Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION

What the medication is used for:

Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is a type of medicine called an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir contains 2 medicines, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) combined in one tablet.

Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is used:

• To treat HIV-1 Infection when used with other anti-HIV medicines in adults.

OR

• To help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection when used with safer sex practices in:

  • HIV-1 negative men who have sex with men, who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex.
  • Male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not.

This is sometimes called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP.

• Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is for adults age 18 and older. Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is not indicated in children under age 18 or adults over age 65.

What it does:

• Use of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to treat HIV-1 infection:

When used with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 infection, Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir helps block HIV reverse transcriptase, a chemical in your body (enzyme) that is needed for HIV to multiply. Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir lowers the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load). Lowering the amount of HIV in the blood lowers the chance of infections that happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

HIV infection destroys CD4+ (T) cells, which are important to the immune system. The immune system helps fight infection. After a large number of T cells are destroyed, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) develops. Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may also help to increase the number of T cells (CD4+ cells).

Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. If you have HIV-1 infection, you must stay on continuous HIV therapy to control HIV infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.

People taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that happen with HIV infection. Opportunistic infections are infections that develop because the immune system is weak. Some of these conditions are pneumonia, herpes virus infections, and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections.

• Use of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection (PrEP indication):

When used with safer sex practices, Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may help to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection:

• Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir works better to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when the medicines are in your bloodstream before you are exposed to HIV-1.

It is very important that you see your healthcare professional regularly while taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir.

Considerations when Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is used for PrEP:

• Together with your healthcare professional, you need to decide whether Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is right for you.
• Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir can only help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 before you are infected.

• Do not take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 if:

  • you already have HIV-1 infection. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to treat HIV-1. Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1.
  • you do not know your HIV-1 infection status. You may already be HIV-1 positive. You need to take other HIV-1 medicines with Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to treat HIV-1.
• Your healthcare professional will run tests to determine that you are HIV-negative before starting PrEP treatment.

When it should not be used:

Do not use Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir if:

• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients in this formulation (see: What the medicinal ingredients are; What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are)
• Do not use Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to reduce the risk of getting HIV if you already have HIV or do not know your HIV status.

What the medicinal ingredients are:

emtricitabine

tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF)

What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are:

croscarmellose sodium, colloidal silicone dioxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, FD&C blue #2, hypromellose, titanium dioxide and triacetin.

What dosage forms it comes in:

Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is available as tablets. Each tablet contains 200 mg of emtricitabine and 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (which is equivalent to 245 mg of tenofovir disoproxil), as active ingredients. The tablets are blue, capsule-shaped, film-coated, and debossed with “L24” on one side and plain on the other side. Each bottle contains 30 tablets and a desiccant (silica gel canister or sachet) and is closed with a child-resistant closure.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Serious Warnings and Precautions

• The most serious possible side effect is harm to the kidneys, including damage to kidney cells, kidney tissue inflammation and kidney failure. Your healthcare professional may monitor your kidney function before beginning and while receiving Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir. Some patients treated with tenofovir DF (a component of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir) have had kidney problems. Your healthcare professional may need to perform additional blood tests if you have had kidney problems in the past or need to take another drug that can cause kidney problems.
• If you are also infected with the Hepatitis B Virus, “flare-ups” of Hepatitis B Virus infection, in which the disease suddenly returns in a worse way than before, can occur if you stop taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir. Do not stop taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir without your healthcare professional’s advice. If you stop taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, tell your healthcare professional immediately about any new, unusual or worsening symptoms that you notice after stopping treatment. After you stop taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, your healthcare professional will still need to check your health and take blood tests to check your liver for several months. Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is not approved for the treatment of Hepatitis B Virus infection.

Do NOT take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir if:

• you are on other medications that may affect your kidneys and have not discussed this with your healthcare professional.
• you have or are at known risk for any type of bone disease or bone related problems and have not discussed this with your healthcare professional.
• you are allergic to Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir or any of its ingredients. The medicinal ingredients are emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (see: What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are).

