Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding HIVWhat Is Descovy?What Is Truvada?Understanding TenofovirDosage OverviewUse for PrEPSide EffectsInteractionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding HIV
What Is Descovy?
What Is Truvada?
Understanding Tenofovir
Dosage Overview
Use for PrEP
Side Effects
Interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
Asantiretroviral therapy (ART)treatment options, Descovy and Truvada, contain active ingredients classified as HIV nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).These medications prevent the virus from replicating.
Approximately 1.2 million people in the United States have HIV. However, about 13% of these individuals (156,000 people) do not know they have it.
There is no cure for HIV, but many treatments can help people live long and healthy lives. Descovy and Truvada are two drugs that can increase the quality of life following an HIV diagnosis.
This article will provide an in-depth comparison of Descovy and Truvada, examining their specific active ingredients, respective uses, dosing guidelines, potential side effects, and more.
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Taking ART as prescribed can help individuals reach (and maintain) an undetectable viral load. This means that the level of HIV in the blood is so low that it isn’t seen on a lab test.
If HIV is not treated, it can lead toAIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).People with HIV are more likely to get certain infections or conditions, such as:
ART helps people who already have HIV in the following ways:
Descovy or Truvada can be used in people with HIV (in combination with other medicines) and for PrEP. These medicines are not used as PEP.
Descovy is a type of ART that blocks enzymes the HIV needs to multiply. Descovy contains two active NRTIs: emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Descovy is only a brand-name drug (no generic is available).
Descovy also is not FDA-approved to prevent HIV-1 due to injection drug use.
Finally, Descovy does not prevent or treat othersexually transmitted infections (STIs), such assyphilis,chlamydia, orgonorrhea. It also does not prevent pregnancy.
Like Descovy, Truvada is a type of ART that blocks enzymes that the HIV needs to multiply. Truvada contains two active NRTIs: emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).
Truvada is an orally administered medication available in brand-name and generic forms.
It is FDA-approved for the following:
Like Descovy, Truvada does not protect against other STIs or pregnancy.
Tenofovir in Descovy and Truvada
Descovy and Truvada both contain FTC. However, the other active ingredient in Descovy and Truvada is slightly different.
Descovy contains TAF, while Truvada contains TDF (tenofovir with a slightly different chemical structure). Clinical trials show that both drugs are similarly effective.
Dosing Comparison
The following section describes how each drug is supplied, the required blood work, and dosages.
People with kidney problems should discuss dosing and appropriateness with their healthcare provider before beginning treatment with Descovy or Truvada.
Depending on the extent of kidney problems, a lower dose may be needed, or the drug may not be safe.
Descovy
Descovy tablets are available in the following dosages in milligrams (mg) of FTC to mg of TAF (FTC/TAF), meaning the comparative amount of mg of one active ingredient versus the other:
Your healthcare provider will order lab work to check for:
Descovy may be taken with or without food. The dosages for thetreatmentof HIV-1 infection in milligrams of FTC to TAF are:
The dosage forPrEPin people who weigh at least 77 pounds is 200 mg/25 mg once daily.
Truvada
Truvada tablets are available in the following dosages in milligrams of FTC to milligrams of TDF (FTC/TDF):
Truvada may be taken with or without food. The dosages for thetreatmentof HIV-1 infection in milligrams of FTC to TDF are:
The dosage forPrEPin people who weigh at least 77 pounds: is 200 mg/300 mg once daily.
Guidance on Safe Consumption
Regardless of which medication you take, there are some tips to keep in mind:
These medications do not prevent other STIs, so it is important to practice safer sex withlatex or polyurethane condoms.
To continue to take Descovy or Truvada for PrEP, you must remain HIV-1 negative. Although one of these medications may be prescribed for PrEP, Descovy or Truvada alone is insufficient to treat HIV-1 infection. If you become HIV-1 positive, you will need additional medication.
If you have HIV-1 infection and take only Descovy or Truvada, this is not an appropriate treatment regimen and could make your infection harder to treat over time. Always know your HIV-1 status as well as the status of your partner.
Test for HIV-1 at least every three months or when your healthcare provider recommends. You should also get tested for other sexually transmitted infections.
Other infections like syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia make it easier for you to be infected with HIV-1.
If you have a partner with HIV-1, ask if they are taking HIV-1 medication and if they have an undetectable viral load.
Notify your healthcare provider immediately if you are exposed to HIV-1. Do not miss any doses of your medication because missing doses increase the risk of getting HIV-1 infection.
Side Effects & Safety
Boxed Warning
The warning states:
Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Descovy and Truvada are:
Severe Side Effects
More rare, severe side effects, such askidneyorliverproblems can occur, too, as a result of using Descovy or Truvada.
Before taking Descovy or Truvada, talk to your healthcare provider about what side effects to expect and what to do if you experience them.
Potential for Interaction
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medicines, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and vitamins or supplements.
While taking Descovy or Truvada, do not start any new medications without approval from your healthcare provider.
Drug interactions of both Descovy and Truvada include:
While alcohol does not chemically interact with Descovy or Truvada, consult your healthcare provider if you drink alcohol. It is best to avoid alcohol while taking Descovy or Truvada because:
Summary
HIV is spread through certain body fluids of an individual with HIV. It’s most commonly spread through sharing injection drug needles or other equipment or duringunprotected sex.
Descovy and Truvada are two prescription medications used to treat (in combination with other medicines) or prevent HIV-1 infection.
Truvada contains FTC and TDF. Descovy contains FTC and TAF, which may be safer for kidney and bone health.
