RETROVIR vs VIREAD

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 22, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. RETROVIR and VIREAD are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	RETROVIR	VIREAD
Rating	New	70/100
Pharmacy pays	~$8.73 /30	~$9.50 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	ZIDOVUDINE	TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE
Manufacturer	Viiv Hlthcare	Gilead Sciences Inc
Dosage forms	Capsule, Injectable, Solution	Powder, Tablet
Drug class	—	Hepatitis B Virus Nucleoside Analog Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	Boxed warning
Treats	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	Chronic Hepatitis B, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

retrovir viread

Rating

New

70/100

Pharmacy pays

~$8.73 /30

~$9.50 /30

Type

Active ingredient

ZIDOVUDINE

TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE

Manufacturer

Viiv Hlthcare

Gilead Sciences Inc

Dosage forms

Capsule, Injectable, Solution

Powder, Tablet

Drug class

—

Hepatitis B Virus Nucleoside Analog Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor

Boxed warning

Treats

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Chronic Hepatitis B, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Retrovir or Viread?

Retrovir costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $8.73 vs $9.50 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Retrovir and Viread?

Retrovir contains Zidovudine, while Viread contains Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.