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Tenofovir is an antiviral FDA-approved medication. This helps lessen the infection in adults and children 2 years of age. The medicine comes as a 300 mg tablet for oral use.
What condition does Tenofovir treat?
Tenofovir is a type of medication called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of HIV infection and chronic hepatitis B infection. Tenofovir is used in combination with other HIV medicines.
People with this type of infection must use HIV medications regularly to help them live longer with healthier lives. This type of medicine also lessens the risk of HIV transmission. If you are using Tenofovir with other HIV medications do not cut them down or stop taking them unless it is directed by your doctor.
How does Tenofovir work?
The HIV infection invades the cells of the immune system particularly the CD4 T-helper lymphocytes. These are white blood cells that normally work to activate other immune system cells to fight infection. The HIV infection kills the CD4 T-helper which makes the body less able to fight off the virus that causes the infection. Once the virus is in the CD4 T-helper it increases and grows. In the viral multiplication process, the conversion of the RNA into DNA is involved. This is achieved by a reverse transcriptase which is an essential compound called an enzyme.
Tenofovir works by blocking the action of reverse transcriptase thus interfering with the conversion of RNA into DNA. As a result, it stops the virus from multiplying.
In chronic hepatitis B infection, this medication lowers the amount of hepatitis B virus in the body. This leads to a reduction in liver damage and an improvement in liver function. Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver which leads to a damaged liver. The virus multiplies once it is in the liver cells. It makes a copy of its genetic material which is DNA. This is achieved by a viral DNA polymerase which is essential to the hepatitis virus.
What is the dosage of Tenofovir?
Your dose and how often you take Tenofovir will depend on:
- How severe your condition is
- Your age and the condition being treated
- How you react to the first dose
- Other medical conditions you have
Dosage for HIV infection
- Adult dosage ages 18 years and older: The typical dose is one 300 mg tablet each day.
- Child dosage ages 12 to 17 years: The typical dose is one 300 mg tablet each day.
- Child dosage ages 2 to 11 years: Your child’s doctor will provide a dosage based on your child’s specific weight.
Dosage for chronic hepatitis B virus infection
- Adult dosage ages 18 years and older: The typical dose is one 300 mg tablet each day.
- Child dosage ages 12 to 17 years: The typical dosage is one 300 mg tablet each day.
If you are 65 years or older, your doctor may adjust your dose. You might be having changes such as reduced kidney function. Wherein, it may cause you to need a lower dosage of medication. Also, for people with kidney disease, you need to talk to your doctor before taking this drug. Tenofovir is removed from your body by your kidneys. Kidney disease can raise the drug levels in your body that may result in a serious side effect. Your doctor may recommend a lower dose for you.
What are the precautions in using Tenofovir?
- This medication is used for the long-term treatment of HIV infection. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection usually obliges long-term treatment. There might be very serious health concerns if you don’t take this medicine exactly as it is prescribed.
- To keep your HIV under control, you need a certain amount of the drug in your body all the time. If you miss doses, stop taking the medicine, or are not able to take it on a regular schedule, the amount of medicine in your body will change. Forgetting even a few doses is sufficient to permit HIV to become resistant to this medicine. This can lead to health problems or serious infections.
- Tenofovir may cause new or worsening kidney function. Your doctor must check your kidney function regularly.
- This drug should not be used along with a product that already has Tenofovir. Taking these products with Tenofovir may cause you to get an excessive amount of the drug and might result in more side effects. Some of these combination medicines include Truvada, Stribild, Odefsey, Genvoya, Descovy, Complera, and Atripla.
