Compare Epivir vs. Vemlidy
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.
Treats hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections.
Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) decreases liver damage from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and has minimal side effects, but doesn't cure the infection.
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.
- Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) is a first-choice medicine to treat hepatitis B.
- Conveniently taken once daily.
- Compared to Truvada and Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) is safer for your kidneys and bones.
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.
- Might not be the best choice for people with severe kidney damage.
- There's not enough evidence to show that Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) can be used safely in children ages 18 or younger.
Used for
- HIV infection
- Hepatitis B
- HIV prevention, non-occupational (PEP)
- HIV prevention, mother-to-child
- Hepatitis B treatment
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Liquid
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$398.14
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$1370.83
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Reviews
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Side effects
3possible side effects
- Ear, nose, and throat infections25%
- Diarrhea14%
- Sore throat13%
6possible side effects
- Headache9%
- Stomach pain7%
- Tiredness6%
- Cough6%
- Nausea5%
- Back pain5%
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
- Worsening of hepatitis B infection
- Stopping Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide)
- Hepatitis B and HIV co-infection
- HIV infection
- Kidney damage
- Poor kidney function
- Taking other medicines that can damage the kidneys
- Buildup of acid in the blood and swollen, fatty liver
- Lowered bone mineral density
- Long-term use of Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide)
- Use of other medications that result in loss of electrolytes or minerals