Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (em tri sit' uh bean)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Emtricitabine is used along with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Emtricitabine is in a class of medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. Although emtricitabine does not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other life-style changes may decrease the risk of transmitting (spreading) the HIV virus to other people.


How should this medicine be used?

Emtricitabine comes as a capsule, a tablet, and a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take emtricitabine at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take emtricitabine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Emtricitabine controls HIV infection but does not cure it. Continue to take emtricitabine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking emtricitabine without talking to your doctor. When your supply of emtricitabine starts to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist. If you miss doses or stop taking emtricitabine, your condition may become more difficult to treat.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking emtricitabine,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to emtricitabine or any other medications.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you more carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, any type of infection that does not go away or that comes and goes such as tuberculosis (TB; a type of lung infection) or cytomegalovirus (CMV; a viral infection that may cause symptoms in patients with weak immune systems) or kidney disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking emtricitabine, call your doctor. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You should not breast-feed if you are infected with HIV or if you are taking emtricitabine.
  • you should know that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body such as your breasts and upper back.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Emtricitabine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • headache
  • diarrhea
  • change in skin color, especially on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet
  • indigestion
  • joint pain
  • unusual dreams
  • depression
  • trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
  • numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
  • runny nose
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, or those mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
  • fever, chills, sore throat, cough, or other signs of infection
  • rash

Emtricitabine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store the capsules at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Store the solution in the refrigerator, but do not freeze it. If you prefer not to refrigerate the solution, you may store it at room temperature for up to 3 months. Discard any unused solution that has not been refrigerated after 3 months.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.


Drug Category/Class

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Direct Acting Antivirals
  • Antivirals for Systemic Use
  • Nucleoside and Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Antiinfectives for Systemic Use
  • Nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors
  • Antivirals for treatment of HIV infections, combinations
Prescribed Indicated, in combination with other antiretroviral agents, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and for postexposure prophylaxis of HIV ...
Weight :247.247
Structure Emtricitabine
Generic Drug Emtricitabine prescribed Indicated, in combination with other antiretroviral agents, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and for postexposure prophylaxis of HIV ...
Formula

C8H10FN3O3S

Emtricitabine has 0 Brands listed


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