Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide) is a brand-name oral tablet prescribed for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in certain people at risk of developing HIV. Descovy also treats HIV in certain people. This article covers topics such as side effects, dosage, and more.

Descovy belongs to a drug class called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The medication is not available in a generic version.

Read on for more information about Descovy. You can also refer to this in-depth Descovy article.

Descovy has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Before taking Descovy” section.

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) refers to taking an HIV treatment, such as Descovy, before potential exposure to HIV. Taking PrEP treatment daily (or as prescribed) can lower the risk of contracting HIV.

PrEP is used for people with an increased risk of developing HIV. This includes people who:

Symptoms of HIV

HIV is a virus that transmits through bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Once HIV is inside your body, it attacks certain immune system cells. Your immune system acts as your body’s defense mechanism against infection.

Specifically, HIV attacks CD4 cells, which are also called T cells. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell. They help direct how your immune system responds to an infection. Without treatment, HIV can cause your CD4 cell count to decrease. This reduces the immune system’s ability to fight infections.

Symptoms of HIV can vary depending on how much the condition has progressed and other factors. Early symptoms may include flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, muscle weakness, and unintended weight loss.

Left untreated, HIV can cause your CD4 counts to drop to levels low enough to be dangerous. If this happens, you may be at risk for developing opportunistic infections. These infections are most likely to affect people with reduced immune system activity. In people with HIV, opportunistic infections can be life threatening.

Who can take Descovy for PrEP?

Descovy is approved for use as PrEP in certain people with an increased risk of developing HIV. This includes certain adults as well as certain adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (lb) (35 kilograms [kg]). Descovy isn’t approved for PrEP use in females at risk for contracting HIV through vaginal sex. The drug’s effectiveness for HIV PrEP hasn’t been tested in this group of people. (Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.)

People taking Descovy for PrEP must receive a negative HIV test result immediately before starting treatment. Your doctor will order this test for you. You’ll also need to take an HIV test and have a negative result every 3 months while taking Descovy for PrEP.

Descovy and children

Descovy is approved for use as HIV PrEP in certain adolescents weighing at least 77 lb (35 kg), as well as in certain adults. See “Who can use Descovy for PrEP?” for details.

Descovy is approved for use as PrEP to help prevent HIV in certain adults and adolescents. If your doctor has prescribed the drug, you may be wondering how Descovy works as PrEP.

Descovy contains two active drugs: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. Both drugs prevent HIV from multiplying (making copies of itself) by blocking a certain enzyme that HIV needs to multiply. An enzyme is a type of protein.

When taken for PrEP, Descovy helps to prevent the virus from starting an attack against your immune system. If HIV enters your body, it likely won’t be able to multiply. This means that the virus will be unlikely to grow or spread.

Descovy has been shown to be effective as PrEP in helping prevent HIV in a clinical study. People in the study took either Descovy or Truvada, which is another medication used for PrEP. At the end of the study, nearly all the people taking either Descovy or Truvada did not contract HIV.

Currently, two oral combination drugs are available for HIV PrEP:

  • emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (Descovy)
  • emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada)

For PrEP to be effective at preventing HIV, you must follow the treatment plan your doctor prescribes. See the “Taking Descovy” section for information about the drug’s dosage. You can also read this Descovy dosage article.

To learn more about how Truvada and Descovy compare, see this Truvada vs. Descovy article.

Descovy is approved for use as PrEP to help prevent HIV. The following information highlights details about taking Descovy for PrEP.

Dosage

Descovy comes as an oral tablet. It contains two active drugs: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. Descovy is available in two strengths: 200 milligrams (mg) emtricitabine/25 mg tenofovir alafenamide and 120 mg emtricitabine/15 mg tenofovir alafenamide.

The typical Descovy for PrEP dosage is one tablet daily.

Note: In addition to being used for PrEP, Descovy is also used to treat HIV in certain people. Keep in mind that the drug’s dosage may differ with these other uses. To learn more, talk with your doctor.

How to take

You can take Descovy with or without food. You should take it at about the same time every day.

How often to take

You will take Descovy once a day.

Descovy may cause side effects that are mild or serious. The lists below include some of the side effects that have been reported by people taking Descovy for PrEP to help prevent HIV.

To learn about other potential side effects of the drug, including side effects from taking Descovy to treat HIV infection, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see our side effect article about Descovy or refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Descovy and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Like most drugs, Descovy can cause some mild side effects. The more common mild side effects of Descovy when used for PrEP in a clinical study include:

These side effects of Descovy may be temporary and last for a few days or weeks. But if they last for a longer time, bother you, or become severe, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Descovy are rare but can occur.

Talk with your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while taking Descovy. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Serious side effects from Descovy can include:

* Descovy has a boxed warningTrusted Source for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Before taking Descovy” section below.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Descovy can cause an allergic reaction.

But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Descovy, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

Before you take Descovy, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some of these are mentioned here.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

  • Worsening hepatitis B: There have been reports of worsening hepatitis B in people who stop taking drugs that contain emtricitabine or tenofovir disproxil fumarate. Because Descovy contains emtricitabine, this side effect may occur in someone who has hepatitis B and stops taking Descovy. If you have hepatitis B, your doctor will test your liver function after you stop Descovy treatment. They may recommend a treatment other than Descovy if needed.
  • Resistance to Descovy treatment: If you have HIV and take Descovy for PrEP, the virus can become resistant to Descovy. Resistance means that the drug won’t be as effective at treating your HIV. Because of this, you’ll be tested for HIV immediately before your first dose of Descovy. You’ll need to have a negative test result before your doctor will prescribe the drug. You’ll also have an HIV test every 3 months to confirm that you still have a negative HIV status.

Other warnings

In addition to boxed warnings, Descovy has other warnings.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before taking Descovy:

  • if you have liver problems, including hepatitis B
  • if you have kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease
  • if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • if you’re breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding
  • if you’ve had an allergic reaction to Descovy or any of its ingredients

How much Descovy costs depends on several factors. These can include your prescribed treatment regimen, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location.

To save money on your Descovy prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.)

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.