Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is prescribed to treat and help prevent HIV-1. This drug can interact with other medications. For example, Truvada can interact with certain hepatitis C medications, such as Harvoni.
Truvada has two uses, as follows:
- Treatment: Truvada is taken in combination with other medications to treat HIV-1 in adults and children ages 12 years and older.
- Prevention: Truvada is taken on its own to help prevent HIV-1 in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms (kg). (For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].) For this use, you’ll need to have a negative HIV-1 test before starting treatment.
Truvada has two active ingredients: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The drug comes as oral tablets.
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Truvada’s possible interactions. For more information about Truvada, including details about its uses, see this article.
Before you start taking Truvada, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Truvada interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Truvada?” section.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Truvada. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Truvada. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| certain nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) | • didanosine | can increase the risk of side effects from didanosine |
| certain antiviral medications | • acyclovir (Zovirax) • valacyclovir (Valtrex) • valganciclovir (Valcyte) | can increase the risk of side effects from certain antiviral medications and Truvada |
| nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) | • naproxen (Naprosyn and others) • ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve) | can increase the risk of side effects from NSAIDs and Truvada |
| aminoglycosides | • gentamicin • amikacin | can increase the risk of side effects from aminoglycosides and Truvada |
| certain hepatitis C antiviral medications | • ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni) • sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa) | can increase the risk of side effects from Truvada |
| certain protease inhibitors | • lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) • darunavir/ritonavir | can increase the risk of side effects from Truvada |
| atazanavir (Reyataz) | — | can decrease the effectiveness of atazanavir |
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Truvada. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Truvada for you. These are known as contraindications.
Truvada has several contraindications, as described below.
Contraindications for people taking the drug to help prevent HIV-1
- If you already have HIV-1 infection: Truvada on its own is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medications with Truvada for treatment.
- If you don’t know your HIV-1 infection status: You may be HIV-1 positive already. Truvada on its own is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you’re HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medications with Truvada for treatment.
Remember, doctors prescribe Truvada to help reduce your risk of contracting HIV-1.
Contraindications for people taking the drug to treat or help prevent HIV-1
- If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Truvada or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Truvada for you. (Truvada has two active ingredients: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. It also has inactive ingredients, which are noted in the prescribing information.) This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Before you start taking Truvada, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Truvada is safe for you to take.
Truvada is not known to interact with alcohol. But Truvada and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as:
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- dizziness
If you drink alcohol during your Truvada treatment, you may be more likely to experience these side effects.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol during your Truvada treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Truvada.
Interaction with certain hepatitis C antiviral medications
Truvada can interact with certain hepatitis C antiviral medications, which are used to treat hepatitis C.
Examples of these hepatitis C antiviral medications include:
What could happen
Taking Truvada with certain hepatitis C antiviral medications can raise your risk of side effects from Truvada. Examples of some side effects from Truvada are diarrhea and nausea.
What you can do
Talk with your doctor about any hepatitis C antiviral medications you take. They can help you determine whether Truvada is the right medication for you.
If you take Truvada with hepatitis C antiviral medications, watch for side effects. If you develop side effects, tell your doctor right away if they become bothersome or worsen. Your doctor may adjust your Truvada dosage or recommend ways to manage these side effects. For additional information about Truvada’s side effects, see this article.
If you have questions about taking Truvada with hepatitis C antiviral medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with certain protease inhibitors
Truvada can interact with certain protease inhibitors, which are used to treat HIV-1. Your doctor may recommend taking protease inhibitors with Truvada to manage your condition better.
Examples of these protease inhibitor medications are:
- lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra)
- darunavir/ritonavir
What could happen
Taking Truvada with certain protease inhibitor medications can raise your risk of side effects from Truvada. Examples of some side effects from Truvada are diarrhea and nausea.
What you can do
Talk with your doctor about any protease inhibitor medications you take. They can help you determine whether Truvada is the right medication for you.
If you take Truvada with protease inhibitor medications, watch for side effects. If you develop side effects, tell your doctor right away if they become bothersome or worsen. Your doctor may adjust your Truvada dosage or recommend ways to manage these side effects. For additional information about Truvada’s side effects, see this article.
