Descovy
Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) is a prescription antiretroviral pill used to treat and prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It's FDA approved for use with other HIV medications to treat HIV in adults and children. It's also approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV in adults and teens. You take it once a day by mouth, with or without food. Some common side effects include nausea and diarrhea.
What is Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide)?
What is Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) used for?
How Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) works
Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) is a combination of two HIV antiretroviral medications: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide.
Both medications are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). They work by blocking an enzyme (protein) called reverse transcriptase, which HIV uses to make copies of itself. By stopping this process, Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) helps prevent the virus from spreading in the body and reduces the risk of infection when used for PrEP.
Drug facts
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Side effects of Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (5%)
- Nausea (4%)
Note: Side effects were reported by people who took Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) alone for PrEP.
Less Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Feeling tired
- Stomach pain
Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis): weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, fast or abnormal heartbeat
- Kidney problems: tiredness, confusion, nausea, urinating problems, swelling in your legs, joint or bone pain, weakness
- Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain
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The following Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- High lactic acid level—muscle pain or cramps, stomach pain, trouble breathing, general discomfort and fatigue
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, or sore throat
- Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide)
Pros
- Pill taken once a day
- Treats and prevents HIV
- Fewer kidney and bone side effects than Truvada
Cons
- Not approved for PrEP in people at risk from vaginal sex
- Common side effects are diarrhea and nausea
- Requires regular lab tests
Pharmacist tips for Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide)
- Take Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) every day to help prevent or treat HIV the best it can. Missing doses can make it easier for HIV to change and stop the medication from working.
- You can take Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) with or without food.
- Get your routine blood tests done on time while taking Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide). These tests help your care team make sure the medication is working and not causing side effects.
- Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) can interact with many medications. Tell your care team about everything you're taking — prescription, over-the-counter products, and supplements — before starting Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide).
- Taking Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) can sometimes affect your kidneys. It’s a good idea to avoid other medications that can cause kidney damage while you’re taking this medication.
- If you're pregnant and taking Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide), know there’s a pregnancy registry that tracks outcomes. Your care team can help you report this information to help others.
- If you have HIV and are breastfeeding, Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) might increase risks for your baby. This includes passing HIV, drug resistance, or side effects. Talk to your prescriber about whether breastfeeding is safe.
More tips for HIV PrEP:
- If you think you were exposed to HIV or have symptoms like fever, muscle pain, tiredness, or rash, tell your care team right away. Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) isn't a full treatment for HIV and shouldn’t be used alone if you’ve already been infected.
- Taking Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) for HIV PrEP should be part of a full prevention plan. This includes taking your medication daily and practicing safer sex, like using condoms, to help lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Make sure to get tested for HIV before starting PrEP and then at least every 3 months while taking it. If you get HIV while on Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide), it can make the virus harder to treat, so routine testing is important.
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Common questions about Descovy
Yes, Descovy can be used as PrEP, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention). In fact, it's one of the preferred PrEP options for people at risk of getting HIV through sex. But it's not recommended for females at risk through vaginal sex or people who share needles because it’s unclear how well it works in those situations. If you're thinking about taking PrEP, talk to a healthcare professional to find out which option is best for you.
If you're taking Descovy for PrEP, you need to take it every day for at least 7 days to get full protection against HIV according to the CDC. Taking it for just 3 days might not give you enough protection. Talk to your prescriber if you've been exposed to HIV.
Descovy is made up of two medications, and it takes about 2 days for both to fully leave your body. This estimate is based on the half-lives of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, which measure how long it takes for half of the medication to clear your system. But this timing can vary depending on things like your kidney health, age, or other health conditions.
In studies, people taking Descovy alone for PrEP didn't report weight gain as a side effect. But you might gain weight if you're taking it with other HIV medications to treat HIV. For example, research shows that people who took tenofovir alafenamide (one of the medications in Descovy) with an integrase inhibitor like Tivicay (dolutegravir) were more likely to gain weight compared to other HIV regimens. Keep in mind, this combination is one of the preferred treatments for people starting HIV therapy for the first time.
How long Descovy side effects last depends on the type of side effect and can vary from person to person. Common side effects like diarrhea and nausea often go away on their own. Others, like changes in kidney or liver health, might last longer and could continue even after stopping the medication. Talk to your prescriber about what to expect and how to manage any side effects.
Descovy starts working quickly, but how long it takes depends on why you’re taking it. For PrEP (HIV prevention), you need to take it daily for at least 7 days to reach full protection. If you’re taking it as part of HIV treatment (along with other HIV medications), it begins working right away to lower the amount of virus in your body, and many people see results within half a year.
