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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking emtricitabine, nelfinavir, and tenofovir (AccessPak for HIV PEP Expanded with Viracept)?

You should not take this medication if you have severe liver or kidney disease, or if you are allergic to emtricitabine (Emtriva, Atripla), nelfinavir (Viracept), or tenofovir (Viread). Do not take this medication with other medicines that also contain emtricitabine or tenofovir (Atripla, Emtriva, Viread), or lamivudine (Combivir, Epivir, Epzicom, or Trizivir).

There are many other drugs that can cause serious or life threatening medical problems if you take them together with emtricitabine, nelfinavir, and tenofovir. The following drugs should not be used while you are taking this medication:

• amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);
• quinidine (Quin-G);
• pimozide (Orap);
• midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion); or
• an ergot medicine such as D.H.E. 45, Ergomar, Cafergot, Ergotrate, Methergine, Migergot, or Migranal.

To make sure you can safely take emtricitabine, nelfinavir, and tenofovir, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• diabetes;
• a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
• high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);
• liver or kidney disease;
• osteopenia (low bone mineral density); or
• if you also have hepatitis B infection.

Some people develop a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking emtricitabine or tenofovir. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you are overweight or have liver disease, if you are a woman, or if you have taken HIV or AIDS medications for a long time. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

FDA pregnancy category B. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 2 years old without medical advice.

How should I take emtricitabine, nelfinavir, and tenofovir (AccessPak for HIV PEP Expanded with Viracept)?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medicine works best if you take it with food.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition and not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your kidney and liver function or bone density may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking emtricitabine, nelfinavir, and tenofovir, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function at regular visits for several months after you stop using the medicine. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the tablets in their original container, along with the packet of moisture-absorbing preservative that comes with this medicine.

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