Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) may be safe to take while pregnant. But it may not be safe to take while breastfeeding. Certain factors, including the risks of not treating your condition during pregnancy, may determine whether you should take the drug during this time.
If you may be or can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Truvada is a safe option for you.
Truvada is approved for the following conditions:
- to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 17 kilograms (kg) (For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb]. So, 17 kg is about 37 lb.)
- as HIV PrEP to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in at-risk adults and adolescents who weigh at least 35 kg
It’s important to note that not treating your condition during pregnancy also may carry certain risks. You and your doctor should discuss the risks and benefits of taking Truvada while pregnant versus not treating your condition during pregnancy.
It isn’t known for certain whether Truvada is safe to take during pregnancy. But information from the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry suggests Truvada doesn’t increase the risk of problems with fetal development. These are commonly called birth defects.
Further, treating HIV during pregnancy may help prevent HIV transmission to the child, as the
Your doctor can provide more information about taking this drug during pregnancy.
If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to understand the effects that Truvada could have on you or the breastfed child.
If you’re taking Truvada to treat HIV, your doctor will probably recommend that you avoid breastfeeding. This is generally recommended for anyone with HIV because HIV can be transmitted to a child through breast milk.
Before breastfeeding your child, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits if you’re taking Truvada for HIV PrEP.
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.