Truvada, the first HIV prevention pill, was approved by the FDA in 2012 as a once a day medication. When taken regularly and correctly, the pill may reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 90 percent.

Truvada is manufactured by Gilead Sciences Inc. and is very expensive. A month’s worth of Truvada costs almost $2,000. While Truvada does not stop HIV, according to Time magazine, it can reduce someone’s risk of contracting the virus, as well as slow down the disease’s progression.

How Does Truvada Work?

Approximately 50,000 Americans each year contract HIV. The HIV virus attacks infection-fighting immune cells. Uninfected people take Truvada to block the virus’s ability to infect these healthy cells and replicate.

Medical News Today says that Truvada is often regarded as a first-choice medicine for those just beginning their HIV treatment, when it is used in combination with other drugs. However, some medical providers may prescribe it as a second option, to patients who have already tried other HIV drugs and have not responded well to them.

Gilead Sciences also makes other tenofovir-based antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment.

Why Would You Take Truvada?

Truvada has been approved for use by healthy people at risk of contracting HIV. People who may want to take Truvada to reduce their risk of contracting the virus include HIV-negative people in relationships with HIV-positive partners, sex workers, and people who use IV drugs or engage in high-risk behaviors.

Medical News Today explains that Truvada is not only used as an HIV prevention drug. Some patients take Truvada to manage HIV that they already have. The drug is used to lower the amount of the virus present in their bodies, which can help to slow the progression of the condition.

The drug is often used as a “backbone” medication, forming the basis for a larger treatment plan. It is an antiviral medication, and is often used in concert with other antiviral drugs. According to Medical News Today, other antiviral drugs that can be used in a treatment plan with Truvada may include raltegravir (lsentress) and dolutegravir (Tivicay).

The efficacy of Truvada varies depending on the patient. Reportedly, other health conditions can impact how well Truvada may work in a given case, as well as the particularities of their HIV case. As is the case for many drugs, Truvada works best when a patient adheres to their treatment plan, and takes their medications the way they are supposed to.

Medical News Today goes on to outline some statistics on how well Truvada works. One study indicated that over 90 percent of patients who took Truvada and dolutegravir (Tivicay) together saw a notable reduction in their HIV level. A person whose treatment reduces their HIV levels by a specific amount is considered a responder for that treatment, says the article. Another study reportedly showed that 84 percent of people who took Truvada and efavirenz (Sustiva) together were responders after 48 weeks, and 71 percent were responders after 144 weeks.

However, there are many serious side effects associated with Truvada, like kidney disease.

What are the Side Effects of Truvada?

Even though Truvada can help to protect people from contracting HIV, the drug may also cause several severe side effects consumers should be aware of. Some of these side effects may be fatal if not diagnosed and treated quickly. More dangerous Truvada side effects may include:

• Liver problems, characterized by jaundice, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal pain.
• Kidney problems or kidney failure
• Excessive lactic acid in the blood, which may be fatal.
  Symptoms of lactic acid build up in the blood may include weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, unusual muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, cold or bluish extremities, dizziness, abnormally fast heartbeat.
• Bone problems, which may include bone pain, fractures, and bone thinning or softening.

Other common Truvada complications may include abdominal pain, headache, weight loss, diarrhea, dizziness, sleeping problems, back pain, or change in skin color.

What is Controversial About Truvada?

According to multiple lawsuits filed by patients who take Truvada, the manufacturer may have intentionally delayed the development and sale of a safer version of the drug to maintain profits. In addition to refusing to manufacture a safer version of the life-saving medication, according to these plaintiffs, Gilead Sciences may have covered up the risks of kidney and bone problems associated with their drug.

If you take Truvada and have suffered severe kidney or bone problems due to the drug’s side effects, you may be eligible to hire a qualified attorney and file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer. Victims who pursue litigation against drug manufacturers for undisclosed side effects may be able to collect compensation for injuries and lasting side effects, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.