Descovy for PrEP is approved to help prevent HIV in cisgender men, transgender women, and teens assigned male at birth who weigh at least 77 lbs. But the medication isn't for people at risk of HIV through vaginal sex, such as cisgender women, because it hasn’t been studied enough in that group. Always talk to a healthcare professional to find the best choice for you.
Descovy and Truvada are both daily pills used for PrEP (HIV prevention) and HIV treatment, but they have different forms of tenofovir. Descovy contains tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), which might be easier on the bones and kidneys, compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in Truvada. But Truvada is approved for a broader group of people, including adults and teens at risk of HIV through vaginal or anal sex, while Descovy is only approved for cisgender men, transgender women, and teens assigned male at birth, and not for people at risk through vaginal sex. Ask your prescriber if you have questions comparing the two medications.
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Risks and warnings for Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide)
Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Worsening of hepatitis B infection
- Risk factors: Have hepatitis B and HIV | Stopping Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) | Severe liver problems
Before you start Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide), your prescriber will test you for hepatitis B virus (HBV). If you already have hepatitis B, stopping Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) could suddenly make your liver condition worse (called an HBV flare-up). Don't stop taking the medication without talking with your prescriber first. Make sure to get your refills on time so you don't miss any doses. If you do need to stop taking the medication, your prescriber might continue to check your liver with blood tests for several months to watch for signs of an HBV flare-up.
Take extra steps to prevent HIV when used for PrEP
Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) might not always fully prevent HIV infection, so it’s important to use other ways to protect yourself too. This includes practicing safer sex (like using condoms), knowing your partner’s HIV status, and getting tested at least every 3 months for HIV and other STIs. Taking Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) on time every day helps lower your chance of getting HIV.
Before starting Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide), your prescriber might ask you about any recent situations where you could have been exposed to HIV — like unprotected sex or a recent STI. You'll also need to take an HIV test. Let your prescriber know if you have symptoms of HIV, such as fever, feeling tired, muscle pain, and skin rash, either before or during treatment.
Overactive immune system
Taking Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) can cause changes to your immune system known as immune reconstitution syndrome. This can happen when your immune system becomes more active after starting treatment and begins to fight infections it was too weak to handle before. You might notice signs of infections like tuberculosis (TB) or cytomegalovirus (CMV). In rare cases, your immune system might become so strong that it starts attacking healthy parts of your body, also known as an autoimmune response. These symptoms can show up even months after starting treatment. Always let your care team know if you notice new or unusual symptoms while taking your HIV medication.
Kidney problems
- Risk factors: History of kidney problems | Taking other medications known to harm kidneys
Some people who take Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) have had kidney problems. To help protect your kidneys, try to avoid other medications that can also harm the kidneys, like high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Before you start Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide), and during treatment, your prescriber will check your kidney health with blood tests and urine tests. Let your prescriber know right away if you experience bone or muscle pain, pain in your arms or legs, and general weakness that doesn't go away. These might be signs of kidney problems.
Liver problems and lactic acidosis
In rare cases, Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) can cause a serious condition called lactic acidosis, which is when too much acid builds up in your blood. It can also cause severe liver problems which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Make sure to get blood tests done while you take Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) so your prescriber can check for these harmful side effects and make sure the medication is still safe to take. Tell your care team right away if you feel very weak or tired, have trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or notice your skin or eyes turning yellow.
Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200mg/25mg | 30 tablets | $2,152.64 | $71.75 |
| 120mg/15mg | 30 tablets | $2,120.46 | $70.68 |
Typical dosage for Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide)
HIV treatment
- Adults and children who weigh at least 77 lbs: The typical dose is one tablet (200 mg emtricitabine / 25 mg tenofovir alafenamide) by mouth once a day.
- *Children who weigh less than 77 lbs
- Weight 55 lbs to less than 77 lbs: The typical dose is one tablet (200 mg emtricitabine / 25 mg tenofovir alafenamide) by mouth once a day.
- Weight 31 lbs to less than 55 lbs: The typical dose is one tablet (120 mg emtricitabine / 5 mg tenofovir alafenamide) by mouth once a day.
Prevention of HIV (PrEP)
- Adults and teens who weigh at least 77 lbs: The typical dose is one tablet (200 mg emtricitabine / 25 mg tenofovir alafenamide) by mouth once a day.
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How much does Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) cost?
$2,120.46
Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) will not be safe for you to take.
- Have a positive or unknown HIV status (for PrEP only)
What are alternatives to Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide)?
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