Side-effects

The commonest side-effects that occur in patients receiving FTC (emtricitabine, Emtriva) are headache, diarrhoea, nausea, and rash. In clinical trials, these have generally been of mild to moderate severity.

Skin discolouration is the only side-effect which was more common among people taking FTC compared with other antiretrovirals in clinical trials. Excess pigmentation on the palms or soles of the feet was predominantly observed in non-Caucasian patients, although it was mild and did not result in treatment discontinuation.1 The mechanism and clinical significance of this side-effect are unknown.

Abnormal kidney function has been reported in two people receiving the 200mg dosage of FTC.

As with other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), FTC may cause elevations of lactic acid in the blood. One study has shown that this only occurs when FTC is used with d4T (stavudine, Zerit).2 See Lactic acidosis for further details.

Patients experiencing the symptoms of lactic acidosis or liver toxicity should contact their doctor immediately.

Long-term use of FTC does not seem to produce the fat wasting seen among patients treated with d4T, and produces only moderate elevations in triglycerides. However, the incidence of laboratory abnormalities, such as elevated liver enzyme or cholesterol levels, is similar in patients treated with FTC and those treated with 3TC (lamivudine, Epivir) or d4T.3

References

  1. Mondou E et al. Incidence of skin discoloration across phase 3 clinical trials of emtricitabine (FTC). 15th International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, abstract WePeB5916, 2004
  2. Powderly W et al. Overview of the incidence of symptomatic hyperlactataemia with emtricitabine (FTC). Antivir Ther 8: S389, 2003
  3. Powderly W et al. Lipid abnormalities and body habitus in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing emtricitabine to stavudine in HIV+ ART-naive patients. Eleventh Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, San Francisco, abstract 717, 2004
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