However, Descovy is not FDA-approved for preventing HIV-1 from injection drug use or receptive vaginal sex. Neither of these medications treats or prevents other STIs or pregnancy.
If diagnosed with HIV, work closely with your healthcare provider to formulate an ideal, personalized treatment plan possible moving forward.
Frequently Asked QuestionsStore Descovy or Truvada at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F), away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Do not store it in the bathroom.Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Keep the medication out of reach of children and pets.Either medication can be taken with or without food.The prescribing information does not specify an ideal time of day to take Descovy or Truvada. Instead, it’s important to remember that you should take this medicine once daily at a time that you can remember. Do not skip doses.For example, if you go to bed around 11 p.m., you can set a reminder on your phone to take your daily dose every day at 11 p.m.The best time is when you will remember to take your medication consistently daily.
Store Descovy or Truvada at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F), away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Do not store it in the bathroom.Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Keep the medication out of reach of children and pets.
Store Descovy or Truvada at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F), away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Do not store it in the bathroom.
Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Keep the medication out of reach of children and pets.
Either medication can be taken with or without food.
The prescribing information does not specify an ideal time of day to take Descovy or Truvada. Instead, it’s important to remember that you should take this medicine once daily at a time that you can remember. Do not skip doses.For example, if you go to bed around 11 p.m., you can set a reminder on your phone to take your daily dose every day at 11 p.m.The best time is when you will remember to take your medication consistently daily.
The prescribing information does not specify an ideal time of day to take Descovy or Truvada. Instead, it’s important to remember that you should take this medicine once daily at a time that you can remember. Do not skip doses.
For example, if you go to bed around 11 p.m., you can set a reminder on your phone to take your daily dose every day at 11 p.m.
The best time is when you will remember to take your medication consistently daily.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Descovy- emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide tablet.DailyMed,Label: Truvada access- emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet, film coated.MedlinePlus.Emtricitabine and tenofovir.HIV.gov.U.S. statistics.HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?.HIV.gov.Other health issues of special concern for people living with HIV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What Is PrEP?.DailyMed.Label: Apretude- cabotegravir kit.HIV Pharmacy Association.Information for patients switching from Truvada to generic tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine.Mayer KH, Molina JM, Thompson MA, et al.Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide vs emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (DISCOVER): primary results from a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, active-controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial.Lancet. 2020;396(10246):239-254. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31065-5HIVPrep.org. Descovy (TAF and EM) + alcohol.Kumar S, Jin M, Ande A, et al.Alcohol consumption effect on antiretroviral therapy and HIV-1 pathogenesis: role of cytochrome P450 isozymes.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2012;8(11):1363-1375. doi:10.1517/17425255.2012.714366
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Descovy- emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide tablet.DailyMed,Label: Truvada access- emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet, film coated.MedlinePlus.Emtricitabine and tenofovir.HIV.gov.U.S. statistics.HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?.HIV.gov.Other health issues of special concern for people living with HIV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What Is PrEP?.DailyMed.Label: Apretude- cabotegravir kit.HIV Pharmacy Association.Information for patients switching from Truvada to generic tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine.Mayer KH, Molina JM, Thompson MA, et al.Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide vs emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (DISCOVER): primary results from a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, active-controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial.Lancet. 2020;396(10246):239-254. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31065-5HIVPrep.org. Descovy (TAF and EM) + alcohol.Kumar S, Jin M, Ande A, et al.Alcohol consumption effect on antiretroviral therapy and HIV-1 pathogenesis: role of cytochrome P450 isozymes.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2012;8(11):1363-1375. doi:10.1517/17425255.2012.714366
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Label: Descovy- emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide tablet.DailyMed,Label: Truvada access- emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet, film coated.MedlinePlus.Emtricitabine and tenofovir.HIV.gov.U.S. statistics.HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?.HIV.gov.Other health issues of special concern for people living with HIV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What Is PrEP?.DailyMed.Label: Apretude- cabotegravir kit.HIV Pharmacy Association.Information for patients switching from Truvada to generic tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine.Mayer KH, Molina JM, Thompson MA, et al.Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide vs emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (DISCOVER): primary results from a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, active-controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial.Lancet. 2020;396(10246):239-254. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31065-5HIVPrep.org. Descovy (TAF and EM) + alcohol.Kumar S, Jin M, Ande A, et al.Alcohol consumption effect on antiretroviral therapy and HIV-1 pathogenesis: role of cytochrome P450 isozymes.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2012;8(11):1363-1375. doi:10.1517/17425255.2012.714366
DailyMed.Label: Descovy- emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide tablet.
DailyMed,Label: Truvada access- emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet, film coated.
MedlinePlus.Emtricitabine and tenofovir.
HIV.gov.U.S. statistics.
HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?.
HIV.gov.Other health issues of special concern for people living with HIV.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What Is PrEP?.
DailyMed.Label: Apretude- cabotegravir kit.
HIV Pharmacy Association.Information for patients switching from Truvada to generic tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine.
Mayer KH, Molina JM, Thompson MA, et al.Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide vs emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (DISCOVER): primary results from a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, active-controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial.Lancet. 2020;396(10246):239-254. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31065-5
HIVPrep.org. Descovy (TAF and EM) + alcohol.
Kumar S, Jin M, Ande A, et al.Alcohol consumption effect on antiretroviral therapy and HIV-1 pathogenesis: role of cytochrome P450 isozymes.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2012;8(11):1363-1375. doi:10.1517/17425255.2012.714366
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