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CS246841-A
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
Truvada Medication Information Sheet
Truvada Medication Information Sheet for Patients
Brand name: Truvada (tru va duh)
Generic name: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine
Why is this medication prescribed?
• Truvada is one of several medications that are currently used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and
hepatitis B virus infection.
• Truvada is now being used to prevent HIV infection.
• Truvada is sometimes prescribed to some people who do not have HIV infection (for example, those who do not
always use condoms or who have a sex partner that has HIV infection) to help reduce their chances of getting
HIV infection
• When you take Truvada to prevent HIV infection, doctors refer to this use as “pre-exposure prophylaxis” or “PrEP”.
How does Truvada (PrEP) help prevent HIV infection?
• HIV is a virus that attacks your body’s immune cells (the cells that work to fight infections).
• The 2 medications that make up Truvada (tenofovir and emtricitabine) block important pathways that viruses use
to set up infection.
• If you take Truvada as PrEP daily, the presence of the medication in your bloodstream can sometimes stop the
virus from establishing itself and slow the spread of HIV in your body.
• By itself, PrEP with Truvada does not work all the time so youshould also use condoms during sex for the most
protection from HIV infection.
How should this medicine be used?
• You must take one tablet of Truvada by mouth every day .
• Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part
you do not understand.
• Do not stop taking Truvada without talking to your doctor. When your supply of Truvada starts to run low,
contact your doctor or pharmacist to get more.
• You may be at higher risk of becoming infected with HIV if you miss doses or stop taking Truvada than if you take
it every day.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking Truvada (tenofovir and emtricitabine) you must do the following:
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to tenofovir, emtricitabine, or any other medications.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and nonprescription medications, (vitamins, nutritional
supplements, and herbal products) you are taking. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your
medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
• Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding