Health Centres - Emtriva (emtricitabine)
How does it work?
Emtriva capsules and oral solution contain the active ingredient emtricitabine, which is a type of medicine called a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is caused by infection with HIV. This virus invades cells of the immune system, particularly the white blood cells known as CD4 T-helper lymphocytes. These cells normally work to activate other cells in the immune system to fight infection. Since HIV kills CD4 T-helper cells, over time the body becomes less able to fight the virus or subsequent infections.
Once the virus is inside the CD4 T-cell it multiplies. Part of the process of viral multiplication involves the conversion of the virus genetic material, RNA, into DNA. This is achieved by a compound essential to the virus, called reverse transcriptase. Reverse transcriptase is a compound known as an enzyme. Emtricitabine works by blocking the action of this enzyme, thereby interfering with the conversion of viral RNA into DNA. This stops the virus from multiplying.
There is no cure for HIV, but emtricitabine is one of a number of medications that lowers the amount of virus in the body (viral load) and slows the progression of the disease from HIV to AIDS. Emtricitabine is used in conjunction with other anti-HIV drugs that attack the HIV virus in different ways. This helps prevent the virus becoming resistant to the medicine.
The manufacturer has not studied the use of emtricitabine in people who are failing their current anti-HIV regimen or who have failed multiple regimens.
What is it used for?
Warning!
- The HIV virus is very good at becoming resistant to anti-HIV medicines. For this reason it is very important that you carefully follow your doctor's instructions for taking your anti-HIV medicines, in order to maintain effective levels of the medicines in your blood. If the blood levels drop, the virus will be given more chance to replicate and develop resistance to the drugs. Skipping even a few doses increases the risk of treatment failure, so you should try to ensure that you take all your doses at the correct time, and that you visit your doctor for repeat prescriptions before you run out.
- Treatment of HIV infection with anti-HIV medicines such as this one does not reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to other people through sexual contact or blood contamination. You should continue to use condoms to prevent transmitting the virus to your sexual partner.
- If you have any problems with your liver, in particular chronic hepatitis B or C, your liver function should be monitored while you are taking this medicine.
- Your doctor may prescribe you a lower than normal dose of this medicine if you have problems with your kidneys.
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