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Emtricitabine

Emtricitabine is an antiviral medicine of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. It is used together with other antiretroviral agents to treat HIV-1 infection, and it reduces the amount of HIV in the blood. In the tablet supplied here it is paired with tenofovir, so both medicines are taken in one dose.

Medicine containing Emtricitabine

Tenofovir + Emtricitabine

HIV Infection, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

300/200mg

Tenofovir and emtricitabine are combined in a tablet for HIV infection and pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is supplied in a single strength; pack sizes vary. Each option lists its price per tablet.

FromUS$1.84/ tabletView

Key points

  • Emtricitabine is an NRTI, given with other antiretroviral agents for HIV-1 infection, and its effect is to lower the amount of virus circulating in the blood.
  • Removal from the body is mainly through the kidneys: after a radiolabelled dose, roughly 86% is recovered in urine and roughly 14% in faeces.
  • Skin hyperpigmentation was very common in children taking emtricitabine, occurring in 10% or more, and it affects the palms or soles in particular.

What it is used for

Emtricitabine treats HIV infection. It is not given on its own; the indication is for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents against HIV-1. The same ingredient also forms part of regimens for pre-exposure prophylaxis, taken before possible exposure to lower the risk of acquiring the virus.

How it works

Once inside cells, emtricitabine is converted by cellular enzymes into its active triphosphate form. That metabolite interferes with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, the enzyme the virus needs to build new DNA, and the growing viral chain is terminated before it is complete. With replication blocked, the viral load falls.

Emtricitabine tablets supplied here

Tenofovir + Emtricitabine 300/200 mg tablets put the two NRTIs into a single tablet, covering both ingredients at once. The pair is used for HIV infection and for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Orders are prepared by pharmacy partners in India and shipped to Malaysia in discreet packaging.

Safety and monitoring

A boxed warning applies to hepatitis B. Among people coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV who discontinue emtricitabine, severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis B have been reported, including liver decompensation and liver failure. Those with both infections who stop treatment need close clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months afterwards. Where appropriate, starting anti-hepatitis B therapy may be warranted, especially for people with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, since a flare after treatment ends can lead to decompensation and liver failure.

What the sources say

  • The mean absolute bioavailability of emtricitabine capsules is 93% (DailyMed).
  • Emtricitabine is phosphorylated to emtricitabine 5’-triphosphate, which inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by competing with deoxycytidine 5’-triphosphate and by being incorporated into viral DNA, causing chain termination (DailyMed).
  • If appropriate, anti-hepatitis B therapy may be started, particularly in advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, because a post-treatment hepatitis flare can cause hepatic decompensation and liver failure (DailyMed).

Further reading

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