If you have HIV or you’re at risk of contracting HIV, your doctor might suggest Truvada as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug used to:

  • Treat HIV in adults and children.
  • It is recommended that adults and adolescents be prevented from contracting HIV through sexual activity.

Truvada is usually taken on a long-term basis for both of these uses. Note that if you take Truvada to treat HIV, you’ll take it with other HIV drugs.

Truvada is a pill that you can swallow and contains some of the active ingredients. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

For more information about Truvada, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

Truvada can cause mild to serious side effects. Continue reading to learn more.

* This is called preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Below are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people taking Truvada in studies. These side effects can vary depending on whether Truvada is taken to treat or prevent HIV.

People taking Truvada to treat HIV have a number of side effects.

More common side effects in people taking Truvada for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV include:

Mild side effects have been reported with Truvada.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

These side effects should be temporary. Some may be easy to manage. If you have any symptoms that bother you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Unless your doctor recommends it, you should not stop taking Truvada.

Truvada may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Truvada, visit MedWatch.

There have been serious side effects with Truvada. These include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking Truvada, call your doctor. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you have a medical emergency, immediately call the emergency number.

* Truvada 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 “Side effects explained” section below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible after taking Truvada. But this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

Get answers to questions about Truvada.

When Truvada is taken for PrEP, are certain side effects more common?

Yes, some mild side effects may be more common when Truvada is taken as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV.

In studies, the more common side effects reported with Truvada used for PrEP were:

How long do Truvada side effects last?

“Depending on the side effect and other factors, how long Truvada’s side effects last can vary. How your body responds to Truvada, your overall health, other conditions you may have, or other drugs you take are included.”

Most of Truvada’s mild side effects tend to improve in a few days or weeks as your body gets used to the drug. But if you have certain serious side effects, such as liver or kidney problems, these may last a long time or even be permanent.

If you have any side effects that bother you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you manage your symptoms. Unless your doctor recommends it, you should not stop taking Truvada.

Does Truvada cause any long-term side effects?

“This is rare. Most of Truvada’s side effects are short-lived. Some serious side effects may last a long time. These include:”

In some cases, liver or There are problems with the kidneys. could even be permanent.

Taking Truvada for a long time may increase your risk of developing There are problems with the kidneys. or The bones were weakened.. Truvada’s effect on your long-term bone health and risk of fractures isn’t known. But your doctor may recommend taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement to help strengthen your bones. This may reduce your risk of long-term bone problems.

If you are concerned about the long-term effects of Truvada, you should talk to your doctor.

How do the side effects of Truvada and Tivicay compare with those of Truvada and Isentress?

If you take Truvada to treat HIV, you’ll always take it with at least one other HIV drug. Examples of these include Tivicay (dolutegravir) and Isentress (raltegravir).

Tivicay and Isentress belong to the same group of drugs, so they have some similar side effects. For example, both drugs can cause “It’s difficult to sleep.”, fatigue (low energy), and There is a throbbing head.. Truvada can also cause these side effects.

But Tivicay and Isentress also have some different side effects. For example, Tivicay can sometimes cause serious There are problems with the bile duct., while Isentress can sometimes cause serious skin reactions.

Talk to your doctor if you are interested in learning more about the possible side effects of taking Truvada with Tivicay or Isentress.

Truvada may cause some side effects.

Risk of worsening of HBV infection

Truvada has a boxed warning about the risk of worsening hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This side effect could occur if you have an HBV infection and you stop taking Truvada. And worsening HBV infection could lead to liver failure.

There are symptoms of worsening HBV infection.

What might help

Before you start Truvada, your doctor will test you for HBV. If you test positive, it’s safe to take Truvada. But you should not stop taking this drug unless your doctor recommends it. If you stop Truvada, your doctor will likely monitor your liver function for several months to see if your HBV is getting worse. Tell them if you have new or worsening symptoms. If needed, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat HBV.

