Emtricitabine and tenofovir and Lopinavir and ritonavir interaction
Emtricitabine and tenofovir and Lopinavir and ritonavir: both prescribing labels flag this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.
Do not combine without a prescriber's guidance. The label language below is the strongest FDA uses.
What the FDA labels say
From the Emtricitabine and tenofovir (DESCOVY) label · effective 2026-07-07
Drug Interactions Concomitant Drug Class: Drug Name Effect on Concentration ↓=Decrease Clinical Comment ↑= Increase Antiretroviral Agents: Protease Inhibitors (PI) tipranavir/ritonavir ↓ TAF Coadministration with DESCOVY is not recommended. atazanavir/cobicistat ↑ TAF Coadministration with DESCOVY in pediatric patients weighing 14 to < 35 kg is not recommended…
Coadministration of DESCOVY with other drugs that inhibit P-gp and BCRP may increase the absorption and plasma concentration of TAF.
Lactic Acidosis/Severe Hepatomegaly with Steatosis Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogs, including emtricitabine, a component of DESCOVY, and tenofovir DF, another prodrug of tenofovir, alone or in combination with other antiretrovirals.
TAF is a weak inhibitor of CYP3A in vitro .
TAF is not an inhibitor or inducer of CYP3A in vivo .
From the Lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra) label · effective 2026-07-23
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate* ↑ tenofovir Patients receiving KALETRA and tenofovir should be monitored for adverse reactions associated with tenofovir.
Patients who exhibit these signs or symptoms should be evaluated and KALETRA and/or other antiretroviral therapy should be suspended as clinically appropriate.
Elevated transaminases with or without elevated bilirubin levels have been reported in HIV-1 mono-infected and uninfected patients as early as 7 days after the initiation of KALETRA in conjunction with other antiretroviral agents.
Antimycobacterial: rifampin ↓ lopinavir Contraindicated due to potential loss of virologic response and possible resistance to KALETRA or to the class of protease inhibitors or other co-administered antiretroviral agents [see Contraindications ( 4 )] .
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Open in the checkerNot medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.