• you are already taking 3TC® (lamivudine), ATRIPLA® (efavirenz / emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), Combivir® (lamivudine / ziovudine), COMPLERA® (emtricitabine / rilpivirine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), DESCOVY® (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine), GENVOYA® (elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine, tenofovir alafenamide), ODEFSEY^TM (emtricitabine / rilpivirine, tenofovir alafenamide), Heptovir® (lamivudine), Kivexa® (abacavir / lamivudine),

  • STRIBILD® (elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), Triumeq® (dolutegravir / abacavir / lamivudine), Trizivir® (abacavir / lamivudine / zidovudine), VEMLIDY^TM (tenofovir alafenamide) or VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) because these medicines contain the same or similar active ingredients
  • you are also taking HEPSERA® to treat your HBV infection

Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome) can happen when an HIV-1 infected person starts taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time, or you could develop an autoimmune disease in which your immune system reacts against your own body [e.g. Grave's disease (which affects the thyroid gland), Guillain-Barré syndrome (which affects the nervous system) or polymyositis (which affects the muscles)] and it may develop at any time, sometimes months later after the start of HIV therapy. Sometimes symptoms can be severe, so if you develop high temperature (fever), joint or muscle pain, redness, rash, swelling or fatigue, or any new symptoms, contact your healthcare professional right away.

Before taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection (PrEP indication):

• You must get tested to be sure you are HIV-negative. It is important that you also get tested at least every 3 months as recommended by your healthcare provider while taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir. Do not take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to reduce the risk of getting HIV (PrEP) unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative.

• Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms within the last month before you start taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir or at any time while taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir:

  • tiredness
  • fever
  • sweating a lot (especially at night)
  • rash
  • vomiting or diarrhea
  • joint or muscle aches
  • headache
  • sore throat
  • enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin

These may be signs of HIV infection and you may need to have a different kind of test to diagnose HIV. If you are already taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to prevent HIV-1 infection (PrEP), your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir until an HIV test confirms that you do not have HIV-1 infection.

Just taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may not keep you from getting HIV. Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir does NOT always prevent HIV.

You must still practice safer sex at all times. Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

You must also use other prevention methods to keep from getting HIV.

• Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.

•While taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, get tested at least every 3 months for HIV, as recommended by your healthcare provider. Ask your partners to get tested.

• If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. They may want to do more tests to be sure you are still HIV-negative.
• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and gonorrhea. These infections make it easier for HIV to infect you.
• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior.
• Have fewer sex partners.
• Do not miss any doses of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

BEFORE you use Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir (emtricitabine/tenofovir DF) talk to your healthcare professional:

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant: Pregnant mothers should not take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir unless specifically directed by the healthcare professional.

If you are a female who is taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to prevent HIV infection (PrEP) and you become pregnant while taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should continue taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir.

Pregnancy Registry. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry.

If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed: Do not breastfeed if you are taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir or have HIV. Emtricitabine and tenofovir DF, the two components of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, pass to your baby in your breast milk. You should not breastfeed because of the risk of passing HIV to your baby. Talk to your healthcare professional about the best way to feed your baby.

If you have other medical conditions: Let your healthcare professional know if you have other medical conditions, especially liver, bone and kidney problems.

If you are taking other medicines: Some medicines can interact when taken together, including prescription and non-prescription medicines and dietary supplements (see INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION).

If you are taking didanosine: Taking didanosine and Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may cause serious reactions including lactic acidosis (too much acid in the blood), pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas) and nerve damage (neuropathy) (see INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION and SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM).

Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir should not be used with or soon after cidofovir, acyclovir, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), due to potential harm to the kidneys.

It is a good idea to keep a complete list of all the medicines that you take. Make a new list when medicines are added or stopped. Give copies of this list to all of your healthcare providers every time you visit your healthcare professional or fill a prescription.

