Epzicom vs. Truvada

• Are Epzicom and Truvada the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Epzicom?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Truvada?
• What Is Epzicom?
• What Is Truvada?
• What Drugs Interact with Epzicom?
• What Drugs Interact with Truvada?
• How Should Epzicom Be Taken?
• How Should Truvada Be Taken?

Epzicom (abacavir sulfate and lamivudine) and Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) are combinations of antiviral drugs used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Epzicom and Truvada are not cures for HIV or AIDS.

Side effects of Epzicom and Truvada that are similar include headache, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, trouble sleeping, strange dreams, depression, and changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk).

Side effects of Epzicom that are different from Truvada include tiredness and anxiety.

Side effects of Truvada that are different from Epzicom include vomiting, stomach pain, joint pain, back pain, itching or skin rash, and changes in the color of skin on your palms or soles of your feet.

Both Epzicom and Truvada may interact with other antiviral medicines.

Epzicom may also interact with methadone, ribavirin, and interferon.

Truvada may also interact with lithium, methotrexate, pain or arthritis medicines, medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, IV antibiotics, cancer medicines, herpes medications, medications to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV), or other HIV medicines.

Common side effects of Epzicom include:

• headache,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• dizziness,
• tiredness,
• trouble sleeping,
• strange dreams,
• depression,
• anxiety, or
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Epzicom including:

• unexplained weight loss,
• persistent muscle aches or weakness,
• joint pain,
• numbness or tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs,
• severe tiredness,
• vision changes,
• severe or persistent headaches,
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores),
• signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability, nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter),
• signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (such as difficulty breathing/swallowing/moving your eyes, drooping face, paralysis, slurred speech),
• mental/mood changes (such as depression, anxiety),
• easy bruising or bleeding, or
• signs of anemia (such as unusual tiredness, fast breathing, pale skin, fast heartbeat).

Common side effects of Truvada include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• depression,
• joint pain,
• trouble sleeping,
• strange dreams,
• back pain,
• itching or skin rash,
• changes in the color of skin on your palms or soles of your feet, or
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Truvada including:

• mental/mood changes (such as depression, anxiety),
• loss of appetite,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• pink or bloody urine, or
• changes in the amount of urine.

Epzicom (abacavir sulfate and lamivudine) is a type of antiviral medication called a reverse transcriptase inhibitor used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Epzicom is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a combination of antiviral drugs used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Truvada is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Epzicom may interact with methadone, ribavirin, interferon, or other medications that contain abacavir or lamivudine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Epzicom should be used only when prescribed. HIV medicines are usually given to pregnant women with HIV. Treatment has been shown to decrease the risk of HIV transmission to the baby. This drug may be part of that treatment. Consult your doctor. It is unknown if abacavir passes into breast milk. Lamivudine passes into breast milk. Because breast milk can transmit HIV, do not breastfeed.

Truvada may interact with lithium, methotrexate, pain or arthritis medicines, medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, IV antibiotics, antiviral medicines, cancer medicines, herpes medications, medications to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV), or other HIV medicines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Truvada should be used only when prescribed. It is normal to prescribe HIV medicines such as Truvada for pregnant women with HIV. This can decrease the risk of passing HIV to the baby. Truvada may be part of that treatment. Consult your doctor. It is unknown if Truvada passes into breast milk. Because breast milk can transmit HIV, do not breastfeed.

The recommended oral dose of Epzicom for adults is one tablet daily, in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

The dose of Truvada for adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with body weight 35 kg (77 lb) or more is one tablet (200 mg of emtricitabine and 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) once daily taken orally with or without food.