Patient leaflet - Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
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1. What Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva is and what it is used for
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2. What you need to know before you take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
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3. How to take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
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6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva is and what it is used for
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva contains two active substances, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil. Both of these active substances are antiretroviral medicines which are used to treat HIV infection. Emtricitabine is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and tenofovir is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor. However, both are generally known as NRTIs and they work by interfering with the normal working of an enzyme (reverse transcriptase) that is essential for the virus to reproduce itself.
- Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva is used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1(HIV-1) infection, in adults.
- It is also used to treat HIV in adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 years who weigh at least 35 kg, and who have already been treated with other HIV medicines that are no longer effective or have caused side effects.
- Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva should always be used combined with other medicines to treat HIV infection.
- Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva can be administered in place of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil used separately at the same doses.
People who are HIV positive can still pass on HIV when taking this medicine, although the risk is lowered by effective antiretroviral therapy. Discuss with your doctor the precautions needed to avoid infecting other people.
This medicine is not a cure for HIV infection. While taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva you may still develop infections or other illnesses associated with HIV infection.
- Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva is also used to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults, and adolescents aged 12 years to less than 18 years who weigh at least 35 kg, when taken daily, together with safer sex practices:
See section 2 for a list of precautions to take against HIV infection.
2. What you need to know before you take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
Do not take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to treat HIV or to reduce the risk of getting HIV if you are allergic to emtricitabine, tenofovir, tenofovir disoproxil or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
If this applies to you, tell your doctor immediately.
Before taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to reduce the risk of getting HIV:
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva can only help reduce your risk of getting HIV before you are infected.
- You must be HIV negative before you start to take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to reduce the risk of getting HIV. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV infection. Do not take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to reduce your risk unless you are confirmed to be HIV negative. People who do have HIV must take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva in combination with other drugs.
- Many HIV tests can miss a recent infection. If you get a flu-like illness, it could mean you have recently been infected with HIV. These may be signs of HIV infection:
- tiredness
- fever
- joint or muscle aches
- headache
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- rash
- night sweats
- enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin
Tell your doctor about any flu-like illness - either in the month before starting Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, or at any time while taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva.
Warnings and precautions
While taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to reduce the risk of getting HIV:
- Take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva every day to reduce your risk, not just when you think you have been at risk of HIV infection. Do not miss any doses of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, or stop taking it. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV infection.
- Get tested for HIV regularly.
- If you think you were infected with HIV, tell your doctor straight away. They may want to do more tests to make sure you are still HIV negative.
- Just taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva may not stop you getting HIV.
- Always practice safer sex. Use condoms to reduce contact with semen, vaginal fluids, or blood.
- Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, such as toothbrushes and razor blades.
- Do not share or re-use needles or other injection or drug equipment.
- Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and gonorrhoea. These infections make it easier for HIV to infect you.
Ask your doctor if you have any more questions about how to prevent getting HIV or spreading HIV to other people.
While taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to treat HIV or to reduce the risk of getting HIV:
- Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva may affect your kidneys. Before and during treatment, your doctor may order blood tests to measure kidney function. Tell your doctor if you have had kidney disease, or if tests have shown kidney problems. Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva should not be given to adolescents with existing kidney problems. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may advise you to stop taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva or, if you already have HIV, to take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva less frequently. Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva is not recommended if you have severe kidney disease or are on dialysis.
- Bone problems (manifesting as persistent or worsening bone pain and sometimes resulting in fractures) may also occur due to damage to kidney tubule cells (see section 4, Possible side effects). Tell your doctor if you have bone pain or fractures.
Tenofovir disoproxil may also cause loss of bone mass. The most pronounced bone loss was seen in clinical studies when patients were treated for HIV with tenofovir disoproxil in combination with a boosted protease inhibitor.
Overall, the effects of tenofovir disoproxil on long-term bone health and future fracture risk in adult and paediatric patients are uncertain.
Tell your doctor if you know you suffer from osteoporosis. Patients with osteoporosis are at a higher risk of fractures.
- Talk to your doctor if you have a history of liver disease, including hepatitis. Patients infected with HIV who also have liver disease (including chronic hepatitis B or C), who are treated with antiretrovirals, have a higher risk of severe and potentially fatal liver complications. If you have hepatitis B or C, your doctor will carefully consider the best treatment regimen for you.
