Emtricitabine/Tenofovir

Buy Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Online

You can order Emtricitabine/Tenofovir online in the UK from our registered pharmacy. Complete the online medical assessment to be reviewed by one of our prescribers. If approved, your medication will be dispensed by our pharmacy team for next day delivery to your address. 

About Emtricitabine/Tenofovir

Emtricitabine/Tenofovir (Generic Truvada) PrEP treatment was launched in 2012 and became available on the NHS in 2017.  It is a daily pill combining two drugs which, when taken before exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), can help prevent the risk of infection if the body does come into contact with a carrier.  It is the first pharmacological option on the market for this purpose and is now used widely around the world for daily use.  In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the drug for those who are at substantial risk of infection.

How effective is Emtricitabine/Tenofovir (PrEP)?

Studies show that Emtricitabine/Tenofovir works 99% of the time if you take it every day without fail.  When taken on average 4 times a week, this drops to 96%.  The protection for taking 2 tablets per week drops substantially to just 76%, which shows that when taken as guided, it can have a very positive outcome for anyone in danger of catching the virus.  

Patients should note that the WHO has asserted that it takes 7 days from beginning the treatment before there are high enough levels of the drug in the bloodstream for full protection during possible anal transmission.  The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that 20 days is required for HIV exposure from the injection of drugs and for women who are at risk due to vaginal sex transmission.  

How does Emtricitabine/Tenofovir (PrEP) work?

Emtricitabine/Tenofovir is designed to stop the virus from being able to enter and overtake healthy cells within the body due to the presence of these drugs in the bloodstream.  It is an antiretroviral drug, or ARV, which works by inhibiting certain enzymes required by the virus to replicate itself and take a hold.  In this case, the reverse transcriptase enzyme is predominantly halted in its replication, along with the integral and protease enzymes.  Due to the virus’s ability to adapt itself and become resistant to drugs, a combination is used to keep it at bay.  By taking Emtricitabine/Tenofovir, the immune system is able to repair itself, thus preventing further longterm damage as the virus loses its hold on the body.

It is crucial you take an HIV test to determine whether or not you are HIV-negative before beginning PrEP.  If infected, the virus requires more than these two drugs to be stemmed.  You will also build up a resistance to both Emtricitabine and Tenofovir if you take PrEP whilst HIV positive without other medications making them ineffective and allowing the virus to become more established.

Taking PrEP after exposure will not protect you from developing the virus.  In this instance, you require Post Exposure Prophylaxis treatment or PEP.

What is contained in Emtricitabine/Tenofovir (PrEP)?

The active ingredients found in PrEP are emtricitabine and tenofovir which are both seen to inhibit the enzyme in the HIV virus which causes it to be able to establish itself within the body.

The following list are the inactive ingredients which make up this fixed-dose combination tablet:

• croscarmellose sodium
• lactose monohydrate
• magnesium stearate
• microcrystalline cellulose
• pregelatinized starch (gluten free).

If you are lactose intolerant, please let your GP or Click Pharmacy doctor know in advance of beginning this treatment.

Patient Information Leaflet

Always read the patient information leaflet before starting your treatment. The patient information can be found here.