emtriva
Pharmaranks rates Emtriva 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Emtriva (Emtricitabine) is a medication used to treat Hiv Infections.
Emtricitabine · by Gilead Sciences Inc
Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Pharmacy acquisition cost fell 7% — $13.5983 → $12.6867 per ea (CMS NADAC)source
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Emtricitabine
- Form
- Solution, Capsule
- Strength
- Emtricitabine 200MG
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- hiv infections
- Manufacturer
- Gilead Sciences Inc
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$380.60 for 30 — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA021500
- FDA boxed warning
- Yes — see the boxed warning
What is Emtriva?
From the FDA label:EMTRIVA is the brand name of emtricitabine (FTC), a synthetic nucleoside analog with activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase. The chemical name of FTC is 5-fluoro-1-(2 R ,5 S )-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]cytosine. Emtricitabine is the (-) enantiomer of a thio analog of cytidine, which differs from other cytidine analogs in that it has a fluorine in the 5-position. It has a molecular formula of C 8 H 10 FN 3 O 3 S and a molecular weight of 247.24. It has the following structural formula: Emtricitabine is a white to off-white powder with a solubility of approximately 112 mg/mL in water at 25 °C. The partition coefficient (log P) for FTC is −0.43 and the pKa is 2.65. EMTRIVA is available as capsules or as an oral solution. EMTRIVA capsules are for oral administration. Each capsule contains 200 mg of FTC and the inactive ingredients crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, titanium dioxide, gelatin, and FD&C blue No. 2. EMTRIVA oral solution is for oral administration. One milliliter (1 mL) of EMTRIVA oral solution contains 10 mg of FTC in an aqueous solution with the following inactive ingredients: cotton candy flavor, FD&C yellow No. 6, edetate disodium, methylparaben and propylparaben (added as preservatives), sodium phosphate (monobasic), propylene glycol, water, and xylitol (added as a…
How to use
Emtriva is sold in more than one form (Solution and Capsule), and each is dosed differently. The instructions below come from the FDA label for application NDA021500 — follow the label that came with the product you were actually prescribed.
Testing: Prior to or when initiating EMTRIVA test for hepatitis B virus infection. ( 2.1 ) EMTRIVA may be taken without regard to food. ( 2.2 ) Adult Patients (18 years of age and older) ( 2.3 ): EMTRIVA capsules: One 200 mg capsule administered once daily orally. EMTRIVA oral solution: 240 mg (24 mL) administered once daily orally. Pediatric Patients (0–3 months of age) ( 2.4 ): EMTRIVA oral solution: 3 mg/kg administered once daily orally. Pediatric Patients (3 months through 17 years of age) ( 2.5 ): EMTRIVA capsules: For children weighing more than 33 kg who can swallow an intact capsule, one 200 mg capsule administered once daily orally. EMTRIVA oral solution: 6 mg/kg up to a maximum of 240 mg (24 mL) administered once daily orally. Dose interval adjustment in adult patients with renal impairment ( 2.6 ): Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) Formulation ≥50 mL/min 30–49 mL/min 15–29 mL/min <15 mL/min or on hemodialysis Hemodialysis Patients: If dosing on day of dialysis, give dose after dialysis. Capsule (200 mg) 200 mg every 24 hours 200 mg every 48 hours 200 mg every 72 hours 200 mg every 96 hours Oral Solution (10 mg/mL) 240 mg every 24 hours (24 mL) 120 mg every 24 hours (12 mL) 80 mg every 24 hours (8 mL) 60 mg every 24 hours (6 mL) 2.1 Testing Prior to Initiation of Treatment with EMTRIVA Prior to or when initiating EMTRIVA, test patients for hepatitis B virus infection…
Side effects
The following adverse reactions are discussed in other sections of the labeling: Severe Acute Exacerbation of Hepatitis B in Patients Coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Immune Reconstitution Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Lactic Acidosis/Severe Hepatomegaly with Steatosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]. Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥10%) are headache, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, depression, insomnia, abnormal dreams, rash, abdominal pain, asthenia, increased cough, and rhinitis. Skin hyperpigmentation was very common (≥10%) in pediatric patients. ( 6 ) 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 varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions from Clinical Trials Experience in Adults More than 2,000 adult subjects with HIV-1 infection have been treated with EMTRIVA alone or in combination with other antiretroviral agents for periods of 10 days to 200 weeks in clinical trials. The most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to…
FDA Boxed Warning (the FDA’s most serious warning)
Boxed (black-box) warning — from the FDA label
Severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis B (HBV) have been reported in patients who are coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV and have discontinued EMTRIVA. Hepatic function should be monitored closely with both clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months in patients who are coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV and discontinue EMTRIVA. If appropriate, initiation of anti-hepatitis B therapy may be warranted [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. WARNING: POSTTREATMENT ACUTE EXACERBATION OF HEPATITIS B See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning . Severe acute exacerbations of Hepatitis B (HBV) have been reported in patients coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV who have discontinued EMTRIVA. Hepatic function should be monitored closely in patients coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV who discontinue EMTRIVA. If appropriate, initiation of anti-hepatitis B therapy may be warranted. ( 5.1 )
Warnings
Important safety information
