emtricitabine

Sold under Emtriva, Emtricitabine is an antiretroviral drug that is typically used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection in both adults and children. According to aidsmap.com, Emtricitabine reduces the amount of HIV in the body “by slowing down or preventing damage to the immune system and also by reducing the risk of developing AIDS-related illnesses”. And even though this antiviral drug is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV), it still exhibits clinical activity against it. Thankfully, when it comes to the side effects of Emtricitabine, toxicity with this drug is unusual in clinical practice. According to Wikipedia, “the most common treatment-related adverse events are diarrhea, headache, nausea, and rash”. Plus, all of the previously mentioned side effects are generally mild to moderate in severity. There’s yet another side effect that is thankfully quite rare, and it’s skin discoloration, which “usually affects either the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet”. However, hepatotoxicity and lactic acidosis are among the more severe side effects that patients may experience. According to drugs.com, “this drug has been evaluated in a limited number of women during pregnancy.” And this data “showed no malformations, fetotoxicity, or neonatal toxicity”. However, you may need to consult your doctor before taking Emtricitabine to make sure that it’s completely safe for you and your baby to use it.