The usual Truvada dosage for treating and preventing HIV is 1 oral tablet taken once daily. Specific dosages may vary depending on factors such as your body weight and kidney function.
Truvada is a prescription drug used in adults, adolescents, and some children to treat HIV. It can also be used to help prevent HIV in adults and adolescents who have known risk factors. Medication taken to prevent HIV is called preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The active ingredients in Truvada are emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Truvada belongs to a group of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
This article describes the dosages of Truvada, as well as its strengths and how to take it.
Truvada tablets come in different strengths of emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). The strengths of both drug ingredients are measured in milligrams (mg). You’ll take Truvada once per day.
The Truvada dose your doctor prescribes will depend on your body weight. The weight ranges in the following table are listed in kilograms (kg). For reference, 1 kg equals approximately 2.2 pounds (lb).
| Age group and weight | Once-daily dose for HIV treatment | Once-daily dose for PrEP |
|---|---|---|
| adults | 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF | 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF |
| adolescents who weigh 35 kg or more | 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF | 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF |
| children who weigh 35 kg or more | 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF | — |
| children who weigh 28 kg to 34 kg | 167 mg FTC/250 mg TDF | — |
| children who weigh 22 kg to 27 kg | 133 mg FTC/200 mg TDF | — |
| children who weigh 17 kg to 21 kg | 100 mg FTC/150 mg TDF | — |
Note: This table highlights the basics of Truvada’s dosage. Continue reading for more details.
What is Truvada’s form?
Truvada comes as a tablet you swallow.
What strengths does Truvada come in?
Truvada comes in the following strengths:
- 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF
- 167 mg FTC/250 mg TDF
- 133 mg FTC/200 mg TDF
- 100 mg FTC/150 mg TDF
What are the usual dosages of Truvada?
Your doctor will likely start you on the dosage of Truvada recommended for your age and weight.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.
Dosage for HIV treatment
The dosage of Truvada for HIV treatment in adults is 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF, taken once per day.
Dosage for HIV prevention (PrEP)
The dosage of Truvada for PrEP in adults is 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF taken once per day.
What’s the dosage of Truvada for children and adolescents?
The dosage of Truvada for HIV treatment in children and adolescents depends on their body weight:
- For children and adolescents who weigh at least 35 kg, the daily dosage is 1 tablet containing 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF.
- For children who weigh 28 kg to 34 kg, the daily dosage is 1 tablet containing 167 mg FTC/250 mg TDF.
- For children who weigh 22 kg to 27 kg, the daily dosage is 1 tablet containing 133 mg FTC/200 mg TDF.
- For children who weigh 17 kg to 21 kg, the daily dosage is 1 tablet containing 100 mg FTC/150 mg TDF.
Truvada is not prescribed for children who weigh less than 17 kg or who are unable to swallow a tablet.
For PrEP, Truvada may be prescribed for adolescents who weigh at least 35 kg. The dosage for HIV prevention is 1 tablet containing 200 mg FTC/300 mg TDF, taken once per day.
Is Truvada used long term?
Yes, Truvada is typically a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.
Dosage adjustments
If you’re taking Truvada to treat HIV and you have kidney disease, your doctor may adjust your dosage of Truvada. They will measure your creatinine clearance to determine which stage of kidney disease you have.
If you have stage 3 kidney disease, you’ll probably take your dose every 48 hours instead of every day. If you have stage 4 or end stage kidney disease, your doctor may suggest a different medication for you.
Also, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe Truvada for PrEP if you have kidney disease that has advanced to stage 3 or greater.
The dosage of Truvada you’re prescribed may depend on several factors, including your age, weight, and kidney health. (See the previous “Dosage adjustments” section.)
Truvada comes as a tablet you swallow. You’ll take your dose of Truvada once per day with or without food. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, ask your doctor or pharmacist for suggestions, or check out these tips for swallowing pills.
Accessible drug containers and labels
Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:
- have large print or use braille
- feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio
Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.
If you have trouble opening medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to supply Truvada in an easy-open container. They may also have tips to make it simpler to open the drug’s container.
If you miss a dose of Truvada, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
It’s important not to miss doses of Truvada. If you take Truvada for PrEP, missing a dose can increase your risk of developing HIV. And if you take Truvada to treat HIV, missing a dose can increase the risk of viral resistance. This will make it harder to treat HIV.
To avoid missed doses, consider using tools like pill organizers, medication reminders, or smartphone apps.
Do not take more Truvada than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
What to do in case you take too much Truvada
Call your doctor right away if you think you have taken too much Truvada. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