Immune reconstitution syndrome: May necessitate further evaluation and treatment. ( 5.2 ) Lactic acidosis/severe hepatomegaly with steatosis: Discontinue treatment in patients who develop symptoms or laboratory findings suggestive of lactic acidosis or pronounced hepatotoxicity. ( 5.3 ) 5.1 Severe Acute Exacerbation of Hepatitis B in Patients Coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV All patients should be tested for the presence of chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) before or when initiating EMTRIVA [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ] . Severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis B (e.g., liver decompensation and liver failure) have been reported in patients who are coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV and have discontinued EMTRIVA. Patients who are coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV who discontinue EMTRIVA should be closely monitored with both clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months after stopping treatment. If appropriate, initiation of anti-hepatitis B therapy may be warranted, especially in patients with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, since posttreatment exacerbation of hepatitis may lead to hepatic decompensation and liver failure. 5.2 Immune Reconstitution Syndrome Immune reconstitution syndrome has been reported in patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy, including EMTRIVA. During the initial phase of combination antiretroviral treatment, patients whose immune system responds may develop an inflammatory response to indolent or residual opportunistic infections (such as Mycobacterium avium infection, cytomegalovirus, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia [PCP], or tuberculosis), which may necessitate further evaluation and treatment. Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves' disease, polymyositis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome) have also been reported to occur in the setting of immune reconstitution; however, the time to onset is more variable, and can occur many months after initiation of treatment. 5.3 Lactic Acidosis/Severe Hepatomegaly with Steatosis Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogs, including FTC, alone or in combination with other antiretrovirals. Treatment with EMTRIVA should be suspended in any patient who develops clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of lactic acidosis or pronounced hepatotoxicity (which may include hepatomegaly and steatosis even in the absence of marked transaminase elevations). 5.4 Dose Adjustment in Patients with New Onset or Worsening Renal Impairment Emtricitabine is principally eliminated by the kidney. Reduction of the dosage of EMTRIVA is recommended for patients with impaired renal function [see Dosage and Administration (2.6) , Use in Specific Populations (8.6) , and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Who should not take Emtriva
EMTRIVA is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to any of the components of the products. EMTRIVA is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to any of the components of the products. ( 4 )
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
If overdose occurs, the patient should be monitored for evidence of toxicity, and standard supportive treatment applied as necessary. Hemodialysis treatment removes approximately 30% of the FTC dose over a 3-hour dialysis period starting within 1.5 hours of FTC dosing (blood flow rate of 400 mL/min and a dialysate flow rate of 600 mL/min). It is not known whether FTC can be removed by peritoneal dialysis.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
The potential for drug interactions with EMTRIVA has been studied in combination with AZT, indinavir, d4T, famciclovir, and tenofovir DF (TDF). There were no clinically significant drug interactions for any of these drugs. Drug interactions trials are described elsewhere in the labeling [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Storing Emtriva, and how long it keeps
Quoted from this product’s own FDA label. Storage belongs to the product and its device, not to the drug in general — a pen and a tablet of the same medicine are kept completely differently.
- “EMTRIVA oral solution should be used within 3 months if stored by the patient at 25 °C (77 °F); excursions permitted to 15–30 °C (59–86 °F).”
- “Store EMTRIVA capsules at 25 °C (77 °F); excursions permitted to 15–30 °C (59–86 °F).”
- “Store EMTRIVA oral solution refrigerated at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F).”
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
Dosage forms
Solution and Capsule
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Emtriva treat?
- Emtriva (Emtricitabine) may be used to treat HIV infections, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How is Emtriva rated?
- pharmaranks gives Emtriva a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- How much does Emtriva cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $380.60 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Nevirapine — about $4.55 on the same basis.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Emtriva?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Emtriva. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Emtriva?
- Emtriva is marketed by Gilead Sciences Inc. You can see Gilead Sciences Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Emtriva a brand-name or generic drug?
- Emtriva is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Emtricitabine.
- Is Emtriva available over the counter?
- No. Emtriva is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Emtriva come in?
- Emtriva is currently marketed as solution and capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- Is Emtriva FDA-registered?
- Emtriva is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021500. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Emtriva been recalled by the FDA?
- Yes. Emtriva has 1 recorded FDA recall event in the openFDA enforcement database. A recall removes specific lots from the market — usually for manufacturing, contamination, potency, or labeling issues — and does not mean the drug is unsafe to take; your specific lot was almost certainly never affected. This recall history is factored into its safety score above. Always check the FDA recall database or your pharmacist for current alerts.
- Is Emtriva safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Emtriva a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (1 recorded recall event) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Emtriva?
- Emtriva's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following adverse reactions are discussed in other sections of the labeling: Severe Acute Exacerbation of Hepatitis B in Patients Coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Immune Reconstitution Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ].… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
What people report to the FDA about EMTRICITABINE
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 23,598 reports naming EMTRICITABINE — the active ingredient in Emtriva, and the FDA flagged 94% 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 pregnancy2,724 reports
- maternal exposure during pregnancy1,933 reports
- abortion spontaneous987 reports
- virologic failure894 reports
- drug resistance657 reports
- exposure during pregnancy623 reports
- osteoporosis571 reports
- immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome529 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean EMTRICITABINE 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.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.
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emtriva
70/100