Genvoya Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Genvoya (elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) is a prescription medication that treats HIV in adults and children. Similar to another HIV medication called Stribild (elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), Genvoya is made up of four different medications that work together.

At first glance, Genvoya and Stribild may appear to have the same active ingredients, but there is one notable difference. Genvoya contains a newer form of tenofovir — tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). TAF has fewer side effects compared to the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in Stribild. Thus, Genovya and Stribild have different set dosages.

In this guide, we’ll review recommended Genvoya dosages. But keep in mind your healthcare professional (HCP) will give you dosing instructions based on your specific situation.

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What’s the typical Genvoya dosage for adults?

Genvoya combines three classes of HIV medications into one pill. This trio makes it a combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment. It contains:

• One integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI): Elvitegravir

• Two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs): Emtricitabine and TAF

• One pharmacokinetic enhancer (“booster”): Cobicistat

Genvoya is only available in one dose. It comes as a tablet that contains 150 mg of elvitegravir, 150 mg of cobicistat, 200 mg of emtricitabine, and 10 mg of TAF. The typical Genvoya dosage for adults who weigh at least 55 lbs (25 kg) is 1 tablet once daily with food.

Important: Genvoya is only FDA approved to treat people who weigh at least 55 lbs. If you weigh less than that, your HCP will likely recommend an alternative HIV treatment. Many HIV medications are available for you to choose from.

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What’s the typical Genvoya dosage for children?

Genvoya is also approved to treat HIV in children. Same as the adult dosage, the typical Genvoya dosage for children who weigh at least 55 lbs is 1 tablet once daily with food.

There isn’t a strict minimum age requirement for children to take Genvoya. At this time, the Genvoya dosage for children is based on body weight. However, Genvoya was only studied in children ages 6 and older. What’s more, some children may have difficulty swallowing tablets, so you may need to discuss another medication with alternative dosage forms (like oral liquid).

Your HCP will help you decide which HIV treatment is a good fit for your child — especially if they’re younger than 6.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

Some people aren’t able to take Genvoya due to certain medical conditions or drug interactions. Your HCP should consider your medical history and list of current medications to determine if Genvoya is the right treatment for you.

Dosage for people with kidney problems

Genovya is broken down by your kidneys. If you have kidney problems, your body may have trouble metabolizing (breaking down) Genvoya properly. This could lead to added side effects. 

Before starting Genvoya, your HCP will likely run some tests to check your kidney function. If you have mild-to-moderate kidney problems, you can take the standard Genvoya dosage. But if you have severe kidney problems, you shouldn’t take Genvoya at all.

However, there is one exception for severe kidney problems. If you’re receiving routine hemodialysis treatments to clean your blood, you can still take Genvoya. The recommended Genvoya dosage for people receiving hemodialysis is 1 tablet once daily with food after a hemodialysis treatment. You should not take Genvoya on non-dialysis days.

Dosage for people with liver problems

Your liver helps to break down Genvoya in your body too. If you have mild-to-moderate liver problems, you can take the standard dosage of Genvoya. But if you have severe liver problems, Genvoya isn’t a recommended treatment. This can lead to added risks associated with the medication.

Drug interactions

Genvoya can interact with many medications, both prescription and over the counter (OTC). Some of these interactions can make Genvoya less effective. In other cases, Genvoya can raise the risk of side effects of other medications.

Some notable Genvoya interactions include:

• Anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)

• Antifungal medications such as ketoconazole (Nizoral)

• Blood thinners such as apixaban (Eliquis)

• Steroid medications such as methylprednisolone (Medrol)

• Antidepressant medications such as paroxetine (Paxil)

• Heart medications such as amlodipine (Norvasc)

• St. John’s wort, a dietary supplement

Genvoya also shouldn’t be taken alongside other HIV medications. Genvoya contains multiple types of HIV treatments that are included in many other HIV medications. Taking too much of the same type of HIV treatment can cause unwanted side effects, including possible kidney damage.

Be sure to tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all of the medications that you take — including OTC medications and dietary supplements. They may recommend a dose adjustment or help you find a safer alternative.

What happens if you miss a dose of Genvoya?

Genvoya works best when taken on a consistent schedule. If you miss a dose, be sure to take it as soon as possible. But if it’s almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your normal schedule.

Additionally, don’t take an extra dose of Genvoya to make up for the missed one. Taking two doses of Genvoya at once can raise your risk of side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.

If you find yourself missing doses often, speak with your HCP. Missing multiple doses of Genvoya can lead to a difficult problem called drug resistance. This means that Genvoya — and potentially other HIV medications — could stop working for you.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your dose, a medication reminder app may be useful.

What should you do if you take too much Genvoya?

Taking too much Genvoya raises your risk of side effects. 

Genvoya side effects can include:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Headache

• Tiredness

• Itching

• Rash

• Swelling beneath your skin

Taking too much Genvoya can also lead to a more serious side effect called lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis happens when there is too much acid in your blood. This condition can be life-threatening. Symptoms of lactic acidosis can include muscle pain, weakness, and trouble breathing.

If you or a loved one take too much Genvoya, contact your HCP right away or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. You can also contact Poison Control online. Depending on your symptoms, they may recommend that you go to the nearest ER.

How to save on Genvoya

There are ways to save on Genvoya, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between copay savings cards and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for Genvoya using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Genvoya’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sheila McAdoo, PharmD

Sheila McAdoo, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Virginia, New York, and the District of Columbia. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for 12 years and currently works as a community pharmacist.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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