Other Special Warnings:

Your blood sugar levels (glucose) or levels of fats (lipids) in your blood may increase with HIV treatment. Your doctor may order blood tests for you.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

Let your healthcare professional know if you are taking these or any other medications:

• Drugs that contain didanosine (Videx®, Videx EC®). Tenofovir DF (a component of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir) may increase the amount of Videx in your blood. You may need to be followed more carefully if you are taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir and Videx together. Also, the dose of didanosine may need to be reduced.
• Reyataz® (atazanavir sulfate), Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir), Prezista® (darunavir), HARVONI® (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir), EPCLUSA™ (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) or VOSEVI^TM (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir). These medicines may increase the amount of tenofovir DF (a component of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir) in your blood, which could result in more side effects. You may need to be followed more carefully if you are taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir together with Reyataz, Kaletra, Prezista, HARVONI, EPCLUSA or VOSEVI. Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may decrease the amount of Reyataz in your blood. If you are taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir and Reyataz together, you should also be taking Norvir® (ritonavir).
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

Stay under a healthcare professional’s care when taking Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir. Do not change your treatment or stop treatment without first talking with your healthcare professional.

Take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir exactly as your healthcare professional prescribed it. Follow the directions from your healthcare professional, exactly as written on the label. Set up a dosing schedule and follow it carefully.

When used to treat HIV-1 infection, Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is always used with other HIV-1 medicines.

If you take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1:

• you must also use other methods to reduce your risk of getting HIV.
• take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1.

Avoid doing things that can increase your risk of getting HIV infection or spreading HIV infection to other people:

• Do not re-use or share needles or other injection equipment.
• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.
• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vagina secretions, or blood.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions on how to prevent getting HIV infection or spreading HIV infection to other people.

When your Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare professional. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir and become harder to treat.

Only take medicine that has been prescribed specifically for you. Do not give Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir to others or take medicine prescribed for someone else.

Do not use if seal over bottle opening is broken or missing.

Usual Adult Dose:

For the treatment of HIV-1 infection:

• The usual dose of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is one tablet orally (by mouth) once a day, in combination with other anti-HIV medicines.
• Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may be taken with or without a meal.

For prevention of HIV-1 infection (PrEP):

• The usual dose of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir is one tablet orally (by mouth) once a day.

• Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir may be taken with or without a meal.

  Overdosage:

Missed Dose:

It is important that you do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir and it is less than 12 hours from the time you usually take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, then take the dose. If more than 12 hours has passed from the time you usually take Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, then wait until the next scheduled daily dose. Do not take more than 1 dose of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir in a day. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. Call your healthcare professional if you are not sure what to do.

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

The most common side effects of Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir are:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache

Other side effects include:

• Stomach pain
• Indigestion
• Inflammation of the pancreas
• Sleeping problems
• Abnormal dreams
• Weakness
• Pain
• Shortness of breath
• Allergic reaction (including swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat)
• Rash
• Flatulence (intestinal gas)
• Skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) may also happen with Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir

Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in the hospital. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are very overweight (obese) or have been taking nucleoside analog medicines, like Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir, for a long time.

Muscle pain, muscle weakness, bone pain and softening of the bone (infrequently contributing to fractures) have also been reported.

There have been other side effects in patients taking EMTRIVA or VIREAD. This is not a complete list of side effects. If you have questions about side effects, ask your healthcare professional. You should report any new or continuing symptoms to your healthcare professional right away. Your healthcare professional may be able to help you manage these side effects.

HOW TO STORE IT

• Keep Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir and all other medications out of reach and sight of children.
• Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir should be stored at 15-30°C. Protect from moisture. It should remain stable until the expiration date printed on the label.
• Do not keep your medicine in places that are too hot or cold.
• Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. If you throw any medicines away, make sure that children will not find them.
• Keep Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir in its original container and keep the container tightly closed.

Reporting Side Effects

MORE INFORMATION

If you want more information about Sandoz Emtricitabine-Tenofovir:

• Talk to your healthcare professional

• Find the full Product Monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Consumer Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html); or by contacting the sponsor, Sandoz Canada Inc., at:

  1-800-361-3062

  or by written request at:

  110 de Lauzon

  Boucherville QC

  J4B 1E6

  Or by e-mail at :

  medinfo@sandoz.com

Last revised: April 24, 2019

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