Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing—The dose of emtricitabine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of emtricitabine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. Do not share your medicine with others.

It is important to take this medicine in combination with another anti-HIV medicine and to take it exactly as your doctor tells you to. You should take your medicine at the same time every day to avoid missing doses. It is very important that you do not miss any doses of this medicine or of your other anti-HIV medicines.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. Tell your healthcare professional about all of the medicines and dietary supplements that you take. Keep a complete list of all the medications that you take. Make a new list when medications are added or stopped. Make sure you show this list to your doctor or pharmacist each time you have a visit or refill a prescription.

When your emtricitabine supply runs low, get more from your pharmacy or from your healthcare provider. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped, even for a short time. The virus may develop resistance to emtricitabine and be harder to treat.

• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • For treatment of HIV infection
    • Adults—Oral, 200 milligrams (mg) taken once a day. This medicine can be taken with or without food. Your doctor may want to change the dose if you have certain medical problems.
    • Children—This medicine is not usually used in children under the age of 18.

Missed dose—If you forget to take emtricitabine take it as soon as you remember that day. Do not take more than 1 dose of emtricitabine in a day. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. Call your healthcare provider or pharmacy if you are not sure what to do.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Do not keep your medicine in places that are too hot or too cold.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.