Truvada is safe if you test negative for the disease. Your doctor may recommend getting a vaccine.

Risk of resistance to Truvada

Truvada has a boxed warning about the risk of resistance to Truvada. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

You should only take Truvada for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV if you test negative for HIV. If you take Truvada for PrEP and you already have HIV, the virus could develop resistance to Truvada. This can make the HIV infection harder to treat.

What might help

“Truvada forPrEP will be taken before you are tested for HIV. They will test you every 3 months while you are taking it. This is to make sure you don’t have HIV.”

To reduce your risk of getting HIV, it’s important to take Truvada every day. Missing doses of Truvada makes it less effective at preventing HIV. It’s also important to continue to use condoms to help prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Having another STI can make it easier to contract HIV. If you have another STI, be sure to get it treated right away.

If you develop any early symptoms of HIV while taking Truvada forPrEP, you should see your doctor right away. Early symptoms of HIV may include:

If you are HIV positive, you should see your doctor.

If you test positive for HIV while taking Truvada for PrEP, you’ll need to start treatment for HIV. To treat HIV, Truvada must be used with other drugs. Your doctor may prescribe other HIV drugs to take along with Truvada, or they may prescribe a different combination of HIV drugs.

Kidney problems

You may have new or worsening problems with your kidneys while taking Truvada. Kidney side effects, such as acute kidney failure, have been reported with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, one of the active ingredients in Truvada. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

It’s not known how often There are problems with the kidneys. occur with Truvada. But they weren’t seen in studies of the drug and are thought to be rare. There have been reports of this side effect in people taking Truvada, but it’s unclear how often this has happened or if Truvada was the cause.

Your risk of There are problems with the kidneys. may be higher if you take Truvada with other drugs that can affect your kidneys, such as:

Symptoms of There are problems with the kidneys. may include:

What might help

Your doctor will likely order blood and urine tests to check your kidney function before you start Truvada. They’ll also order these tests from time to time while you’re taking the drug so they can monitor your kidney health.

If you have any new or worsening symptoms of There are problems with the kidneys. while taking Truvada, talk with your doctor. If you develop a problem with your kidneys, they may recommend you take Truvada every other day instead of every day. Or they may recommend switching from Truvada to a different HIV drug.

Liver problems

You may have problems with your liver while taking Truvada. Liver side effects, such as enlarged or fatty liver, have been reported with both tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine, the active ingredients in Truvada. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

It’s not known how often There are problems with the bile duct. occur with Truvada, but they’re likely to be rare. In studies of Truvada, altered results in liver function tests occurred rarely, but enlarged and fatty liver weren’t reported. There have been reports of these side effects in people taking Truvada since it came on the market, but it’s unclear how often this has happened or if Truvada was the cause.

Symptoms of There are problems with the bile duct. may include:

What might help

Your doctor may order blood tests to check your liver function from time to time while you’re taking Truvada. You should see your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of There are problems with the bile duct.. If you develop severe There are problems with the bile duct. while taking Truvada, your doctor will likely recommend switching to a different HIV drug.

Lactic acidosis

You may develop a side effect called lactic acidosis while taking Truvada. This is a condition caused by a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. It’s a medical emergency that can be life threatening. It has been reported with both tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine, the active ingredients in Truvada. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

It’s not known how often lactic acidosis occurs with Truvada, but it’s likely to be rare. Lactic acidosis wasn’t seen during studies of Truvada. There have been reports of this side effect in people taking Truvada since it came on the market, but it’s unclear how often this has happened or if Truvada was the cause.

Lactic acidosis may include symptoms.

What might help

If you have symptoms of acidosis while taking Truvada, call your doctor. If your symptoms are life threatening, call the emergency number.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Truvada can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

Mild to serious symptoms can be present.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild There is a There is a rash.., call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • You apply a product to your skin.

If your doctor confirms that you have had a mild allergic reaction to Truvada, they will decide if you should continue taking it.

