Before taking efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to efavirenz, emtricitabine, or tenofovir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking voriconazole (Vfend). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir if you are taking this medication.
you should know that efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir are also available individually with the brand names of Sustiva, Emtriva, and Viread, and in combination with other medications with brand names of Complera, Descovy, Genvoya, Odefsey, Stribild, and Truvada. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medications to be sure you do not receive the same medication twice.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acyclovir (Sitavig, Zovirax); adefovir (Hepsera); antidepressants; artemethen and lumefantrine (Coartem); atazanavir (Reyataz); atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet); boceprevir (Victrelis); bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban, others); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); cidofovir; cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); darunavir (Prezista) with ritonavir (Norvir); delavirdine (Rescriptor); didanosine (Videx); diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Diltzac, Taztia, Tiazac); ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate (Estarylla, Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, Sprintec, others); etonogestrel (Nexplanon, in Nuvaring); etravirine (Intelence); felodipine; fosamprenavir (Lexiva); ganciclovir (Cytovene); gentamicin; indinavir (Crixivan); itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox); ketoconazole; lamivudine (Epivir, Epivir HBV, in Combivir, Epzicom, Triumeq, Trizivir); ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (Harvoni); lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra); maraviroc (Selzentry); medications for anxiety, mental illness, and seizures; methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); nevirapine (Viramune); nicardipine (Cardene); nifedipine (Adalat, Afeditab, Procardia); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as celecoxib (Celebrex), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), meloxicam (Mobic), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprelan, Naprosyn); posaconazole (Noxafil); pravastatin (Pravachol); raltegravir (Isentress); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, Rifater); ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra, Technivie, Viekira Pak); saquinavir (Invirase); sedatives; sertraline (Zoloft); sleeping pills; simeprevir (Olysio); simvastatin (Zocor, in Vytorin); sirolimus (Rapamune); tacrolimus (Astagraf, Envarsus, Prograf); tranquilizers; valacyclovir (Valtrex); valganciclovir (Valcyte); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Tarka, Verelan); and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, or may increase the risk that you will develop liver damage during your treatment with efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
tell your doctor if you currently or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, used street drugs, or over-used prescription medications. Also tell your doctor ,if you have or have ever had any of the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, depression or other mental illness, bone problems including osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) or bone fractures, seizures, or kidney disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant during your treatment and for 12 weeks after your final dose. If you can become pregnant, you will have to have a negative pregnancy test before you begin taking this medication and use effective birth control during your treatment. Efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir may interfere with the action of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, or injections), so you should not use these as your only method of birth control during your treatment. You must use a barrier method of birth control (device that blocks sperm from entering the uterus such as a condom or a diaphragm) along with any other method of birth control you have chosen. Ask your doctor to help you choose a method of birth control that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, call your doctor immediately.
you should not breastfeed if you are infected with HIV or are taking efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir.
you should be aware that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body, such as your upper back, neck (''buffalo hump''), breasts, and around your stomach. You may notice a loss of body fat from your face, legs, and arms.
you should know that while you are taking medications to treat HIV infection, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight other infections that were already in your body or cause other conditions to occur. This may cause you to develop symptoms of those infections or conditions. If you have new or worsening symptoms during your treatment with efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir be sure to tell your doctor.
you should know that efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir may make you drowsy, dizzy, or unable to concentrate. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
you should know that efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir may cause changes in your thoughts, behavior, or mental health. Call your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms while you are taking efavirenz: depression, thinking about killing yourself or planning or trying to do so, angry or aggressive behavior, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), strange thoughts, or loss of touch with reality. Be sure your family knows which symptoms may be serious so that they can call your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Alcohol can make the side effects from efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir worse.