- Know your hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status before starting Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva. If you have HBV, there is a serious risk of liver problems when you stop taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, whether or not you also have HIV. It is important not to stop taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva without talking to your doctor: see section 3, Do not stop taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva.
- Talk to your doctor if you are over 65. The combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil has not been studied in patients over 65 years of age.
Children and adolescents
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva is not for use in children under 12 years of age.
Other medicines and Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
Do not take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva if you are already taking other medicines that contain the components of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil) or any other antiviral medicines that contain tenofovir alafenamide, lamivudine or adefovir dipivoxil.
Taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva with other medicines that can damage your kidneys: it is especially important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines, including
- aminoglycosides (for bacterial infection).
- amphotericin B (for fungal infection).
- foscarnet (for viral infection).
- ganciclovir (for viral infection).
- pentamidine (for infections).
- vancomycin (for bacterial infection).
- interleukin-2 (to treat cancer).
- cidofovir (for viral infection).
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, to relieve bone or muscle pains).
If you are taking another antiviral medicine called a protease inhibitor to treat HIV, your doctor may order blood tests to closely monitor your kidney function.
It is also important to tell your doctor if you are taking ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir to treat hepatitis C infection.
Taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva with other medicines containing didanosine (for treatment of HIV infection): Taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva with other antiviral medicines that contain didanosine can raise the levels of didanosine in your blood and may reduce CD4 cell counts. Rarely, inflammation of the pancreas and lactic acidosis (excess lactic acid in the blood), which sometimes causes death, have been reported when medicines containing tenofovir disoproxil and didanosine were taken together. Your doctor will carefully consider whether to treat you with combinations of tenofovir and didanosine.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva with food and drink
Whenever possible, Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva should be taken with food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
If you have taken Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva during your pregnancy, your doctor may request regular blood tests and other diagnostic tests to monitor the development of your child.
In children whose mothers took NRTIs during pregnancy, the benefit from the protection against HIV outweighed the risk of side effects.
- Do not breast-feed during treatment with Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva.
This is because the active substances in this medicine pass into human breast milk.
- If you are a woman with HIV it is recommended that you do not breast-feed, to avoid passing the virus to the baby in breast milk.
Driving and using machines
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva can cause dizziness. If you feel dizzy while taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, do not drive and do not use any tools or machines.
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. How to take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
- Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to treat HIV is:
- Adults: one tablet each day, where possible, with food.
Adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 years who weigh at least 35 kg : one tablet each day, whenever possible with food.
The recommended dose of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to reduce the risk of getting HIV is:
- Adults: one tablet each day, whenever possible, with food.
- Adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 years who weigh at least 35 kg: one tablet each day,
whenever possible with food.
If you have difficulty swallowing, you can use the tip of a spoon to crush the tablet. Then mix the powder with about 100 ml (half a glass) of water, orange juice or grape juice, and drink immediately.
- Always take the dose recommended by your doctor. This is to make sure that your medicine is fully effective, and to reduce the risk of developing resistance to the treatment. Do not change the dose unless your doctor tells you to.
- If you are being treated for HIV infection, your doctor will prescribe Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva with other antiretroviral medicines. Please refer to the patient information leaflets of the other antiretrovirals for guidance on how to take those medicines.
- If you are taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to reduce the risk of getting HIV, take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva every day, not just when you think you have been at risk of HIV infection.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about how to prevent getting HIV or prevent spreading HIV to other people.
If you take more Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva than you should
If you accidentally take more than the recommended dose of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, contact your doctor or nearest emergency department for advice. Keep the tablet bottle with you so that you can easily describe what you have taken.
If you forget to take Emtricitabine /Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
It is important not to miss a dose of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva.
- If you notice within 12 hours of the time you usually take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, take the tablet preferably with food as soon as possible. Then take the next dose at your usual time.
- If you notice 12 hours or more after the time you usually take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, forget about the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose, preferably with food, at your usual time.
If you vomit less than 1 hour after taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, take another tablet. You do not need to take another tablet if you were sick more than 1 hour after taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva.
