If you’re looking at treatment options to reduce your risk of or to treat HIV, your doctor might suggest Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide).

Descovy is a prescription medication that’s used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults and adolescents* who:

  • It is necessary to weigh at least 35 kilograms.
  • Do not have HIV but are at risk of contracting it. It is not meant for use in females who are at risk of contracting HIV from vaginal sex.

PrEP is for people who are at risk of HIV but don’t have the virus. It’s used to reduce their risk of contracting HIV. To learn more, see the “What is PrEP?” section below.

Descovy comes as a tablet that you’ll take once a day. It contains the active ingredients emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. Descovy belongs to a group of drugs called antiretrovirals.

This article gives details on Descovy and its use for PrEP. You can alsosee this in-depth article for more information about Descovy, including its other use in treating HIV.

Note: Descovy is not effective at preventing other sexually transmitted infections.

* The term “adolescent” is used to describe children ages 12 years and older.
† In this article, we use the term “females” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

With pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), you take a medication every day to help lower your risk of getting HIV through sex, before you come in contact with the virus.

Who is Descovy prescribed for?

Some adults and adolescents who are HIV-negative and weigh at least 35 kilograms can use Descovy as a pre-exposure prophylactic. The termadolescent is used to describe children over the age of 12.

The drug is prescribed to people who are considered to have a higher risk of contracting HIV. This includes those who have had vaginal or anal sex in the last 6 months.

It’s important to note that Descovy for PrEP is not meant for use in females who are at risk of contracting HIV from vaginal sex. (In this article, we use the term “females” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.)

Discuss your risk of contracting HIV with your doctor.

The amount of HIV measured in the blood is called the viral load.

Studies have shown that Descovy is effective at reducing the risk of contracting HIV through sex.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications to prevent HIV. The CDC reports that taking PrEP medications according to your doctor’s instructions can reduce the risk of contracting HIV through sex by about 99%.

Note: Descovy is not used for females* at risk of contracting HIV from vaginal sex. If you have vaginal sex and want to reduce your risk of contracting HIV, talk with your doctor.

* In this article, we use the term “females” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Using Descovy for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)* may cause side effects in some people. These side effects can be mild or serious.

In studies of Descovy used for PrEP, the most commonly reported side effect was There is a lot of diarrhea..

For information about other possible side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more from this in-depth article on Descovy or from the drug’s prescribing information.

Descovy is approved for another use. Side effects from Descovy may be different depending on how you use it.

What are Descovy’s mild side effects?

Some people may experience mild side effects from taking Descovy. These side effects may include:

  • There is a lot of diarrhea.
  • nausea
  • There is a throbbing head.
  • fatigue (lack of energy)
  • There is belly pain.

Mild side effects from Descovy can be temporary. Some side effects are easy to manage. If you have side effects that last for a long time, or if they become more severe, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

What are Descovy’s serious side effects?

Some people can have serious side effects from taking Descovy. There are examples of these side effects.

If you have any serious side effects, call your doctor. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you have a medical emergency, call the emergency number.

* Descovy has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “What should I know before using Descovy?” section below.

This section describes how you’d typically take Descovy for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Your doctor will explain how you should take Descovy. Be sure to always follow your doctor’s instructions.

What is the typical dosage for Descovy for PrEP?

You will probably take one Descovy tablet per day.

Note: Descovy has other uses in addition to PrEP. The dosage may be different for these other uses. To learn more, talk with your doctor.

How do you take Descovy?

You will take one Descovy by mouth daily. You can take it with or without food.

How often should I take Descovy?

You’ll likely take Descovy once per day. You can take Descovy at any time of day, but it’s best to take your dose around the same time each day. This may help you get into a routine so that you don’t miss doses. Missing doses of Descovy increases your risk of contracting HIV through sex.

“It is possible to set an alarm so that you don’t forget to take Descovy. Or use a medication reminder app.”

HIV is a condition caused by a virus that attacks the immune system. One of the ways this virus can enter your body is through sex.

Descovy is a drug that reduces the risk of contracting HIV through sex. It is used in certain adults and adolescents who weigh at least 35 kilograms.

Descovy is not used for females at risk of contracting HIV from vaginal sex.

* The term “adolescent” is used to describe children ages 12 years and older.
† In this article, we use the term “females” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

What Descovy does

Descovy can reduce the risk of contracting HIV through sex. It contains two antiretroviral drugs in one tablet: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. They work by blocking the virus from entering your body’s cells. They also block the virus from making copies of itself.

The price of Descovy can be affected by a number of factors. You can include your treatment plan, insurance plan, pharmacy, and location.

Descovy is a medication. It is not available in a generic form. Generic drugs are usually cheaper than brand-name drugs.

You may be able to get help paying for Descovy. If you have questions about the cost of Descovy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

There are some important information to keep in mind before you take Descovy. If you have a medical condition that affects your health, the drug may not be a good option. Some of these are mentioned.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

  • Worsening of hepatitis B. If you already have hepatitis B, it’s possible that Descovy could severely worsen your condition. This has also happened in some people after they’ve stopped taking Descovy. Your doctor will monitor your health, including regular blood tests, during and after your Descovy treatment. In some cases, you may need to take a medication to treat hepatitis B if you stop taking Descovy.
  • Resistance to Descovy treatment. If you have HIV, taking Descovy for HIV prevention could lead to the virus becoming resistant to Descovy’s active ingredients. (These are emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide.) If this occurs, Descovy will no longer be effective at treating your HIV. To avoid developing resistance to Descovy, your doctor will test you for HIV. You should not take Descovy if you test positive for HIV or if your HIV status is unknown. You’ll likely take HIV tests right before starting Descovy and then every 3 months while you’re taking the drug.

What other warnings should I know about?

In addition to boxed warnings, Descovy has other warnings. If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors apply to you, talk with your doctor before using Descovy:

  • if you’re living with HIV or if your HIV status is unknown
    • If you are taking any of the above medications or supplements that may interact with Descovy.
    • If you have had an active infection in the past.
    • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

* For information about interactions with Descovy, see this in-depth article or the drug’s prescribing information.
† It’s important to note that Descovy for HIV prevention is not meant for use in females who are at risk of contracting HIV from vaginal sex. (In this article, we use the term “females” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.)

Talk with your doctor about using Descovy for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). They can help determine if Descovy might be a good fit for you.

Some questions you may want to ask your doctor.

  • What can I do to reduce my chances of getting HIV?
  • Is it safe to take Descovy for a long time?
  • Should I stop taking my other drugs when I start taking Descovy?
  • Can I take my vitamins and supplements with Descovy?

Q:

Is taking Descovy for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) more effective than using condoms to reduce my risk of contracting HIV through sex?

Anonymous

A:

When used correctly and consistently, condoms have been found to be about 91% effective at preventing the spread of HIV. When Descovy is used daily for PrEP, it’s been found to be 99.7% effective.

Pairing condoms with PrEP provides even stronger protection against HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Keep in mind that condoms also protect against other sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Descovy only helps protect against HIV transmission.

You and your doctor should discuss the best way to reduce your risk of contracting HIV. Your doctor can help you understand your treatment options.

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBAAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

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.