Emtricitabine-treatment

This medication may cause lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic acidosis can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, nausea with vomiting, fast or uneven heart rate, dizziness, and feeling very weak or tired. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal.

Emtricitabine may also cause severe liver damage, which can be fatal. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms of liver problems: nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Treatment of HIV/AIDS almost always requires using many medicines together. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What is emtricitabine?

Emtricitabine is an antiviral medication. It is in a category of HIV medicines called reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Emtricitabine works by preventing HIV cells from multiplying in the body.

Emtricitabine is used to treat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Emtricitabine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Emtricitabine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to emtricitabine, or if you are also using:

    * emtricitabine and tenofovir (Truvada);
    * efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir (Atripla); or
    * any medication containing lamivudine (Combivir, Epivir, Epivir-HBV, Epzicom, or Trizivir).

Before taking emtricitabine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

    * kidney disease;
    * hepatitis B (HBV) infection;
    * tuberculosis;
    * pneumonia; or
    * cytomegalovirus.

If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.
You should not breast-feed while you are using emtricitabine. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk.

What happens if I miss a dose:

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
 

Side effects of emtricitabine:

Stop using emtricitabine and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction : hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Emtricitabine may cause lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic acidosis can start slowly and gradually get worse. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal:

    * muscle pain or weakness;
    * numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs;
    * trouble breathing;
    * feeling dizzy, light-headed, tired, or very weak;
    * nausea with vomiting; or
    * fast or uneven heart rate.

Emtricitabine may also cause severe liver damage, which can be fatal. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms of liver problems:

    * nausea, stomach pain;
    * loss of appetite;
    * low fever;
    * dark urine;
    * clay-colored stools; or
    * jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Early in your treatment with emtricitabine, you may have a flare-up of other infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, or cytomegalovirus. Contact your doctor if you develop any possible symptoms of other infections, such as fever, chills, sore throat, cough, flu symptoms, or problems with breathing or vision.

Less serious side effects may include:

    * headache;
    * diarrhea, mild nausea or stomach pain;
    * darkened patches of skin on your palms and/or soles;
    * sleep problems (insomnia);
    * cough, runny nose;
    * skin rash; or
    * change in the shape or location of body fat (especially in the arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect emtricitabine?

There may be other drugs that can affect emtricitabine, making it less effective or making side effects more likely to occur. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. You can find a good medication online pharmacy, you can consult with your doctor which contains the necessary medicines.