Truvada Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is an antiretroviral (ARV) medication that manages HIV in adults and kids. You can take it by itself to prevent HIV or alongside other ARV medications to treat HIV.

You might be familiar with a similar medication that is also FDA approved for HIV prevention and treatment: Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide). While these two oral medications are comparable, they have their differences.

One notable difference between Truvada and Descovy is their standard dosages. Here, we’ll discuss recommended Truvada dosages for adults and kids. The best dose for you will be based on factors such as your kidney health and how much you weigh.

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What’s the typical Truvada dosage for adults?

Truvada is dispensed in its original container as an oral tablet. Each tablet contains two active ingredients, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Truvada is typically taken once daily with or without food.

Before you get started with your doses, though, you’ll need to receive a few tests. These will make sure Truvada is safe for you.

If you’ll be taking Truvada for HIV prevention — also known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) — then you’ll need a negative HIV test before you begin treatment. It’s also recommended to get tested for HIV at least every 3 months while taking Truvada for PrEP. Your primary care provider should also check your labs for hepatitis B. They’ll look at your kidney function, too.

HIV PrEP

The typical Truvada dosage for adults is a single daily tablet consisting of 200 mg of emtricitabine and 300 mg of TDF. Truvada for PrEP is most effective in reducing the risk of HIV when taken daily, as prescribed. However, you should still pair Truvada with other HIV prevention strategies, such as using condoms and not sharing needles.

HIV treatment

Truvada doses for HIV treatment are typically the same as Truvada doses for PrEP. However, when taking Truvada for HIV treatment, it has to be taken alongside another HIV medication. You shouldn’t ever take Truvada by itself if you’re taking it to treat HIV.

The active ingredients in Truvada are both from the same medication class. But it's important to have an HIV treatment regimen that consists of at least two different medication classes. These medications fight HIV from different angles. Some common examples of medications that can be taken with Truvada to have a complete treatment regimen are Tivicay (dolutegravir), Isentress (raltegravir), and Sustiva (efavirenz).

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• PrEP more conveniently: Skip the daily doses with a newer option for PrEP. Consider trying an injection that can be administered once every 2 months.

• What to expect: Here’s what to know about six common Truvada side effects — from stomach pain to weight loss — and how you can manage them.

• More money in your pocket: Medications for HIV PrEP can be expensive. Check out six ways to save on PrEP.

What’s the typical Truvada dosage for children?

Children can also take Truvada for PrEP or HIV treatment. Truvada dosages for children vary based on their body weight and if they’re taking Truvada for HIV prevention or treatment. But regardless of use, they can take each dose with or without food.

HIV PrEP

Children who weigh at least 35 kg (77 lbs) can take the same Truvada dose for PrEP as adults: 1 tablet once daily. Truvada isn’t approved for PrEP in children who weigh less than 35 kg.

HIV treatment

When used for HIV treatment, Truvada can be given to children who weigh at least 17 kg (37 lbs). But they’ll likely take a lower-strength tablet. The specific dose will depend on their body weight.

There are three potential Truvada doses for children who weigh between 17 kg and 35 kg:

• 17-21 kg: One 100 mg / 150 mg tablet once daily

• 22-27 kg: One 133 mg / 200 mg tablet once daily

• 28-35 kg: One 167 mg / 250 mg tablet once daily

Children who weigh more than 35 kg will typically take the same Truvada dose as adults for HIV treatment. But because the recommended dose can change depending on your child’s body weight, it’s important to track their weight regularly. Their dose might need to be adjusted up or down as they gain or lose weight.

Good to know: If you have a young child that can’t swallow pills yet (or weighs less than 17 kg), they may need to receive a different medication.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

Truvada primarily exits your body through your kidneys. If you have kidney problems, you may need to take Truvada less often.

Truvada dosage for people with kidney problems

Truvada relies on the kidneys to break it down and clear it out of your system. So, like a clogged drain, medication levels can build up in your body if your kidneys aren’t working well. This can lead to added medication side effects.

As such, if your kidney function is low, you may be told to take Truvada less often to give your kidneys more time to remove it. You may need to take it every other day rather than every day. However, if you have severe kidney impairment, you may be told to skip Truvada altogether and take something else.

What happens if you miss a dose of Truvada?

Truvada works best when taken consistently as prescribed. But if you do forget to take your usual dose of Truvada, don’t panic — just take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and continue your normal dosing schedule. Don’t take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose.

Missing one dose shouldn’t have a big effect on HIV treatment or prevention. But be sure to talk with your primary care provider if you’re missing doses often. Truvada is most effective when you’re taking it very consistently. If you have trouble remembering doses, know that long-acting injections are available too.

What should you do if you take too much Truvada?

Accidentally taking an extra Truvada tablet makes it somewhat more likely to experience side effects from the medication. These most often include an upset stomach and headaches that tend to be mild and temporary.

If you take very high doses of Truvada, more serious side effects can occur. Contact your prescriber right away if you or someone you know has taken much more than the recommended dose. You can also contact your Poison Control online or at 1-800-222-1222.

More urgent treatment is better in certain cases. Call 911 or go to the closest ER if you experience side effects that feel severe or life-threatening, such as a racing heart or trouble breathing.

How to save on Truvada

There are ways to save on Truvada, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 95% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Truvada’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $28.46 with a free GoodRx discount.

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

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

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Taylor K. Clarke, PharmD

Taylor K. Clarke, PharmD, has 8 years of pharmacy experience working in community practice, hospital pharmacy, and ambulatory care pharmacy. Taylor's commitment to patient education motivated her to pursue health communications as a 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:

Ferras Bashqoy, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPPS

Ferras Bashqoy, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPPS, is a clinical pharmacotherapy specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York City. His favorite part of the job is working with preterm newborns because they are strong and mighty despite their size.

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