Do not stop taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
- If you take Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva for treatment of HIV infection, stopping tablets may reduce the effectiveness of the anti-HIV therapy recommended by your doctor.
- If you are taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva to reduce the risk of getting HIV, do not stop taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva or miss any doses. Stopping use of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva, or missing doses, may increase your risk of getting HIV infection.
Do not stop taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva without contacting your doctor.
- If you have hepatitis B, it is especially important not to stop your Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva treatment without talking to your doctor first. You may require blood tests for several months after stopping treatment. In some patients with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, stopping treatment is not recommended as this may lead to worsening of your hepatitis, which may be life-threatening.
Tell your doctor immediately about new or unusual symptoms after you stop treatment, particularly symptoms you associate with hepatitis B infection.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Possible serious side effects:
- Lactic acidosis (excess lactic acid in the blood) is a rare but potentially life-threatening side effect. Lactic acidosis occurs more often in women, particularly if they are overweight, and in people with liver disease. The following may be signs of lactic acidosis:
deep rapid breathing,
drowsiness,
feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), stomach pain.
If you think you may have lactic acidosis, get medical help immediately.
- Any signs of inflammation or infection. In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS) and a history of opportunistic infections (infections that occur in people with a weak immune system), signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections may occur soon after anti-HIV treatment is started. It is thought that these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body’s immune response, enabling the body to fight infections that may have been present with no obvious symptoms.
- Autoimmune disorders, when the immune system attacks healthy body tissue, may also occur after you start taking medicines to treat HIV infection. Autoimmune disorders may occur many months after the start of treatment. Look out for any symptoms of infection or other symptoms such as:
muscle weakness,
weakness beginning in the hands and feet and moving up towards the trunk of the body, palpitations, tremor or hyperactivity.
If you notice these or any symptoms of inflammation or infection, get medical help immediately.
Possible side effects:
Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
- diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting), feeling sick (nausea),
- dizziness, headache,
- rash,
- feeling weak.
Tests may also show:
- decreases in phosphate in the blood,
- increased creatine kinase.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- pain, stomach pain,
- difficulty sleeping, abnormal dreams,
- problems with digestion resulting in discomfort after meals, feeling bloated, flatulence,
- rashes (including red spots or blotches sometimes with blistering and swelling of the skin), which may be allergic reactions, itching, changes in skin colour including darkening of the skin in patches,
- other allergic reactions, such as wheezing, swelling or feeling light-headed.
Tests may also show:
- low white blood cell count (a reduced white blood cell count can make you more prone to infection),
- increased triglycerides (fatty acids), bile or sugar in the blood,
- liver and pancreas problems.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- pain in the abdomen (tummy) caused by inflammation of the pancreas,
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat,
- anaemia (low red blood cell count),
- breakdown of muscle, muscle pain or weakness which may occur due to damage to the kidney tubule cells.
Tests may also show:
- decreases in potassium in the blood,
- increased creatinine in your blood,
- changes to your urine.
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- Lactic acidosis (see Possible serious side effects),
- fatty liver,
- yellow skin or eyes, itching, or pain in the abdomen (tummy) caused by inflammation of the liver,
- inflammation of the kidney, passing a lot of urine and feeling thirsty, kidney failure, damage to kidney tubule cells,
- softening of the bones (with bone pain and sometimes resulting in fractures),
- back pain caused by kidney problems.
Damage to kidney tubule cells may be associated with breakdown of muscle, softening of the bones (with bone pain and sometimes resulting in fractures), muscle pain, muscle weakness and decreases in potassium or phosphate in the blood.
If you notice any of the side effects listed above or if any of the side effects get serious, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
The frequency of the following side effects is not known.
- Bone problems. Some patients taking combination antiretroviral medicines such as Emtricitabine /Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva may develop a bone disease called osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue caused by loss of blood supply to the bone). Taking this type of medicine for a long time, taking corticosteroids, drinking alcohol, having a very weak immune system, and being overweight, may be some of the many risk factors for developing this disease. Signs of osteonecrosis are:
- joint stiffness,
- joint aches and pains (especially of the hip, knee and shoulder),
- difficulty with movement.
If you notice any of these symptoms tell your doctor.
