All HIV medications are not the same.
HIV didn’t stop you. But if difficulties with your current HIV medication are holding you back, it might be time to talk to your doctor about making a switch.
Why switch?
Not everyone finds the treatment that’s best for them right away. Talk to your doctor about your options to see if it is the right time to switch your medication.
One pill, once-daily SYMTUZA®.
Once-daily SYMTUZA® is a complete prescription HIV treatment regimen in one pill. SYMTUZA® can be taken by adults and children who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg) who have never received HIV medicines in the past, or whose healthcare providers have determined that they meet certain requirements. It contains 800 mg darunavir/150 mg cobicistat/200 mg emtricitabine/10 mg tenofovir alafenamide. It is not known if SYMTUZA® is safe and effective in children weighing less than 88 lbs (40 kg).
95% of patients who switched to SYMTUZA® stayed undetectable (viral load <50 copies/mL) after 48 weeks.*
1% of patients didn’t stay undetectable (viral load ≥50 copies/mL), and among patients in the study who didn’t switch to SYMTUZA®, 94% stayed undetectable versus 1% who did not.
The most common side effects occurring in at least 2% of SYMTUZA® patients were diarrhea and bone weakness. These are not the only side effects of SYMTUZA®.
*The EMERALD study looked at 1,141 patients who were already being treated for HIV and were undetectable (<50 copies/mL) for at least 6 months. At the start of the trial, 763 patients switched to SYMTUZA®, while the remaining 378 continued their previously prescribed treatment. The final measure of the study was to see the number of patients who remained undetectable (viral load <50 copies/mL) after 48 weeks after switching to SYMTUZA®.
In a series of clinical trials* no patients stopped taking SYMTUZA® due to weight gain. The most common side effects occurring in at least 2% of SYMTUZA® patients were diarrhea, bone weakness, rash, nausea, fatigue, headache, stomach problems, and gas. These are not all the possible side effects of SYMTUZA®.
*Across 2 clinical trials, one patient taking SYMTUZA® experienced treatment-related weight gain. The average weight gain over 48 weeks was between 3.13 lbs and 3.84 lbs in 1,125 patients in the SYMTUZA® group, and ~1 lb for 741 patients in the control group. The long-term impact of SYMTUZA® on weight has not been studied in clinical trials.
SYMTUZA® has an ingredient called darunavir, which can help reduce your risk of drug resistance. To maintain an undetectable viral load, a treatment with darunavir might be a good choice for you. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if SYMTUZA® and its high barrier to resistance may be right for you.
Do not miss a dose of SYMTUZA®. When your SYMTUZA® supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to SYMTUZA® and become harder to treat.
Taking your medication at the same time every day isn’t always easy, but it’s not impossible. Reach out to those around you for support. Establish a regimen that helps you take your dose at the same time every day and talk to your healthcare provider about other ways you can remind yourself.
Making the switch.
If you and your doctor decide that switching to SYMTUZA® is right for you, it’s important to keep an open line of communication with them as you transition to SYMTUZA®. Bring up any questions or concerns you have along the way, and remember that you have a say in your treatment decisions.
Staying on track.
For your HIV medication to work, you must take it exactly as directed by your doctor. A certain amount of medication needs to stay in your bloodstream to fight HIV, so taking your medication on schedule ensures that the right amount of drug is in your body at any given time. This is called adherence and is an important part of staying healthy.
Get the resources you need.
We can help you find the resources you're looking for no matter where you are in your journey.