Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/Tenofovir alafenamide
If you have hepatitis B virus infection (HBV; an ongoing liver infection) and you take tenofovir, your condition may suddenly worsen when you stop taking this medication. Be careful not to miss doses or run out of tenofovir. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease other than hepatitis B or cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). If you experience any of the following symptoms after you stop taking tenofovir, call your doctor immediately: extreme tiredness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark-colored urine, light-colored bowel movements, and muscle or joint pain. If you are taking tenofovir to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had HBV. Your doctor may test you to see if you have HBV before you begin your treatment with tenofovir. Your doctor will examine you and order lab tests regularly for several months after you stop taking this medication to see if your HBV has worsened. Tell your doctor if you experience any new or unusual symptoms after you stop taking tenofovir.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests before and during your treatment to check your body’s response to tenofovir.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking tenofovir.
🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DF) (Viread) is used along with other medications to treat HIV infection in adults and children 2 years of age and older weighing 22 pounds (10 kilograms) or more. Tenofovir DF is also used to treat chronic (long term) HBV in adults and children 2 years of age and older weighing 22 pounds (10 kilograms) or more. Tenofovir alafenamide (AF) (Vemlidy) is used to treat chronic (long term) HBV in adults and children 12 years of age and older who have stable liver disease. Tenofovir is in a class of medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by decreasing the amount of HIV and HBV in the blood. Although tenofovir will not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes may decrease the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to other people. Tenofovir will not cure hepatitis B and may not prevent complications of chronic hepatitis B such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Tenofovir may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B to other people.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
Tenofovir DF comes as a tablet and as an oral powder to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken with or without food once daily. The powder is usually taken with food once daily. Tenofovir AF comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with food once daily. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take tenofovir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Tenofovir DF oral powder must be added to 2 to 4 ounces of soft food such as applesauce, baby food, or yogurt. Stir the mixture with a spoon until well mixed. Consume the mixture right away to avoid a bitter taste. Do not mix tenofovir DF oral powder with liquid.
Continue to take tenofovir even if you feel well. Do not stop taking tenofovir without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking tenofovir even for a short time, or skip doses, the virus may become resistant to medications and may be harder to treat.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.