EMTRICITABINE/RILPIVIRINE/TENOFOVIR - ORAL

EMTRICITABINE/RILPIVIRINE/TENOFOVIR - ORAL

PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: (EM-trye-SYE-ta-been/RIL-pi-VIR-een/ten-OF-oh-vir)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Complera

GENERIC NAME(S): emtricitabine/rilpivirine HCl/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

Uses

USES: This product contains 3 different medications: emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir. It is used to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. Emtricitabine and tenofovir belong to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Rilpivirine belongs to a class of drugs known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease your risk of spreading HIV disease to others, do all of the following: (1) continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor, (2) always use an effective barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during all sexual activity, and (3) do not share personal items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.


How to use EMTRICITABINE/RILPIVIRINE/TENOFOVIR - ORAL

HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking this medication and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Medications which reduce or block stomach acid (such as proton pump inhibitors/PPIs, H2 blockers, antacids) may reduce the absorption of rilpivirine, making it work less well. Do not take PPIs (such as omeprazole, lansoprazole) while using this medication. If you take antacids, take the antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after this medication. If you take H2 blockers (such as famotidine, ranitidine), take them at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after this medication. It is very important to continue taking this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase and/or make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant). Do not increase your dose or take this medication more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects may increase. For the best effect, take this medication at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.

Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, tiredness, dizziness, and skin discoloration (such as small spots/freckles, darkening of the palms of the hands/soles of the feet) may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. As your immune system gets stronger, it can begin to fight off infections you already had, possibly causing disease symptoms to come back. You could also have symptoms if your immune system becomes overactive. This reaction may happen at any time (soon after starting HIV treatment or many months later). Get medical help right away if you have any serious symptoms, including: unexplained weight loss, severe tiredness, muscle aches/weakness that doesn't go away, headaches that are severe or don't go away, joint pain, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs, vision changes, signs of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores), signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability, nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter), signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre syndrome (such as trouble breathing/swallowing/moving your eyes, drooping face, paralysis, trouble speaking). Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine, pink/bloody urine), mental/mood changes (such as depression, thoughts of suicide). Rarely, this medication can cause severe (sometimes fatal) liver and blood problems (lactic acidosis). Tell your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of liver problems (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine) or lactic acidosis (such as deep/rapid breathing, drowsiness, nausea/vomiting, unusual weakness). Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting. Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking this medication (such as increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor, as well as the possible use of exercise to reduce this side effect. Tenofovir may increase the risk of bone loss. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor, as well as the possible use of calcium and vitamin D to reduce this side effect. If you are at risk for bone loss, your doctor may monitor your bone mineral density. Tell your doctor right away if any of the following serious side effects occur: bone pain, easily broken bones. This medication can commonly cause a rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Therefore, get medical help right away if you develop any rash. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to emtricitabine, rilpivirine, or tenofovir; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease (such as hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis), alcohol use, bone problems (such as bone disease, bone loss/osteoporosis, weak/broken bones), mental/mood disorders (such as depression). Rilpivirine may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away. The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death). Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using this medication safely. This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially QT prolongation (see above). During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Treatment can lower the risk of passing HIV infection to your baby, and this medication may be part of that treatment. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Emtricitabine and tenofovir in this product pass into breast milk. It is unknown if rilpivirine passes into breast milk. Because breast milk can transmit HIV, do not breast-feed.

Interactions

DRUG INTERACTIONS: See also How to Use section. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: adefovir, orlistat, other drugs that may be harmful to the kidneys (including aminoglycosides such as amikacin/gentamicin), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs such as dexlansoprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole). Do not take this medication with other products that treat HIV infection, especially products that contain didanosine, emtricitabine, tenofovir, or lamivudine. In addition, do not take this medication with other products that contain rilpivirine, unless you are also taking rifabutin. Other medications can affect the removal of rilpivirine from your body, which may affect how this medication works. Examples include dexamethasone, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifapentine), St. John's wort, certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), telithromycin, among others.

Overdose

OVERDOSE: If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting.

Images

COMPLERA TABLET

color
purple-pink
shape
oblong
imprint
GSI

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Faq for EMTRICITABINE/RILPIVIRINE/TENOFOVIR - ORAL

Emtricitabine/Rilpivirine/Tenofovir is a combination medication used to treat HIV infection. It contains three different antiviral drugs: emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir.

Emtricitabine/Rilpivirine/Tenofovir works by inhibiting the replication of HIV in the body. The three drugs work together to prevent the virus from multiplying and spreading, thus helping to control the infection.

Common side effects of this medication may include diarrhea, headache, dizziness, nausea, and trouble sleeping. It is important to notify your healthcare provider if any side effects become severe or persistent.

Emtricitabine/Rilpivirine/Tenofovir is usually taken as a once-daily oral tablet with or without food. It is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions regarding dosage and administration.

It is generally recommended to avoid alcohol while taking this medication as it may increase the risk of liver toxicity and side effects. Please consult with your healthcare provider for specific guidance.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

The use of this medication during pregnancy is generally considered safe and effective in controlling HIV infection. However, it is important to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.

No, there are several other medications and combination therapies available for the treatment of HIV. The choice of treatment depends on various factors and is determined by a healthcare professional.

No, there is currently no cure for HIV. However, this medication can help control the infection and reduce the viral load in the body, improving health outcomes and reducing the risk of transmission.


Warning

WARNING: If you have hepatitis B infection, your hepatitis symptoms may get worse or become very serious if you stop taking this medication. Talk with your doctor before stopping this medication. Your doctor will monitor liver tests for several months after you stop emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of worsening liver problems.


Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.