( tru-VAH-dah )
IMPORTANT FACTS
This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEP ( pre-exposure prophylaxis ) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection . This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine .
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection :
• You must be HIV-1 negative . You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection . Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative .
• Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected . Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms , tiredness , fever , joint or muscle aches , headache , sore throat , vomiting , diarrhea , rash , night sweats , and / or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin . Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP .
While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection :
• You must continue using safer sex practices . Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1 .
• You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP .
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP .
• If you think you were exposed to HIV-1 , tell your healthcare provider right away .
• If you do become HIV-1 positive , you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1 . If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA , your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time .
• See the “ How to Further Reduce Your Risk ” section for more information .
TRUVADA may cause serious side effects , including :
• Buildup of lactic acid in your blood ( lactic acidosis ), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death . Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms : weakness or being more tired than usual , unusual muscle pain , being short of breath or fast breathing , nausea , vomiting , stomach-area pain , cold or blue hands and feet , feeling dizzy or lightheaded , and / or fast or abnormal heartbeats .
• Severe liver problems , which in some cases can lead to death . Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms : your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow , dark “ tea-colored ” urine , light-colored stools , loss of appetite for several days or longer , nausea , and / or stomach-area pain .
• Worsening of hepatitis B ( HBV ) infection . If you have HBV and take TRUVADA , your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA . Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider , as they will need to check your health regularly for several months .
You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female , very overweight , or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time .
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP
TRUVADA can cause serious side effects , including :
• Those in the “ Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP " section .
• New or worse kidney problems , including kidney failure .
• Bone problems .
• Changes in body fat .
Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomacharea ( abdomen ) pain , headache , and decreased weight .
These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA . Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP .
Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP .
BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP
Tell your healthcare provider if you :
• Have or have had any kidney , bone , or liver problems , including hepatitis infection .
• Have any other medical conditions .
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant .
• Are breastfeeding ( nursing ) or plan to breastfeed . Do not breastfeed if you become HIV-1 positive because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby .
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take :
• Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines , vitamins , and herbal supplements , and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist .
• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP .
HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP
• Take 1 tablet once a day , every day , not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1 .
• Do not miss any doses . Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection .
• You must practice safer sex by using condoms and you must stay HIV-1 negative .
ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP ( PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS ) TRUVADA is a prescription medicine used with safer sex practices for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults at high risk :
• HIV-1 negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex .
• Male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not .
To help determine your risk , talk openly with your doctor about your sexual health .
Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you :
• Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status .
• Take lamivudine ( Epivir-HBV ) or adefovir ( HEPSERA ).
HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK
• Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners .
• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you .
• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections . Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you .
• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior .
• Have fewer sex partners .
• Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them .
GET MORE INFORMATION
24 OUTINFORM
TRUVADA , the TRUVADA Logo , TRUVADA FOR PREP , GILEAD , the GILEAD Logo , and HEPSERA are trademarks of Gilead Sciences , Inc ., or its related companies . All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners . Version date : April 2016
© 2017 Gilead Sciences , Inc . All rights reserved . TVDC0083 03 / 17
• This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection . Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more , including how to prevent HIV-1 infection .
• Go to start . truvada . com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5
• If you need help paying for your medicine , visit start . truvada . com for program information . pridehouston . org