Compare Truvada vs. Viread
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Works with other medications to treat HIV infection, or works alone to prevent HIV infection.
Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir) is a versatile, first-choice HIV medication that is used in combination with other HIV medications to treat and prevent HIV infections.
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4.8/ 5 average rating with 16 reviewsforTruvada
Works with other medicines to treat HIV infection. Also treats Hepatitis B Virus.
Viread (tenofovir) is a first-line choice to be used in combination with other medications to treat HIV. Viread (tenofovir) is also a first-line choice in treating HBV.
Upsides
- Contains two first-choice medications which can be used in combination with other drugs to treat HIV infection.
- Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir) is also a first-choice option to be used for preventing HIV.
- Take only once daily, with or without food.
- Can be used with other medications to prevent HIV infection after an exposure.
- Taken only once daily, with or without food.
- There are newer formulations of Viread (tenofovir) available that are safer on your kidneys.
- If tablets are hard for you to swallow, Viread (tenofovir) is available in a powder that's mixed with soft foods.
Downsides
- If you're taking Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir) to stop you from getting HIV, you should continue having safe sex since it won't protect you from other sexually transmitted infections.
- If you're taking Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir) to stop you from getting HIV, you have to get blood tests every 3 months to check for overall health and to make sure you don't have HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
- People with poorly functioning kidneys shouldn't take Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir).
- Can weaken your bones.
- If you have HIV as well as Hepatitis B and stop taking Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir) suddenly, your hepatitis may get worse.
- Viread (tenofovir) can't be used on its own to treat HIV infection.
- Not recommended for patients with kidney damage.
- Can weaken your bones.
- Might worsen hepatitis B infections if you suddenly stop taking it.
Used for
- HIV treatment
- HIV prevention
- Hepatitis B treatment
- HIV infection
- Hepatitis B
- HIV prevention
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
- Powder
Price
Lowest price
$1748.72
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$49.28
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Reviews
16 reviews so far
100%
saidit'sworth it
94%
saiditworked well
0%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir)?
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Side effects
12possible side effects
- Diarrhea9%
- Nausea9%
- Fatigue9%
- Depression9%
- Stuffy or runny nose8%
- Flu or bronchitis8%
- Dizziness8%
- Rash event7%
- Headache6%
- Common cold5%
- Insomnia5%
- Vomiting2%
Risks and risk factors
- Lactic acidosis | Enlarged, fatty liver
- Liver disease
- Women
- Obesity
- Worsening hepatitis B infection
- Hepatitis B Virus infection
- Kidney damage
- History of kidney damage
- Concurrent use of other drugs known to harm kidneys
- Bone loss/osteoporosis
- History of bone fractures
- Osteoporosis
- Immune reconstitution syndrome
- HIV
- Exposure to other infections
- Start of a new HIV medication
- Change in HIV therapy
- Drug resistance while using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Undiscovered HIV infection while on PrEP
- Lactic acidosis | Enlarged, fatty liver
- Liver disease
- Women
- Obesity
- Cannot be used to treat Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis B Virus infection
- Mood and behavior changes
- History of mental illness
- Decreased bone mineral density
- History of bone fractures
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney damage
- History of kidney damage
- Concurrent use of other drugs known to harm kidneys
- Hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions
- Prior severe allergic reaction to Viread (tenofovir) or any of its individual drug components.