To treat an HIV-1 infection or to reduce the chances of getting HIV-1 infection
To treat an HIV-1 infection or to reduce the chances of getting HIV-1 infection
Most common:
More serious:
Most common:
More serious:
You should not take Descovy:
You should talk to your doctor before using Descovy if you:
You should not take Truvada:
You should talk to your doctor before using Truvada if you:
Once daily
Once daily
30 Descovy tablets (120 mg-15 mg) will cost around $2,150
30, Truvada tablets (200 mg-300 mg) will cost around $1,775
Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide) and Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) are brand names for two drugs used to prevent infection in people who don’t have HIV.
Here we will explain how they work, their similarities and differences, their side effects, and more. This should provide you with the basics to better understand your options.
Descovy is manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc. It has FDA approval (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to be used to either treat an HIV-1 infection or to reduce the chances of getting HIV-1 infection. It is an antiretroviral agent prescribed to:
If you or your child has an HIV-1 infection, your doctor may have prescribed Descovy to you to help treat the infection. Descovy won’t cure an HIV-1 infection, but it will help to reduce how much virus you or your child has in their body. This can limit the damage to the immune system the virus causes and helps the immune system to continue fighting other infections and certain types of cancer. Descovy is usually used alongside other HIV-1 medications that also help to suppress the virus and reduce viral load.
Alternatively, you may be prescribed Descovy if you don’t have HIV-1, to help reduce your chances of getting the HIV infection through sex (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis/PrEP). This will be when you have a sexual partner who has an HIV-1 infection. Descovy is only approved as PrEP medication in cisgender males and transgender women, but not for cisgender women at risk of HIV from vaginal sex because Descovy’s effectiveness for this has not been studied. Truvada in comparison has also been studied for PrEP in IV drug users and heterosexuals.
While PrEP is an excellent tool for HIV prevention, it’s not for everyone. Descovy is a safer treatment for the kidneys and bone health. Descovy is also seen to be as effective as Truvada with vast improvements in kidney function and bone mineral density.
Descovy contains two active ingredients, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). They’re both antiviral drugs that can stop the spread of the HIV-1 virus if you have an infection, and can stop the virus from taking hold if you don’t have an infection already.
When the HIV-1 virus invades your T-cells, it inserts itself into your DNA. The virus then takes advantage of the cell’s natural DNA copying process to reproduce itself. As more copies of the virus are made, eventually the T-cell dies, and the viruses spread to other T-cells, continuing the cycle. Descovy helps to stop this from happening.
Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide block a step in the DNA copying process that the virus exploits to copy itself. This makes it harder for the virus to multiply, limiting the amount of virus you have in your body (your viral load).
Descovy is available in tablet form, in the following doses: 200 mg of FTC and 25 mg of TAF.
Test for hepatitis B and HIV-1 infection before starting treatment with Descovy. The recommended dosage for the treatment of HIV infection is one tablet once daily with or without food in those patients weighing at least 25 kg. For HIV-1 PrEP, take one tablet once daily with or without food in patients weighing at least 35 kg.
Truvada is an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved HIV medication manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc. Truvada is an antiretroviral agent used to:
If you have HIV-1 infection, your doctor may prescribe Truvada to you to help treat your infection. Truvada won’t cure your HIV-1 infection, but it will help to reduce how much virus you have in your body (your viral load). This can limit the damage to your immune system the virus causes and can better help your immune system fight other infections and some types of cancer.
Alternatively, you may be prescribed Truvada if you don’t have HIV-1, to help reduce your chances of getting the infection through sex (pre-exposure prophylaxis). This will be because you have a sexual partner who has an HIV-1 infection.
Truvada contains two active ingredients, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). They’re both antiretroviral drugs that treat a group of viruses called retroviruses (the HIV-1 virus is a type of retrovirus). Emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate block the step in the DNA copying process that allows the virus to copy itself, making it harder for the virus to multiply and limiting the viral load.
Truvada is available in tablet form, in the following doses: 200 mg/300 mg, 167 mg/250 mg, 133 mg/200 mg, and 100 mg/150 mg of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, respectively.
Test for hepatitis B and HIV-1 infection before starting treatment with Truvada. The recommended dosage for the treatment of HIV-1 Infection in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 35 kg is one tablet (200 mg of FTC and 300 mg of TDF) once daily with or without food. The recommended dosage in pediatric patients weighing at least 17 kg is one tablet (100 mg/150 mg, 133 mg/200 mg, or 167 mg/250 mg) once daily. For PrEP the recommended dosage in HIV-1 uninfected adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg is one tablet (200 mg of FTC and 300 mg of TDF) once daily.
Always speak with a healthcare professional about any changes to your dose so they can monitor and evaluate your condition. A generic version of Descovy is not available but is for Truvada.
The most common side effects of Descovy in the discover trials (The Discover Trial is actively evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Descovy vs Truvada for PrEP):
More serious side effects of Descovy include:
The most common side effects of Truvada in clinical trials include:
More serious side effects of Truvada include
These aren’t all the side effects Descovy or Truvada can cause. You can find more details in the patient leaflet that comes with your medication. If you have any concerns about side effects, talk to your physician or pharmacist.
Descovy can interact with other medications. These include:
Truvada can interact with other medications. These include:
Descovy and Truvada can interact with other medications. This can change how Descovy and Truvada and other medications work and can make side effects more likely. Tell your prescribing physician about all your drugs, including vitamins and dietary supplements.
You should not use Descovy if you:
Talk to your doctor before using Descovy if you:
You should not use Truvada if you:
Talk to your doctor before using Truvada if you:
If you have any concerns about Descovy or Truvada side effects, talk to your physician, or pharmacist for medical advice. Also inform your healthcare provider about any medical conditions, supplements, and over-the-counter meds you are taking. You are also encouraged to report side effects to the FDA: visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
