenofovir with a full glass of water.
Tenofovir can be taken with or without food.
It is important to take tenofovir regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription
refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition,
use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient
instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule
without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a
doctor.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition and not causing harmful effects, your blood
will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney and liver function may also need to be tested.
Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking this medication,
even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function at regular visits for
several months after you stop using tenofovir. Do not miss any scheduled visits.
Store tenofovir at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and direct light.
What happens if I miss a dose of tenofovir?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about tenofovir?
Your pharmacist has information about tenofovir written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tenofovir?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
liver damage - nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite,
dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
lactic acidosis - muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold
feeling in your arms and legs, dizziness, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting,
slow or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired;
-
kidney problems - increased thirst and urination, loss of
appetite, weakness, constipation, urinating less than usual or not at all;
-
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
-
any other signs of new infection.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;
-
depression, headache, dizziness;
-
diarrhea, bloating, gas;
-
muscle or joint pain;
-
skin rash; or
-
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in
your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about tenofovir?
Do not take other medicines that also contain tenofovir (such as Truvada).
Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking
tenofovir. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal.
Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms of lactic acidosis, such
as:
muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing,
stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, slow or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.
Tenofovir can also cause severe or fatal liver problems. Symptoms include nausea,
stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the
skin or eyes). Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking tenofovir, even
months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function on a regular basis for several
months after you stop using this medication. Do not miss any scheduled visits.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition,
use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication
schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the
care of a doctor.
What should I avoid while taking tenofovir?
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking tenofovir. Alcohol may increase the risk of damage to
the liver.
Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this
medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe
methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe,
even for a healthy person.
What other drugs will affect tenofovir?
Before taking tenofovir, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Amphotec, Abelcet);
-
pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam);
-
tacrolimus (Prograf);
-
antibiotics such as capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin
(Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled);
-
antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), cidofovir
(Vistide), foscarnet (Foscavir), ganciclovir (Cytovene), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or valganciclovir
(Valcyte);
-
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve,
Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others;
-
cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin),
carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin),
plicamycin (Mithracin), streptozocin (Zanosar), or tretinoin (Vesanoid); or
-
other HIV or AIDS medications such as atazanavir
(Reyataz), didanosine (Videx), lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra).
This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact
with tenofovir. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use
and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
What happens if I have an overdose of tenofovir?