If you have questions about taking Truvada with protease inhibitor medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with atazanavir (Reyataz)
Truvada can interact with atazanavir (Reyataz), which is used to treat HIV-1. Your doctor may recommend taking atazanavir with Truvada to manage your condition better.
What could happen
Taking Truvada with atazanavir may cause atazanavir not to work as well in treating HIV-1. This means that atazanavir may not stop the virus in your body from growing and spreading.
What you can do
If Truvada is taken with atazanavir, ritonavir (Norvir) should also be prescribed for HIV-1 treatment. Taking ritonavir will allow atazanavir to remain effective in treating your HIV-1.
If you have questions about taking Truvada with atazanavir and ritonavir, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Truvada may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that this information does not include all other interactions that are possible with Truvada.
Does Truvada interact with supplements?
Before you start taking Truvada, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Truvada interactions with herbs
Truvada currently has no reports of interacting with herbs. But it’s possible that echinacea may interact with Truvada. Some people take echinacea to help support their immune system.
Taking echinacea may decrease levels of Truvada in your body. This may make Truvada less effective in treating and helping prevent HIV-1. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you do not take echinacea during your Truvada treatment.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Truvada.
Truvada interaction with vitamins and minerals
Truvada currently has no reports of interacting with vitamins and minerals. But it’s possible that minerals, such as magnesium, may interact with Truvada. Some people take magnesium supplements to help reduce the frequency of migraine. Certain multivitamin products may also contain magnesium.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Truvada. Your doctor may recommend that you do not take magnesium supplements during your Truvada treatment. If you do take them, your doctor may need to monitor you for certain changes in serum creatinine and phosphorus.
For additional information about Truvada and some of its side effects, see this article.
Does Truvada interact with food?
Truvada currently has no reports of interacting with food. But it’s possible that grapefruit products may interact with Truvada. Consuming grapefruit products may increase levels of Truvada in your body. In turn, this may lead to a raised risk of side effects from Truvada. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you do not consume grapefruit products during your Truvada treatment.
For additional information about Truvada side effects, see this article.
If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Truvada, talk with your doctor.
Does Truvada interact with vaccines?
Truvada currently has no reports of interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Truvada treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Truvada interact with lab tests?
Truvada currently has no reports of interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Truvada, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Truvada interact with cannabis or CBD?Truvada currently has no reports of interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But CBD may interact with Truvada by increasing levels of Truvada in your body. This may lead to a raised risk of side effects from Truvada.
For additional information about Truvada side effects, see this article.
Before you start treatment with Truvada, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis, CBD, or cannabinoid products. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Truvada. Before taking Truvada, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Truvada is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Truvada include:
Liver problems: Truvada may cause severe liver problems. Talk with your doctor about any liver problems you may have, including hepatitis B infection, before starting Truvada. They can help you determine whether Truvada is the right drug for you.
Kidney problems: Truvada may cause new or worsened kidney problems. Talk with your doctor about any kidney problems you may have before starting Truvada. Be sure to let them know if you receive dialysis treatment. Your doctor will check your kidney function before and during treatment. If you have new or worsened kidney problems, they may adjust your Truvada dosage or recommend another treatment option.
Bone problems: Truvada may cause bone problems, including bone loss. Talk with your doctor about any bone problems you may have, including osteoporosis, before starting Truvada. They can help you determine whether Truvada is the right drug for you.
Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Truvada is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking Truvada.
If you do take Truvada while pregnant, consider enrolling in The Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. This registry collects details about pregnancy issues reported with Truvada. To learn more, visit the website, call 800-258-4263, or talk with your doctor.
Breastfeeding: The drug passes into breast milk, but it isn’t known whether the drug may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Breastfeeding is not recommended if you have HIV-1 or think you have contracted HIV-1. This is because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to a child through breast milk. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Truvada or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Truvada. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better for you.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Truvada. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- other medications you take, whether they’re prescription or over-the-counter products
- any vitamins, supplements, and herbs you take (they can also help you fill out a medication list)
- what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Truvada treatment
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis, CBD, or cannabinoid products
It’s also important to understand Truvada’s
If you have difficulty reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Truvada exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.