Descovy, made simple.
Descovy is a once a day pill, and it has two very different jobs. For some people it is part of their HIV treatment. For others who do not have HIV, it is PrEP, a way to prevent getting HIV. This guide explains both clearly, so you know which one applies to you. A Mississippi pharmacist wrote it for you, with care.
This guide is here to teach you. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Always do what your doctor tells you, and ask a pharmacist before you change how you take any medicine.
Print this guide for your fridgeWhat Descovy is and why your doctor gave it to you
Descovy is a once a day pill. Its two medicines are emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. The important thing about Descovy is that it is used in two completely different ways, and you need to know which one is yours.
- As part of HIV treatment. If you have HIV, Descovy is one component of your treatment, not the whole thing. It must be taken together with another HIV medicine. If this is you, make sure you always have and take your full regimen.
- As PrEP, to prevent HIV. If you do not have HIV, Descovy can be taken daily as PrEP, which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Taken every day, it greatly lowers the chance of getting HIV. Used this way, Descovy on its own is the complete approach.
So the first question to be sure of is simple: are you taking Descovy as part of HIV treatment, or as PrEP to prevent HIV. If you are ever unsure, ask your pharmacist. The two uses have different rules around testing and around what else you take.
How Descovy works
Both medicines in Descovy block a step the HIV virus needs to copy itself. They stop the virus from turning its genetic material into a form it can use.
For someone with HIV, Descovy does that job alongside another HIV medicine, and together they keep the virus controlled.
For someone using Descovy as PrEP, the medicine sits in the body ready, so that if HIV is ever encountered, the virus cannot get a foothold and establish an infection. Either way, it only works if the pill is taken every day.
Your dose
Descovy is one tablet, once a day. You can take it with or without food. Take it at about the same time every day.
If you take Descovy as PrEP, there is one extra rule that matters: you need an HIV test before you start, and then a test about every 3 months while you use it. This is important and the reason is explained in the special situations section below. It is a quick test, and it keeps PrEP working safely for you.
Your doctor picks your dose and your pharmacist checks it. This page will not tell you what dose to take. For both uses of Descovy, daily consistency is everything.
Timing, and what to do if you miss a dose
Take Descovy once a day, at about the same time each day. Tie it to a daily habit so it is easy to remember.
Whether you take Descovy for treatment or as PrEP, taking it every day is what makes it work. For PrEP especially, protection is strong with daily use and drops off quickly when doses are missed.
If you miss a dose:
- If you miss a dose and it is still the same day, take it as soon as you remember.
- If it is already the next day, skip the missed dose and take your normal dose. Do not take two in one day.
- Never take two doses at once to catch up.
- If you are using Descovy as PrEP and you have missed several doses, call your pharmacist or doctor, because your protection may be lower.
Side effects, what is normal and what is not
Common, and usually mild.
- Loose stools or some stomach upset.
- Nausea, or a headache.
- Feeling tired.
- These are most common early on and often settle as your body adjusts.
Call your doctor if you see:
- Less urine than usual, or swelling in your legs or ankles.
- Muscle weakness or bone pain.
- Persistent nausea, vomiting, or unusual tiredness.
- Any new fever with a rash.
Go to the emergency room right away if:
- You have fast breathing, severe stomach pain, muscle cramps, and profound weakness. These can be signs of a rare but serious problem.
- You have signs of sudden liver trouble: severe yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe belly pain, and confusion. This matters most if you have hepatitis B and have stopped Descovy.
What to be careful with
Descovy has a relatively clean interaction profile, which means it gets along with most medicines better than many HIV pills do. But a few things still matter.
Some medicines can lower the level of Descovy and make it weaker. These include the tuberculosis medicine rifampin, certain seizure medicines, and the herbal supplement St. John's Wort. And medicines that are hard on the kidneys, including frequent use of pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen, should be used carefully and with your pharmacist's input.
If you take Descovy as part of HIV treatment, remember it is one component. The simple rule for treatment patients: keep your whole regimen filled and take all of it.
The simple rule for everyone: before you start or stop any medicine or supplement, tell your pharmacist you take Descovy. Every single time.
