Tenofovir Disoproxil: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Tenofovir Disoproxil is a hepatitis b virus nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for chronic hepatitis b and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Hepatitis B Virus Nucleoside Analog Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
- Treats (across its forms)
- Chronic Hepatitis B and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Available as
- Powder · Tablet
- Sold as
- 2 products — Viread and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $10 for a 30-count supply — not your price
- Boxed warning
- Boxed warning
How tenofovir disoproxil is dosed
From the FDA label for Viread (application NDA021356). Other tenofovir disoproxil products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Testing: Prior to or when initiating VIREAD test for hepatitis B virus infection and HIV-1 infection. Prior to initiation and during use of VIREAD, on a clinically appropriate schedule, assess serum creatinine, estimated creatinine clearance, urine glucose, and urine protein in all patients. In patients with chronic kidney disease, also assess serum phosphorous. ( 2.1 ) Recommended tablet dosage in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 35 kg: One VIREAD 300 mg tablet once daily taken orally without regard to food. ( 2.2 ) Recommended dosage in pediatric patients at least 2 years of age and adults: Tablets: For patients weighing at least 17 kg who can swallow an intact tablet, one VIREAD tablet (150 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg, or 300 mg based on body weight) once daily taken orally without regard to food. ( 2.2 ) Oral powder: For patients weighing at least 10 kg and unable to swallow a tablet, 8 mg per kg VIREAD oral powder (up to a maximum of 300 mg) taken once daily with food. ( 2.3 ) Recommended dosage in renally impaired adult patients: Creatinine clearance (CrCl) 30–49 mL/min: 300 mg every 48 hours. ( 2.4 ) CrCl 10–29 mL/min: 300 mg every 72 to 96 hours. ( 2.4 ) Hemodialysis: 300 mg every 7 days or after approximately 12 hours of dialysis. ( 2.4 ) 2.1 Testing Prior to Initiation of VIREAD for Treatment of HIV-1 Infection or Chronic Hepatitis B Prior to or when initiating…
Tenofovir Disoproxil side effects
The following adverse reactions are discussed in other sections of the labeling: Severe Acute Exacerbation of Hepatitis B in Patients with HBV Infection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . New Onset or Worsening Renal Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Immune Reconstitution Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . Bone Loss and Mineralization Defects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . Lactic Acidosis/Severe Hepatomegaly with Steatosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] . In HIV-infected adult subjects: Most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 10%, Grades 2–4) were rash, diarrhea, nausea, headache, pain, depression, and asthenia. ( 6.1 ) In HBV-infected subjects with compensated liver disease: Most common adverse reaction (all grades) was nausea (9%). ( 6.1 ) In HBV-infected subjects with decompensated liver disease: Most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 10%, all grades) were abdominal pain, nausea, insomnia, pruritus, vomiting, dizziness, and pyrexia. ( 6.1 ) In pediatric subjects: Adverse reactions in pediatric subjects were consistent with those observed in adults. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Gilead Sciences, Inc. at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely…
Who shouldn’t take tenofovir disoproxil
None. None. ( 4 )
Tenofovir Disoproxil drug interactions
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate increases didanosine concentrations. Dose reduction and close monitoring for didanosine toxicity are warranted. ( 7.2 ) Coadministration decreases atazanavir concentrations. When coadministered with VIREAD, use atazanavir given with ritonavir. ( 7.2 ) Coadministration of VIREAD with certain HIV-1 protease inhibitors or certain drugs to treat HCV increases tenofovir concentrations. Monitor for evidence of tenofovir toxicity. ( 7.2 ) Consult Full Prescribing Information prior to and during treatment for important drug interactions. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Drugs Affecting Renal Function Tenofovir is primarily eliminated by the kidneys [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Coadministration of VIREAD with drugs that are eliminated by active tubular secretion may increase concentrations of tenofovir and/or the coadministered drug. Some examples include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, cidofovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin), and high-dose or multiple NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Drugs that decrease renal function may increase concentrations of tenofovir. In the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, VIREAD should not be administered in combination with HEPSERA (adefovir dipivoxil). 