Biktarvy

Common use

Biktarvy is a complete HIV-1 treatment in once-a-day single tablet that contains the three antiviral medicines bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Biktarvy works by preventing the HIV from multiplying in your body and lowers HIV blood levels, which decreases your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses, such as cancer or severe infections.

Dosage and direction

Take one tablet once a day, it can be taken with or without food. You should not change your dose or stop taking this medicine without first talking with your healthcare provider.
Usual Biktarvy dose in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 25 kg, or virologically-suppressed adults with estimated creatinine clearance below 15 mL/min receiving chronic hemodialysis: Biktarvy (Bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg) one tablet once a day, with or without food.
Recommended Biktarvy dosage in pregnant individuals who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no known substitutions associated with resistance to the individual components of Biktarvy: Biktarvy (Bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg) one tablet once a day, with or without food.
Usual Biktarvy dose pediatric (weighing 14 kg to less than 25 kg): Biktarvy (Bictegravir 30 mg/emtricitabine 120 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 15mg) one tablet once a day, with or without food.

Precautions

Renal impairment: Biktarvy is not recommended in patients with an estimated creatinine clearance of 15 to below 30 mL/min, or below 15 mL/min who are not receiving chronic hemodialysis, or below 15 mL/min who have no antiretroviral treatment history.
Hepatic impairment: This medicine is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Tell your doctor if you have or ever had: liver disease (especially cirrhosis); hepatitis B virus (HBV); kidney disease.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment with this medicine.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. This medicine passes to your baby in your breast milk.

Contraindications

Biktarvy is a complete treatment and should not be used with any other HIV medicines.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to antiviral medicines bictegravir, emtricitabine, or tenofovir contained in medicines such as Atripla, Complera, Emtriva, Descovy, Genvoya, Odefsey, Stribild, or Truvada.
Biktarvy is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment or patients with end-stage renal disease who are not receiving chronic hemodialysis, or patients with no antiretroviral treatment history and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are receiving chronic hemodialysis.

Possible side effect

The most common Biktarvy side effects include: Diarrhea; Nausea; Headache; Tiredness; Abnormal dreams; Dizziness; Sleep problems; Bloating abdomen.
If you are allergic to Biktarvy, get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, including rash, hives, shortness of breath, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Biktarvy may cause other serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have: Kidney problems - little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath; Lactic acidosis - muscle pain or weakness, numbness or cold feeling, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, irregular heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired; or Liver problems - swelling around your midsection, upper stomach pain, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Biktarvy affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have: Signs of a new infection - fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss; Trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or Swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Drug interaction

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Biktarvy, and your doctor may need to change your treatment plan. Do not take Biktarvy if you also take a medicine that contains: dofetilide; or rifampin.
It is not recommended to take Biktarvy with: Rifabutin; Rifapentine; St. John's wort.
When taking Biktarvy, alternative anticonvulsants should be considered instead of: carbamazepine; oxcarbazepine; phenobarbital; phenytoin.
Avoid taking these tablets with other medications that may also harm the kidneys.
Antacids containing aluminium/magnesium: Biktarvy can be taken at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking antacids containing aluminium/magnesium.

Missed dose

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store tablets in the original bottle below 86 °F (30 °C). Keep the bottle tightly closed. Store the tablets blister pack at room temperature between 68 °F to 77 °F (20 °C to 25 °C). Keep tablets in its original bottle or blister pack, away from children and pets.