Compare Epivir vs. Emtriva
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Works with other medicines to treat HIV infection or chronic hepatitis B.
Epivir (lamivudine) is a first-choice and commonly used medicine to take together with other HIV medications to treat HIV. It is also an alternative option for treating chronic hepatitis B.
Works with other medicines to treat HIV infection.
Emtriva (emtricitabine) is a first-line and commonly used drug that is taken in combination with other HIV medications to treat or prevent HIV.
Upsides
- Epivir (lamivudine) can be used with many other HIV options to create a combination that's right for you.
- Has very minimal interactions with other medications.
- Available in tablet and liquid form.
- Can be take once or twice a day. Also available in different combination pills so you don't have to take as many pills per day.
- Available in cheaper generic form.
- Emtriva (emtricitabine) is a first-line drug option used in combination with other HIV medications to treat HIV.
- Taken with or without food once a day.
- Emtriva (emtricitabine) is available in many combination tablets if you are looking to lower the number of pills you need to take daily for HIV treatment.
- Emtriva (emtricitabine) is available as a capsule as well as liquid form.
Downsides
- Cannot take Epivir (lamivudine) by itself to treat HIV.
- Might need to change dosage based on how well your kidneys function.
- It is recommended to use other options to treat chronic hepatitis B before choosing Epivir (lamivudine) due to drug resistance.
- You'll have to be tested for both HIV and hepatitis B, since the dose to treat hepatitis B is lower than the dose for HIV. If you have the lower dose, HIV can be harder to treat if you also have hepatitis B.
- The liquid version of Epivir (lamivudine) has sugar, so if you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels might change.
- Patients with kidney damage will need to be closely monitored by their doctors in order to provide an appropriate dose.
- Cannot be used by itself to treat or prevent HIV infection.
Used for
- HIV infection
- Hepatitis B
- HIV prevention, non-occupational (PEP)
- HIV prevention, mother-to-child
- HIV infection
- HIV prevention
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Liquid
- Pill
- Liquid
Price
Lowest price
$393.32
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$537.62
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Reviews
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Side effects
3possible side effects
- Ear, nose, and throat infections25%
- Diarrhea14%
- Sore throat13%
18possible side effects
- Diarrhea23%
- Nausea18%
- Nasal stuffiness/runniness (Rhinitis)18%
- Rash17%
- Physical weakness and/or lack of energy16%
- Increased cough14%
- Headache13%
- Vomiting9%
- Abdominal pain8%
- Insomnia7%
- Depressive disorders6%
- "Pins and needles" feeling (paresthesia)5%
- Dyspepsia4%
- Muscle pain4%
- Dizziness4%
- Nerve weakness/numbness/pain4%
- Joint pain3%
- Abnormal dreams2%
Risks and risk factors
- Lactic acidosis | Enlarged, fatty liver
- Liver disease
- Women
- Obesity
- Acute Exacerbation of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis B virus
- Different doses available
- HIV counseling/testing
- Immune reconstitution syndrome
- HIV
- Exposure to other infections
- Start of a new HIV medication
- Change in HIV therapy
- Pancreatitis
- Lactic acidosis | Enlarged, fatty liver
- Liver disease
- Women
- Obesity
- Worsening hepatitis B infection
- Hepatitis B Virus infection
- Immune reconstitution syndrome
- HIV
- Exposure to other infections
- Start of a new HIV medication
- Change in HIV therapy
- Similar medications
- HIV treatment
- Kidney Damage
- History of kidney damage