If you have a severe allergic reaction, you should call the emergency number. These symptoms could be life threatening and need immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you have had a serious allergic reaction to Truvada, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

Take notes on any side effects you are having during your Truvada treatment. You can share this information with your doctor. This is helpful when you are starting to use a combination of treatments.

Side effect notes can include things.

  • When you had the side effect, what dose of the drug was taking?
  • How soon did you experience the side effect?
  • What are your symptoms?
  • How did it affect your daily activities?
  • What other drugs were you taking?
  • Other information is important to you.

Sharing your notes with your doctor will help them learn more about Truvada. If needed, they can use this information to adjust your treatment plan.

Truvada may not be safe for everyone.

Boxed warnings

Truvada has boxed warnings about the risk of worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection and the risk of resistance to Truvada. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section above.

Other warnings

If you have certain medical conditions, Truvada may not be right for you. This is a drug-condition interaction. Truvada is a good treatment option if you have other factors to consider. Before starting Truvada, talk to your doctor about your health history. There are several factors to consider.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Truvada or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options.

Weak bones. Truvada may weaken your bones, which could increase your risk of breaking a bone. If you have weak bones or osteoporosis or you’ve had past bone fractures, your doctor may order tests to check your bone strength before prescribing Truvada. They may recommend taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement to help strengthen your bones while you take this drug. And they may monitor your bone health.

Liver problems. If you have a liver problem, Truvada could make it worse. Your doctor may order blood tests to monitor your liver function while you take this drug.

Kidney problems. If you have a kidney problem, Truvada could build up in your body. This could increase your risk of side effects. Also, Truvada could worsen your kidney problem. Your doctor will likely order blood and urine tests to check your kidney function before you start Truvada. If you have There are problems with the kidneys., your doctor likely won’t prescribe Truvada for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). If your doctor prescribes Truvada to treat HIV, they may recommend taking it every other day instead of every day. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function while you take Truvada. If it gets worse, your doctor may recommend switching to a different HIV drug.

Alcohol and Truvada

“Alcohol doesn’t affect Truvada’s work. If you drink alcohol while taking Truvada, you may have an increased risk of side effects.”

If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about how much you can drink with Truvada.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Truvada

There are not many details regarding taking Truvada while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Pregnancy

It is not known if Truvada is safe to take during pregnancy. The Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry suggests that Truvada does not increase the risk of birth defects.

Antiretrovirals are drugs used to treat or prevent HIV. The APR collects health information about pregnant people who take antiretrovirals and their babies, both before and after birth. This helps healthcare professionals understand how safe HIV drugs are for use during pregnancy.

Current guidelines recommend that if you’re pregnant and HIV-positive, you should take HIV drugs to treat your HIV infection. This can help protect your health and the health of your baby. These guidelines also recommend that if you’re pregnant and HIV-negative, you can take Truvada for PrEP to help prevent HIV.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about your treatment options. If you decide to take Truvada during your pregnancies, you should enroll in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. Discuss this with your doctor.

Breastfeeding

Truvada may be able to pass into breast milk. This could cause problems for a child who is breastfed. If you take Truvada, you should talk to your doctor about feeding your child.

If you take Truvada, you should not feed your child. It is possible to pass HIV to your child through breast milk. Talk to your doctor about ways to feed your child.

Side effects aren’t common with Truvada, especially when it’s used as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV. Most of the drug’s side effects are mild and easily managed.

There are some serious side effects with Truvada. You can talk to your doctor about your risks. They can help you decide if Truvada is a good option. You might want to ask some questions.

  • Do I have a high risk of side effects?
  • Do my other drugs increase my risk of side effects with Truvada?
  • Can HIV become resistant to Truvada, when it is used to treat HIV?
  • How do the side effects of Truvada compare with those of other drugs used for PrEP, such as Descovy or Apretude?

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.