What it costs
The cost is different for every person, because every insurance plan is different.
Here is the honest way to find your price. If you pay cash, call Fairview and we will give you a price for your situation. If you have private insurance, there may be a coupon or a savings program from the maker of the drug that helps lower your cost, and we will check if one is available for you. The best step is to let a pharmacist look at your plan. We do this for every patient.
Do not let cost make you skip doses. Call us first. There is almost always something we can do.
There is also a generic version of many medicines. The generic is the same medicine. Ask your pharmacist if a generic is a good fit for you.
What should be checked
Before you start Descovy, and while you take it, your care team checks a few things. Some checks differ depending on whether you use Descovy for treatment or as PrEP.
Your doctor should check:
- Your HIV status. For PrEP, a negative HIV test before you start and then about every 3 months.
- Whether you have hepatitis B, before you start.
- How well your kidneys are working, before starting and during use.
- For treatment patients, your HIV viral load, to confirm it stays undetectable.
Your pharmacist should:
- Confirm whether you are using Descovy for treatment or as PrEP, since the rules differ.
- For treatment patients, confirm you have your whole regimen.
- Check every new medicine and supplement against Descovy.
- Keep your information private, always.
At Fairview, we make sure every Descovy patient is clear on which use applies to them, and what testing goes with it. If a refill is running late, we call you. Your care is handled discreetly and with respect.
Special situations
Descovy for PrEP: who it is for.
Descovy as PrEP is approved to lower the risk of getting HIV from sex for many people, but it has one specific limit: it is not approved for people who could be exposed to HIV through receptive vaginal sex, because that situation was not studied. For that group, a different PrEP medicine called Truvada is the right choice. Your doctor and pharmacist will make sure you are on the PrEP medicine that fits your situation.
Descovy for PrEP: why the regular HIV test.
If you were using Descovy as PrEP and happened to get HIV without knowing it, Descovy alone is not a full HIV treatment, and the virus could become resistant. That is why a negative HIV test before starting, and a test about every 3 months, is part of safe PrEP use. It is a quick step that protects your future treatment options.
If you have hepatitis B.
Descovy treats hepatitis B as well as HIV. That is helpful, but it means stopping Descovy, if you have hepatitis B, can cause a serious hepatitis B flare. Never stop Descovy on your own if you have hepatitis B. Plan any change with your doctor, who will monitor your liver.
Kidneys and bones.
Descovy is designed to be easier on the kidneys and bones than older medicines of its type. It still makes sense to have your kidney function checked, and for people at risk of bone thinning, to keep an eye on bone health. Your doctor will guide this.
Cost should never be the reason you stop.
There is help for both uses of Descovy. For PrEP, there are programs that can provide it at no cost to people without insurance, including a federal program called Ready, Set, PrEP, which genuinely provides PrEP medicine free to people who qualify. For HIV treatment, there are manufacturer and assistance programs. If cost is a worry, call Fairview before you ever skip a dose.
How Fairview helps Descovy patients
When you fill Descovy at Fairview, here is what you get. This is normal care for us, and it is always private.
At your first fill:
- We confirm whether you are using Descovy for treatment or as PrEP.
- For PrEP, we explain the regular HIV testing and why it matters.
- For treatment, we confirm you have your whole regimen.
- We talk through cost and help you find any program you qualify for.
At every refill:
- We check your file for any new medicines.
- We make sure there is no gap before your next refill.
- We answer any new questions, privately.
On our own, without being asked:
- If a refill is running late, we call you.
- If we see a medicine that does not mix with Descovy, we call your doctor.
- We check your cost at every fill to keep it as low as possible.
- We keep your care discreet and respectful, always.
Questions people ask about Descovy
Both, depending on the person. For someone with HIV, Descovy is part of their treatment, taken with another HIV medicine. For someone without HIV, Descovy taken daily is PrEP, a way to prevent getting HIV. Be sure you know which use is yours.
Related guides
Have a question about your Descovy? Ask a pharmacist you can trust.
Whether Descovy is part of treating your HIV or part of protecting you from it, the same thing makes it work: taking it every day. Fairview is here to support either path, privately and without judgment. Moving your prescription to us takes one phone call.