During treatment for HIV there may be an increase in weight and in levels of blood lipids and glucose. This is partly linked to restored health and life style, and in the case of blood lipids sometimes to the HIV medicines themselves. Your doctor will test for these changes.
Other effects in children
- Children given emtricitabine very commonly experienced changes in skin colour including
- darkening of the skin in patches
- Children commonly experienced low red blood cell count (anaemia).
- this may cause the child to be tired or breathless
If you notice any of these symptoms tell your doctor.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the bottle after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special temperature storage conditions. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
Store below 30°C after first opening.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva contains
- The active substances are emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil phosphate. Each film-coated tablet contains 200 mg of emtricitabine and 245 mg of tenofovir disoproxil (equivalent to 291.5 mg of tenofovir disoproxil phosphate or 136 mg of tenofovir).
- The other ingredients are:
What Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva looks like and contents of the pack
Emtricitabine /Tenofovir disoproxil Zentiva 200 mg/245 mg film-coated tablets are blue, oval biconvex film coated tablet without half-score with dimensions approx. 19.35 × 9.75 mm.
Contents of the pack:
Outer cartons containing 1 bottle of 30 film-coated tablets and outer cartons containing 3 bottles of 30 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Open bottles by pressing the child proof cap down and turning it counter-clock wise.
Each bottle contains a silica gel desiccant that must be kept in the bottle to help protect your tablets. The silica gel desiccant is contained in a separate container and should not be swallowed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Zentiva, k.s.
U Kabelovny 130
102 37 Prague 10
Czech Republic
Manufacturer
S.C. Zentiva S.A.
50 Theodor Pallady Blvd.
Bucharest 032266
Romania
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
| Belgie/Belgique/Belgien | Lietuva |
| Zentiva, k.s. | Zentiva, k.s. |
| Tél/Tel: +32 280 86 420 | Tel: +370 52152025 |
| Etnrapua | Luxembourg/Luxemburg |
| Zentiva, k.s. | Zentiva, k.s. |
| Ten: +35924417136 | Tel/Tel: +352 208 82330 |
| Česká republika | Magyarorszag |
| Zentiva, k.s. | Zentiva Pharma Kft. |
| Tel: +420 267 241 111 | Tel.: +36 1 299 1058 |
| Danmark | Malta |
| Zentiva, k.s. | Zentiva, k.s. |
| Tlf: +45 787 68 400 | Tel: +356 277 82 052 |
| Deutschland | Nederland |
| Zentiva Pharma GmbH | Zentiva, k.s. |
| Tel: +49 (0) 800 53 53 010 | Tel: +31 202 253 638 |
| Eesti | Norge |
| Zentiva, k.s. | Zentiva, k.s. |
| Tel: +372 52 70308 | Tlf: +47 219 66 203 |
| EXXáSa | Österreich |
| Zentiva, k.s. | Zentiva, k.s. |
| Tql: +30 211 198 7510 | Tel: +43 720 778 877 |
| España | Polska |
| Zentiva, k.s. | Zentiva Polska Sp. z o.o. |
| Tel: +34 931 815 250 | Tel: + 48 22 375 92 00 |
| France Zentiva France Tel: +33 (0) 800 089 219 | Portugal Zentiva Portugal, Lda Tel: +351210601360 |
| Hrvatska Zentiva d.o.o. Tel: +385 1 6641 830 | Romania ZENTIVA S.A. Tel: +4 021.304.7597 |
| Ireland Zentiva, k.s. Tel: +353 766 803 944 | Slovenija Zentiva, k.s. Tel: +386 360 00 408 |
| Island Zentiva, k.s. Simi: +354 539 0650 | Slovenská republika Zentiva, a.s. Tel: +421 2 3918 3010 |
| Italia Zentiva Italia S.r.l. Tel: +39–02–38598801 | Suomi/Finland Zentiva, k.s. Puh/Tel: +358 942 598 648 |
| Knnpog Zentiva, k.s. Tql: +357 240 30 144 | Sverige Zentiva, k.s. Tel: +46 840 838 822 |
| Latvija Zentiva, k.s. Tel: +371 67893939 | United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) Zentiva, k.s. Tel: +44 (0) 800 090 2408 |
| This leaflet was last revised in |
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site:
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