IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not
replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:
Those in the “Most Important Information About
BIKTARVY” section.
Changes in your immune system. Your immune
system may get stronger and begin to fight infections
that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your
healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms
after you start taking BIKTARVY.
Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your
healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to
check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney
problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.
Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis),
which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can
lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away
if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired
than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or
fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting,
cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or
a fast or abnormal heartbeat.
Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to
death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get
these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns
yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools,
loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or
stomach-area pain.
The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical
studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).
These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any
new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.
You are encouraged to report negative side
effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit
www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor
your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY
Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
GET MORE INFORMATION
This is only a brief summary of important information
about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or
pharmacist to learn more.
Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5
If you need help paying for your medicine,
visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:
Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your
healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have
both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get
worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking
BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare
provider, as they will need to check your health regularly
for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.
ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription
medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children
who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in
people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or
people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines
and whose healthcare provider determines they meet
certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the
virus that causes AIDS.
Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine
that contains:
dofetilide
rifampin
any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,
including hepatitis infection.
Have any other health problems.
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not
known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby.
Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant
while taking BIKTARVY.
Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.
Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby
in breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the
medicines you take:
Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter
medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and
herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare
provider and pharmacist.
BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.
Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about
medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is
safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP CREATING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc.,
or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0370 04/21
FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 23, 2 14 022 | GayCityNews.com
BVYC0370_BIKTARVY_A_8-75X11-5_GayCityNews-Chad_r1v1jl.indd All Pages
/BIKTARVY.com
/medwatch
/medwatch
/BIKTARVY.com
/GayCityNews.com
