Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Coupons & Prices

Use a free tenofovir disoproxil fumarate coupon from Rx.com to compare cash prices at more than 60,000 pharmacies before you fill. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is the generic form of Viread, an antiviral taken as part of HIV-1 treatment and for chronic hepatitis B. Even though a generic is available and substitutable at the pharmacy counter, the cash price for the same tablet can differ a great deal from one pharmacy to the next, so it is worth checking. Enter your ZIP code above to see today's price near you.

What is tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and how does it work?

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (often shortened to tenofovir DF or TDF) is an antiviral medicine in the nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor class (NRTI/NtRTI). It works by interfering with an enzyme the virus needs to copy itself, which lowers the amount of virus in the body. It is the active ingredient in the brand Viread (Gilead), and it is also one of the ingredients in several combination tablets, including Truvada (with emtricitabine), Atripla, Complera, Stribild, Symfi and Symfi Lo, Cimduo and Temixys, and Delstrigo.

The FDA has approved tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for two uses: treatment of HIV-1 infection, always in combination with other antiretroviral medicines, in adults and children 2 years and older who weigh at least 10 kg; and treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults and children 2 years and older who weigh at least 10 kg. It is not a cure for either infection. It keeps working only as long as you keep taking it as prescribed.

What tenofovir disoproxil fumarate costs without insurance

An FDA-approved generic tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is on the market, and pharmacists can substitute it for Viread. There is no manufacturer copay savings card for the generic. Gilead runs its own patient-support program for its branded products through the manufacturer's official Advancing Access site; eligibility and terms vary and typically exclude people with government coverage, so check directly with the manufacturer if you are filling a brand.

If you are paying cash, the most useful thing to know is that the price is not the same everywhere. Pharmacies set their own cash prices, and two stores a few miles apart can quote very different numbers for the same strength and quantity. That is exactly what a coupon comparison is for. Enter your ZIP code above to see today's tenofovir disoproxil fumarate price at pharmacies near you, then show the coupon at the counter. It is also worth asking your prescriber or pharmacist whether a 90-day supply is appropriate, since a longer fill can change the per-tablet math. If you have insurance, compare your copay against the cash coupon price and use whichever is lower, but note that a coupon purchase will not count toward your deductible.

Tenofovir DF compared with related antivirals

Which antiviral is right for you depends on whether you are being treated for HIV-1, hepatitis B, or both, and on your kidney and bone health. This is a decision for your prescriber, not something to change on your own. Some medicines people ask about alongside tenofovir DF:

• Viread is the brand name for tenofovir disoproxil fumarate itself.
• Truvada and its generic, emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, combine tenofovir DF with emtricitabine in one tablet.
• Descovy and Biktarvy contain tenofovir alafenamide, a different tenofovir form, not tenofovir DF.
• Atripla is a single-tablet HIV regimen that includes tenofovir DF.
• Entecavir is another antiviral used for chronic hepatitis B.
• Lamivudine is used in HIV and hepatitis B regimens.

One important distinction: for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the FDA-approved option is the emtricitabine/tenofovir DF combination, not tenofovir DF by itself. Tenofovir DF alone is used for PrEP in some settings and is recommended by the World Health Organization, but that is not its FDA-approved use in the United States. TDF is also used during pregnancy to reduce passing hepatitis B to the baby.

Safety information you should know

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate carries a boxed warning: severe acute flare-ups of hepatitis B have happened in people with HBV who stop anti-hepatitis B therapy, including tenofovir DF. If you stop, your provider should monitor your liver function closely for at least several months afterward and may need to restart anti-HBV treatment. Do not stop this medicine on your own.

Other warnings on the label include new or worsening kidney problems, including acute kidney failure and Fanconi syndrome (kidney tubule injury with severely low phosphate) — your provider should check your creatinine clearance before and during treatment, and you should avoid taking it with, or soon after, other drugs that are hard on the kidneys. Anyone with hepatitis B must be tested for HIV before starting, because taking tenofovir DF alone with undiagnosed HIV can lead to drug resistance. The label also warns about immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, bone loss and mineralization problems (lower bone mineral density, osteomalacia), lactic acidosis and severe liver enlargement with fat buildup — including fatal cases — reported with nucleoside analogs, and interactions that can cause side effects or loss of virus control. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, dizziness, headache, rash, weakness, and depression. This page is information, not medical advice; talk with your provider or pharmacist about your own situation and give them a full list of everything you take.