An Overview of Uses for Emtricitabine/Rilpivirine/Tenofovir
Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Complera™) is a prescription medication approved for use in the treatment of
HIV and
AIDS. It is a "complete" combination HIV medication that can be used as an entire HIV regimen. It contains three different medications.
Emtricitabine/
rilpivirine/
tenofovir is approved only for use in people who have not taken other HIV medications previously ("antiretroviral treatment-naïve" individuals).
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was initially reported in the United States in 1981. Since then, it has become a significant worldwide epidemic. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
At first, an HIV infection usually does not cause any obvious symptoms
(see HIV Symptoms), and most people have no idea that they have been infected with it (unless they happen to be tested for HIV). However, by killing or damaging cells of the body's immune system, HIV will eventually begin to progressively destroy the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers
(see AIDS Symptoms).
HIV is commonly spread through sexual contact with an infected partner. HIV transmission also happens through contact with infected blood, which frequently occurs among IV drug users (who share needles or syringes contaminated with blood from someone infected with the virus). Women with HIV can transmit the virus to their babies during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
Most HIV medications are used as part of an HIV "cocktail." These cocktails usually consist of three or four (or sometimes five) different HIV medications (technically known as highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART). However, emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir is an HIV cocktail all by itself. It is not intended to be combined with other HIV medications.
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