Has your doctor prescribed treatment for HIV or Hepatitis B for you or someone in your family? If that medication includes a drug called Tenofovir, you probably have a lot of questions about it. How do you use it and what precautions should you take? Don't worry. Today, we'll talk about this drug in a very simple and friendly way.
First, let's see, what is Tenofovir?
Simply put, tenofovir is an antiretroviral medicine . It is used to treat two main conditions: HIV infection and hepatitis B. This medicine is usually used in combination with several other medicines.
It is important to remember that this medicine cannot completely cure HIV or Hepatitis B. However, it does control the virus in the body and reduce the complications caused by the disease. It also helps reduce the risk of you passing these diseases on to someone else.
This drug is also available on the market under the brand name Viread.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before your doctor prescribes this medicine, he or she will need to know your complete medical history. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below.
| Your situation | Why is it important to inform about it? |
|---|---|
| Bone problems | Long-term use of this medication may cause bone density to decrease. |
| Kidney disease | This medication is excreted from the body through the kidneys, so if you have weak kidneys, your dosage may need to be adjusted. |
| Liver disease | If you have liver problems, your doctor should consider whether this medication could aggravate them. |
| Alcohol drinking habit | Alcohol can increase damage to the liver and bones. |
| If you are pregnant or expecting a baby | You should discuss the safety of this medication with your doctor during pregnancy. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother | We need to discuss whether this medication can pass to the baby through breast milk and its effects. |
| Allergies to other medicines, foods or substances | It is very important to let us know if you are allergic to tenofovir or any of its ingredients. |
How exactly do I use this medicine?
This medicine comes as an oral tablet, so follow these instructions exactly.
- Measure with the correct spoon: You will receive a special scoop with your medicine. Always measure your dose with that spoon . Do not use anything else like a teaspoon that you have at home.
- Mix with food: Mix the measured amount of medicine powder well with a small, bland food such as yogurt, a mashed banana, or applesauce.
- Take immediately: Immediately after mixing, consume the entire mixture without wasting time.
- Take it on time: Make it a habit to take your medicine at the same time every day. Keep the regular intervals as prescribed by your doctor.
- Do not skip doses: For the treatment to be successful, it is very important to take the medicine exactly as prescribed without skipping any doses. Even if you feel better, do not stop taking the medicine without your doctor's advice. Doing so can cause the virus to become resistant to the medicine (drug resistance).
What if you give it to small children?
This medicine is sometimes prescribed for children over 2 years of age. But it is only done under the close supervision of a doctor. Therefore, if you are giving this medicine to a child, talk to your pediatrician about it carefully.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other things that may interact with the medication
It is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, vitamins, and supplements. Some medications can interact with tenofovir.
The following medications should definitely not be taken with tenofovir:
- Adefovir
- Other combination medicines containing tenofovir, used for HIV or AIDS (such as emtricitabine; tenofovir, efavirenz; emtricitabine; tenofovir)
Also, the following medications can cause problems with tenofovir, so be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking them:
- Atazanavir
- Didanosine (ddI)
- Ledipasvir; sofosbuvir
- Lopinavir; ritonavir
- Medicines for other viral infections (e.g. cidofovir, acyclovir, valacyclovir)
- Saquinavir
This list is not complete, so tell your doctor about everything you take.
Side effects to be aware of when taking medication
As with any medication, there are some side effects that can occur when taking tenofovir. Some of these can be serious and require immediate attention.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Symptoms of kidney disease | Difficulty urinating, change in the amount of urine produced. |
| Symptoms of liver disease | Yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark yellow/brown urine, pale stools, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, nausea, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue. |
| Other serious symptoms | Bone pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fast or irregular heartbeat, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting. |
| If it persists or is bothersome, tell your doctor. | |
| Common side effects | Cough, headache, fatigue. |
How to store the medicine?
- Keep away from children.
- Store at room temperature (between 15-30 Celsius).
- Keep the medicine in the original bottle you received it in.
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Tenofovir is a medicine that controls HIV and hepatitis B, but it is not a cure.
- Take the dose prescribed by your doctor, at the appointed time, without missing a single day. Measure the medicine using the special spoon that comes with the medicine.
- Mix the medicine powder with a soft food like yogurt and take it immediately.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking.
- If you experience any serious side effects such as skin rashes, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes, tell your doctor immediately.
- Avoid stopping your medication without your doctor's advice, especially if you have hepatitis B, as doing so can worsen the disease.
- If you have any further questions about this medicine, please do not hesitate to ask your doctor.
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