emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate at a glance
Medicine class
Combination antiretroviral containing two nucleotide or nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors and the NNRTI rilpivirine.
Licensed role
Treatment of selected adults with HIV-1, guided by viral load and resistance information.
Food
Take with food; a nutritional drink alone is not an adequate substitute.
Tablet handling
Swallow whole with water; do not chew, crush or split.
What is emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate used for?
Licensed for HIV treatment, not HIV prevention or treatment of chronic hepatitis B alone.
Treatment of HIV-1 infection in selected adults without known resistance mutations affecting the NNRTI class, tenofovir or emtricitabine.
Resistance testing or documented historical resistance results should guide selection.
How does emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate work?
Rilpivirine blocks HIV reverse transcriptase non-competitively. Activated emtricitabine and tenofovir compete with natural building blocks and terminate developing viral DNA chains. Together they reduce HIV replication but do not eliminate the virus.
emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 200 mg + 25 mg + 245 mg
How to take emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Follow the schedule prescribed by the HIV team. Take the tablet with food and swallow it whole with water; do not chew, crush or split it. A nutritional drink alone does not replace food.
Check with a pharmacist before using indigestion or acid-reducing treatments; proton-pump inhibitors are contraindicated.
Do not stop or restart treatment without consulting the HIV team, particularly if hepatitis B is also present.
emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Headache or dizziness
- Difficulty sleeping or abnormal dreams
- Rash
- Tiredness or weakness
- Abdominal discomfort, indigestion or wind
- Reduced appetite or depressed mood
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction or swelling of the face, mouth or throat
- Severe rash with fever, blisters, eye inflammation, facial swelling or liver abnormalities
- Kidney injury or renal-tubule damage, sometimes with muscle weakness, bone pain or fractures
- Pancreatitis, suggested by severe persistent abdominal pain
- Rare lactic acidosis
- Worsening hepatitis after stopping treatment in someone with HIV and hepatitis B
emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in pregnancy
Available data have not identified malformative or fetal toxicity from the individual components, and the combination may be considered when necessary. Rilpivirine exposure can fall during pregnancy, so specialist review and close viral-load monitoring are important. Do not stop prescribed treatment without specialist advice.
emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate while breastfeeding
The product information instructs women not to breastfeed while receiving this combination. Emtricitabine and tenofovir enter breast milk, infant effects are insufficiently characterised, and HIV can be transmitted through milk. UK practice considers formula feeding safest; anyone wishing to breastfeed should discuss this early with the specialist perinatal HIV team.
emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate interactions
Rilpivirine absorption and CYP3A metabolism create important interactions, while tenofovir can add to kidney toxicity.
Proton-pump inhibitors, including omeprazole and lansoprazole
Contraindicated because they can substantially reduce rilpivirine exposure and compromise HIV control.
Antacids and H2-receptor antagonists
Can reduce rilpivirine absorption and require separation as directed by the prescriber or pharmacist.
Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital or phenytoin
Contraindicated because they can lower rilpivirine concentrations and undermine treatment.
Common questions about emtricitabine + rilpivirine hydrochloride + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is it used for?
It is licensed to treat selected adults with HIV-1 when viral-load and resistance criteria are met.
Is it used for PrEP?
No. This three-component product is licensed for HIV-1 treatment, not pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Does it cure HIV?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.