7.2 Established and Significant Interactions Table 12 provides a listing of established or clinically significant drug interactions. The drug interactions described are based on studies conducted with TDF [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Table 12 Established and Significant This table is not all inclusive. Drug Interactions: Alteration in Dose or Regimen May Be Recommended Based on Drug Interaction Trials Concomitant Drug Class: Drug Name Effect on Concentration ↑=Increase, ↓=Decrease Clinical Comment NRTI: didanosine ↑ didanosine Patients receiving VIREAD and didanosine should be monitored closely for didanosine-associated adverse reactions. Discontinue didanosine in patients who develop didanosine-associated adverse reactions. Higher didanosine concentrations could potentiate didanosine-associated adverse reactions, including pancreatitis, and neuropathy. Suppression of CD4+ cell counts has been observed in patients receiving VIREAD with didanosine 400 mg daily. In patients weighing greater than 60 kg, reduce the didanosine dose to 250 mg when it is coadministered with VIREAD. In patients weighing less than 60 kg, reduce the didanosine dose to 200 mg when it is coadministered with VIREAD. When coadministered, VIREAD and Videx EC may be taken under fasted conditions or with a light meal (less than 400 kcal, 20% fat). HIV-1 Protease Inhibitor s: atazanavir ↓ atazanavir When coadministered with VIREAD, atazanavir 300 mg should be given with ritonavir 100 mg. lopinavir/ritonavir atazanavir/ritonavir darunavir/ritonavir ↑ tenofovir Monitor patients receiving VIREAD concomitantly with lopinavir/ritonavir, ritonavir-boosted atazanavir, or ritonavir-boosted darunavir for TDF-associated adverse reactions. Discontinue VIREAD in patients who develop TDF-associated adverse reactions. Hepatitis C Antiviral Agents: sofosbuvir/velpatasvir sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir ↑ tenofovir Monitor patients receiving VIREAD concomitantly with EPCLUSA ® (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for adverse reactions associated with TDF. ledipasvir/sofosbuvir Monitor patients receiving VIREAD concomitantly with HARVONI ® (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) without an HIV-1 protease inhibitor/ritonavir or an HIV-1 protease inhibitor/cobicistat combination, for adverse reactions associated with TDF. In patients receiving VIREAD concomitantly with HARVONI and an HIV-1 protease inhibitor/ritonavir or an HIV-1 protease inhibitor/cobicistat combination, consider an alternative HCV or antiretroviral therapy, as the safety of increased tenofovir concentrations in this setting has not been established. If coadministration is necessary, monitor for adverse reactions associated with TDF.
Every tenofovir disoproxil product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Powder | Generic | $10 | View → | |
| 2 | 64/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $10 | View → |
What tenofovir disoproxil pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDF | 300 mg | white | round | — |
Combination products containing tenofovir disoproxil
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
How long tenofovir disoproxil keeps
No tenofovir disoproxil label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does tenofovir disoproxil expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about tenofovir disoproxil
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 17,863 reports naming tenofovir disoproxil, and the FDA flagged 95% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- foetal exposure during pregnancy2,163 reports
- maternal exposure during pregnancy1,751 reports
- virologic failure1,037 reports
- abortion spontaneous917 reports
- pathogen resistance867 reports
- viral mutation identified756 reports
- osteoporosis627 reports
- drug resistance620 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean tenofovir disoproxil caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 26, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is tenofovir disoproxil?
VIREAD is the brand name for tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) (a prodrug of tenofovir) which is a fumaric acid salt of bis-isopropoxycarbonyloxymethyl ester derivative of tenofovir. TDF is converted in vivo to tenofovir, an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (nucleotide) analog of adenosine 5'-monophosphate. Tenofovir exhibits activity against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.
What kind of drug is tenofovir disoproxil?
The FDA classifies tenofovir disoproxil as a hepatitis b virus nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take tenofovir disoproxil with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run tenofovir disoproxil against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is tenofovir disoproxil sold under?
We track 2 tenofovir disoproxil-containing products in the U.S.: Viread and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does tenofovir disoproxil come in?
Across the brands we track, tenofovir disoproxil is currently marketed as powder and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic tenofovir disoproxil?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic tenofovir disoproxil product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Tenofovir Disoproxil: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/tenofovir-disoproxil
- MLA
- “Tenofovir Disoproxil: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/tenofovir-disoproxil.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for tenofovir disoproxil on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.