Tenofovir

Pronunciation: ten-OF-oh-vir
Generic Name: Tenofovir
Brand Name: Viread

Severe and sometimes fatal lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid in the blood) and liver problems have occurred with this type of medicine. The risk may be greater in women, patients who are very overweight, or patients who have been taking nucleoside medicines (eg, emtricitabine, tenofovir) for a long time.

Tell your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of lactic acidosis (eg, unusual weakness or tiredness; unusual muscle pain; fast or difficult breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feeling cold, especially in the arms and legs; dizziness or lightheadedness; fast or irregular heartbeat). Tell your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of liver problems (eg, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, persistent loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain).

Some patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who took Tenofovir had severe worsening of HBV infection after they stopped taking it. Patients who have HBV infection need close medical follow-up to check for worsening liver problems for at least several months after they stop Tenofovir. Keep all doctor and lab appointments. Do not stop taking Tenofovir without checking with your doctor.

Tenofovir is used for:

Treating HIV infection in combination with other medicines. It is also used to treat chronic hepatitis B infection. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Tenofovir is an antiviral reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It works to treat HIV infection by reducing the amount of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) in the body by blocking the ability of the virus to multiply. It works to treat HBV infection by reducing the amount of HBV in the body by blocking the ability of the virus to multiply and infect new liver cells. Tenofovir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Do NOT use Tenofovir if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Tenofovir


• you have severe liver problems (eg, an enlarged liver) or lactic acidosis


• you take adefovir or other medicines that contain tenofovir


• you take a medicine that may harm your kidneys (eg, an aminoglycoside antibiotic [eg, gentamicin], amphotericin B, cyclosporine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID] [eg, ibuprofen], tacrolimus, vancomycin). Ask your doctor if you are not sure if any of your medicines might harm your kidneys

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Tenofovir:

Some medical conditions may interact with Tenofovir. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have a history of bone problems or kidney problems (including dialysis treatment), or if you are overweight


• if you have abnormal liver function tests or liver problems, including HBV infection


• if you have HIV infection

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Tenofovir. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Medicines that may harm the kidney (eg, aminoglycoside antibiotics [eg, gentamicin], amphotericin B, cyclosporine, NSAIDs [eg, ibuprofen], tacrolimus, vancomycin) because they may increase the risk of Tenofovir's side effects. Ask your doctor if you are not sure if any of your medicines might harm your kidneys


• Certain antiviral medicines (eg, acyclovir, cidofovir, ganciclovir) because they may increase the risk of Tenofovir's side effects


• Adefovir, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, atazanavir), lopinavir/ritonavir, or medicines that contain tenofovir because they may increase the risk of Tenofovir's side effects


• Didanosine because the risk of its side effects may be increased by Tenofovir

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Tenofovir may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Tenofovir:

Use Tenofovir as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Tenofovir. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.


• Take Tenofovir by mouth with or without food.


• Continue to take Tenofovir even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.


• Taking Tenofovir at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.


• Do not suddenly stop taking Tenofovir without checking with your doctor. This may cause the virus to become less sensitive to this or other medicines. Some conditions (eg, hepatitis B) could become worse if you suddenly stop taking Tenofovir.


• If you miss a dose of Tenofovir, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Tenofovir.

Important safety information:

• Tenofovir may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Tenofovir with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• If you have HIV infection, you should be tested for HBV infection before you start to take Tenofovir. If you have HBV infection, you should be tested for HIV infection before you start to take Tenofovir.


• Keep a list of all the medicines that you take. Make a new list each time medicines are added or stopped. Find out about medicines that should not be taken while you are using Tenofovir. Be sure that each of your health care providers know all the medicines that you are taking.


• When your medicine supply is low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. Do not stop taking Tenofovir, even for a short period of time. If you do, the virus may grow resistant to the medicine and become harder to treat.


• Tenofovir is not a cure for HIV infection. Patients may still get illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.


• Tenofovir does not stop the spread of HIV or HBV to others through blood or sexual contact. Use barrier methods of birth control (eg, condoms) if you have HIV infection. Do not share needles, injection supplies, or items like toothbrushes or razors.


• If you have HBV infection, you will need close medical follow-up for several months after stopping treatment with Tenofovir. Follow-up includes medical exams and blood tests to check for HBV infection that could be getting worse.


• Tenofovir may improve immune system function. This may reveal hidden infections in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of infection (eg, fever, sore throat, weakness, cough, shortness of breath) after you start Tenofovir.


• Check with your doctor to see if you should take a calcium and vitamin D supplement while you are taking Tenofovir.


• Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Tenofovir. The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.


• Lab tests, including liver and kidney function and bone mineral density, may be performed while you use Tenofovir. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use Tenofovir with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Tenofovir while you are pregnant. It is not known if Tenofovir is found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Tenofovir to the baby. Do not breast-feed while taking Tenofovir.

Possible side effects of Tenofovir:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal skin sensations; back pain; diarrhea; dizziness; gas; headache; indigestion; loss of appetite; nausea; sleeplessness; sweating; vomiting; weakness; weight loss.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); anxiety; bone pain; chest pain; fever, chills, or sore throat; mental or mood changes (eg, depression); numbness, burning, pain, or tingling in the hands or feet; pneumonia; severe or persistent nausea or vomiting; shortness of breath; stomach pain; symptoms of kidney problems (eg, increased or decreased urination, increased thirst); symptoms of lactic acidosis (eg, unusual weakness or tiredness; unusual muscle pain; fast or difficult breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feeling cold, especially in the arms and legs; dizziness or lightheadedness; fast or irregular heartbeat); symptoms of liver problems (eg, yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine; pale stools; persistent loss of appetite).

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Tenofovir side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of Tenofovir:

Store Tenofovir at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not use Tenofovir if the seal over the bottle opening is broken or missing. Keep Tenofovir in its original container and keep the container tightly closed. Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. If you throw any medicines away, make sure that children or pets cannot find them. Keep Tenofovir out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Tenofovir, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Tenofovir is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Tenofovir. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Tenofovir resources

• Tenofovir Side Effects (in more detail)
• Tenofovir Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Tenofovir Drug Interactions
• Tenofovir Support Group
• 2 Reviews for Tenofovir - Add your own review/rating

• tenofovir Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Viread Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Viread Consumer Overview

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