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GayCityNews.com | April 7 - April 20, 2022
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.
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-the-counter
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.
(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, lightcolored
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.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, and KEEP ASPIRING are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related
companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2022 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0085 02/22
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