Tenofovir Alafenamide

What is Tenofovir Alafenamide?

Tenofovir Alafenamide is a foremost choice medicine for treating hepatitis B virus in adults and children aged 12 years and above.

It is also found in combination with other antiretroviral medications such as Biktary that treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Tenofovir Alafenamide tablets 25 mg help to stop or slow down growth of virus in your body.

You need to know that chronic hepatitis infection can lead to severe liver damage (Cirrhosis) and cause liver cancer as well.

In case, you have hepatitis B virus before starting treatment with this medicine, the doctor might first conduct some tests.

For several months after you stop taking this drug, doctor will examine lab tests to check if your HBV has worsened.

Let your doctor know immediately if you suffer from any new or unusual symptoms after stopping treatment with Tenofovir Alafenamide.

Also, you can find Tenofovir Alafenamide in market under brand name Vemlidy.

You can save on tenofovir Alafenamide cost by ordering it from a licensed online pharmacy.

This medicine can be purchased only after a valid prescription from a doctor.

What is Tenofovir Alafenamide used for?

Doctors recommend this medicine for:

• Treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in people aged 12 years and above

How does Tenofovir Alafenamide work?

Tenofovir Alafenamide belongs to a class of medicines known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI).

This medicine works by inserting itself into HBV’s genetic material. This blocks virus from making copies of itself.

Tenofovir Alafenamide is formulated to work on your liver where hepatitis B virus is spreading.

In this way, Tenofovir Alafenamide stops virus from producing new viruses and clearing up infection.

How to take Tenofovir Alafenamide?

Before starting your treatment with Tenofovir Alafenamide, doctor will first check you for HIV infection.

In case, you suffer from HIV infection and hepatitis B infection together then Tenofovir Alafenamide must not be used alone.

This is because Tenofovir Alafenamide cannot treat HIV infection alone.

To treat HIV infection, your doctor will recommend combination drug treatment.

Read patient information leaflet carefully, before you start treatment with this medicine.

In case, there is any doubt or questions about this medicine or its dosage then discuss it with doctor once.

Take this medicine by mouth with food as suggested by your doctor, mainly once a day.

If you are on dialysis then you need to take a daily dose of this medication following dialysis.

Dosage of Tenofovir Alafenamide is based upon your medical condition, body’s response to treatment, and other medicines you take.

For best effect, take this medicine at evenly spaced times always. To avoid missing a dose, take it at same time every day.

In case, you vomit within 1 hour of administration then take another dose of this medicine.

If vomiting happens more than 1 hour after taking your dosage then do not take another tablet. Continue with next dose at regular time.

Never take more or less of this medicine than directed or stop taking it even for a short time unless a doctor recommends it.

Doing so can make your infection worse or hard to treat or even worsen side effects.

• Missed dose

In case, you forget to take Tenofovir Alafenamide within 12 hours of time you generally take it then have this medicine with food immediately and restart your normal dosing schedule.

In case, it has been more than 12 hours since you took this medication and it's already time for next dose then skip missed dose and continue with normal dosing schedule.

• Overdose

If you have overdosed and experience symptoms like trouble breathing or others then contact doctor quickly.

Precautions and warnings for Tenofovir Alafenamide

Do not take Tenofovir Alafenamide, if you are allergic to it or have any other kind of allergies.

There is a possibility that taking Tenofovir Alafenamide can put you at risk of experiencing kidney disorders.

When you are taking this medicine, it is best to avoid consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Advil and Aleve.

Taking these medicines with Tenofovir Alafenamide can increase your risk of suffering from kidney damage.

Before you start using this medicine, let doctor know about your medical history, especially of:

• Kidney disorders
• HIV infection
• Liver problems like Hepatitis C, cirrhosis
• Bone disorders such as osteoporosis, bone loss, or bone disease
• Pancreas disease (Pancreatitis)

Before undergoing any surgery, let doctor know about using this medicine.

During pregnancy, this medication must be used only when it is required clearly. Discuss all risks and benefits with your doctor.

Consult a doctor before breastfeeding as it is unknown whether this medicine passes into breast milk or not.

Your hepatitis B symptoms might get worse or become serious if you stop taking this medicine.

Before stopping this drug, talk with your doctor. Also, it is necessary to check liver function tests for several months after you stop it.

Side effects of Tenofovir Alafenamide

Remember doctor has prescribed this medicine because he/she thinks its benefits are greater when compared to its side effects.

Cough, headache, tiredness, or nausea are some common side effects of this medicine.

However, common side effects of this medication start disappearing after some time as your body adjusts to Tenofovir Alafenamide.

Several people using this medicine do not suffer from any serious side effects of Tenofovir Alafenamide.

Inform your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects such as:

• Mental/mood changes such as depression, confusion, and anxiety
• Signs of kidney disorders like change in amount of urine
• Unusual thirst

Rarely, this medicine can cause severe liver and blood problems. Inform doctor right away if you develop symptoms of liver disorders or lactic acidosis.

A very severe allergic reaction to this medicine is rare. However, call doctor if suffer any symptoms of severe allergic reactions like rash & itching.

However, this is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects contact doctor immediately.

Interactions

Drug interactions might alter how your medicines work or increase risk of experiencing severe side effects.

Without a doctor’s approval, do not start, stop, or change dosage of any medicines.

Your doctor must know beforehand about all other products you use including herbal supplements, prescription & non-prescription medicines.

To avoid drug interactions, you must not take following medicines with Tenofovir Alafenamide:

• Carbamazepine
• Rifampin
• Fosphenytoin
• Primidone
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• St John’s Wort

Frequently asked questions about Tenofovir Alafenamide (FAQs)

• Is Tenofovir Alafenamide effective in preventing passing of HIV-1 and HBV to others?

In case of HIV-1 infection, this medicine might decrease risk of passing virus to others, but chances of infecting others continue.

But in HBV infection, Tenofovir Alafenamide has not been proven to decrease risk of transferring virus to other people.

In this way, patients of both HIV-1 infection and HBV infection must practice safe sexual activity and avoid sharing dirty needles.

• Is it safe to breastfeed while receiving treatment with Tenofovir Alafenamide for treating chronic HBV infection?

 No, you must not breastfeed your baby as a small amount of Tenofovir Alafenamide passes into breast milk.

There is a chance of a baby getting infected through breastfeeding if you have HIV or HBV.

• Is safe to take Tenofovir Alafenamide?

 Tenofovir Alafenamide is safe when taken in dose and duration as directed by a doctor.

Take this medicine exactly in same way as prescribed without skipping any dose.

Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and let doctor know if any tenofovir Alafenamide side effects bother you.

• For how long do I need to take Tenofovir Alafenamide to treat HBV infection?

Duration of treatment is going to depend on seriousness of your HBV infection.

To keep a proper check on viral load and number of T cells, your doctor might conduct some periodic blood tests.

After this, doctor will decide duration of treatment accordingly. In some cases, treatment is required for a lifetime.