Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
This medicine does not decrease the risk of transmitting HIV infection to others through sexual contact or by contamination through blood. HIV may be acquired from or spread to others through infected body fluids, including blood, vaginal fluid, or semen. If you are infected, it is best to avoid any sexual activity involving an exchange of body fluids with other people. If you do have sex, always wear (or have your partner wear) a condom (“rubber”). Only use condoms made of latex or polyurethane and use them every time you have contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. Also, do not share needles or equipment with anyone or use dirty needles. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
This medicine should not be used together with dexamethasone (Decadron®), certain seizure medicines (eg, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, Dilantin®, Tegretol®, Trileptal®), medicines for tuberculosis (eg, rifampin, rifapentine, Priftin®, Rifadin®, Rimactane®), certain stomach medicines (eg, dexlansoprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, Aciphex®, Dexilant®, Nexium®, Prevacid®, Prilosec®), or St. John's wort.
The medicines in this combination tablet are also available as Atripla®, Edurant®, Emtriva®, Stribild®, Truvada®, and Viread®. Do not take the emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir alafenamide combination with any of these medicines.
This medicine may cause a rare, but serious, unwanted effect called lactic acidosis (too much acid in the blood). Call your doctor right away if you have abdominal or stomach discomfort, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fast, shallow breathing, general feeling of discomfort, muscle pain or cramping, nausea, sleepiness, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
This medicine may cause rare, but serious, liver problems. This is more common in patients with a history of hepatitis B or C infection or those who already have liver disease. Check with your doctor right away if you have clay-colored stools, dark urine, decreased appetite, fever, headache, itching, nausea and vomiting, skin rash, stomach pain or tenderness, swelling of the feet or lower legs, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin.
This medicine may cause serious types of allergic reactions, including skin reactions and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome). Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, large, hive-like swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills with this medicine.
Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm problem such as QT prolongation.
Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel depressed or have thoughts about hurting yourself. Report any unusual thoughts or behavior that troubles you, especially if they are new or get worse quickly.
Your immune system may get stronger when you start using HIV medicines. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in your health. Sometimes the immune system will start to fight infections that were hidden in your body, such as pneumonia, herpes, or tuberculosis. Autoimmune disorders such as Graves disease, polymyositis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome may also occur.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2024
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