Emtricitabine

What it is

Emtricitabine is a medicine used to treat HIV infection. It is available in tablet form and requires a prescription in India.

What it is used for

Emtricitabine is used to treat HIV infection, a condition where the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body's immune system.

• HIV infection

How it works

Emtricitabine works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. It does this by interfering with the virus's ability to replicate, which helps to control the infection.

How it is sold in India

In India Emtricitabine comes as tablets.

Common side effects

Most people taking emtricitabine experience mild side effects, which can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, anorexia, and fatigue. More serious side effects are rare but can include liver damage, pancreatitis, and blood disorders.

Who should not take it

Our sources do not cover this.

Brand names

25 medicines sold in India contain Emtricitabine. They carry different brand names, but the medicine inside is the same one described on this page.

Where this comes from

• National Formulary of India 2011 (Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) -- Emtricitabine
• MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM): Emtricitabine
• FDA drug label (US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed)

We do not publish doses. How much to take depends on your age, weight and other conditions — ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for seeing a doctor. It carries no dosage and no prices.