Vemlidy vs. Videx for Hepatitis B and HIV Treatment: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Key takeaways

Tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy) and didanosine (Videx) are both antiretroviral (ARV) medications that belong to the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. They are used to treat viral infections, but they target different viruses. Tenofovir alafenamide is FDA-approved for treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) in people ages 6 and older, while didanosine was used for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) before it was discontinued. Vemlidy is taken once daily with food, whereas Videx was also taken orally but is no longer available in the U.S. Vemlidy is only available as a brand-name medication, while Videx had no generic versions before being discontinued. Common side effects of Vemlidy include headache, stomach pain, and cough, while Videx had serious side effects that limited its use. Vemlidy can interact with certain medications like NSAIDs, which can increase the risk of kidney damage, whereas Videx had interactions with other HIV ARVs.

Vemlidy

(tenofovir alafenamide)

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Didanosine

(Videx)

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Summary for Vemlidy

Prescription only

Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide), also known as TAF, is a first-choice medication for treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) for adults and children ages 6 years and older weighing at least 55 lbs. Tenofovir alafenamide is also found in combination with other antiretrovirals in medications such as Biktarvy to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) is taken by mouth, typically once daily. Some of the more common side effects of Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) include headache, stomach pain, and cough.

Indications for Vemlidy

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in people ages 6 years and older weighing at least 55 lbs

Pros and Cons for Vemlidy

Pros

A first-choice medication to treat hepatitis B
Only taken once a day
Not as harmful to your kidneys and bones compared to Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
Can be taken by most people with kidney problems

Cons

Can't take Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) alone if you're co-infected with both HIV and hepatitis B
Currently only available as brand-name medication
Must be taken with food
Can cause worsening of hepatitis B if stopped all of a sudden

Common Side Effects for Vemlidy

Headache (12%)
Stomach pain (9%)
Cough (8%)
Back pain (6%)
Tiredness (6%)
Nausea (6%)

Warnings for Vemlidy

Worsening of hepatitis B
Hepatitis B and HIV coinfection
Kidney problems
Liver problems

Summary for Videx

Discontinued

Didanosine (Videx) was one of the first HIV antiretroviral (ARV) medications approved by the FDA. It has a lot of serious side effects that have limited its use in recent years and is no longer available in the U.S.