Question 1

How can I lower the cost of my tenofovir

Accepted Answer

You can lower cost of your tenofovir using one of the 4 following drug savings programs: Rx Advantage Card for tenofovir, Canadian Prescription Savings for tenofovir, tenofovir Drug Coupons, tenofovir Patient Assistance Programs

Question 2

What dosages is tenofovir available in?

Accepted Answer

tenofovir is available as a 150 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg, and 300 mg oral tablet.

Question 3

What is tenofovir used for?

Accepted Answer

tenofovir is a HIV ARV and is used for the following:  Treatment of HIV infection – people ages 2 years and older Treatment of chronic (long-term) hepatitis B – Brand Viread for people ages 2 years and older; generic for people ages 12 years and older

Question 4

How does tenofovir work?

Accepted Answer

tenofovir is a HIV antiretroviral medication. More specifically a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). It inserts itself into the genetic material of the virus. As a result, it prevents HIV from making copies of itself and spreading.

Question 5

How do I take tenofovir?

Accepted Answer

tenofovir is dosed as follows:

Adults and children who weigh at least 35 kg (77 lb): The typical dose is 300 mg by mouth once daily
Children 2 years and older who weigh at least 17 kg (37 lbs): The dose will depend on your child’s weight. The typical dose is 8 mg/kg of body weight by mouth daily, up to a maximum of 300 mg

Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.

Question 6

Is it safe for me to take tenofovir?

Accepted Answer

tenofovir is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you.

Question 7

tenofovir Common Side Effects

Accepted Answer

Common side effects of tenofovir:  Higher cholesterol levels Higher creatine kinase levels Feeling tired Depression Nausea Diarrhea Dizziness Rash Headache

Question 8

tenofovir Serious Side Effects

Accepted Answer

Serious side effects are rare with tenofovir. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Build up of lactic acid in the blood: feeling more tired and weak, belly pain, muscle pain, breathing problems
Serious kidney problems: tiredness, confusion, nausea, urinating less than usual, swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet, joint pain, bone pain
Serious liver problems: nausea, vomiting, not feeling hungry, pain in the right side of the stomach, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, dark-colored urine, light-colored stool

Question 9

Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on tenofovir

Accepted Answer

The following medications may interact with tenofovir:  Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate increases didanosine concentrations Dose reduction and close monitoring for didanosine toxicity are warranted Coadministration decreases atazanavir concentrations. When coadministered with tenofovir, use atazanavir given with ritonavir Coadministration of tenofovir with certain HIV-1 protease inhibitors or certain drugs to treat HCV increases tenofovir concentrations Monitor for evidence of tenofovir toxicity Consult Full Prescribing Information prior to and during treatment for important drug interactions

Question 10

Who makes tenofovir?

Accepted Answer

Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers

Question 11

Is tenofovir safe in pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

It is not known if tenofovir will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking tenofovir. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take tenofovir during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

Question 12

What is the brand name for tenofovir?

Accepted Answer

TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE - AMNEALVIREAD

Question 13

How can NowPatient help me to lower the cost of my tenofovir prescription?

Accepted Answer

After you create a FREE account with NowPatient, you will have access to 4 programs that can help lower the cost of your tenofovir prescription

Applicability to each program will be dependent on your insurance status.

Question 14

How do the NowPatient tenofovir savings programs work?

Accepted Answer

After you have created your FREE account with NowPatient, you can access the various programs from your account dashboard. Each program has clear instructions on how to check your eligibility. You can see how the process works by clicking on the feature link below and seeing the ‘How it works’ steps.

Drug Coupon and Patient Assistance Programs require an eligibility quiz to be completed.

Question 15

Are the NowPatient tenofovir savings programs suitable for everyone, regardless of insurance status?

Accepted Answer

No. Each program has its own eligibility and applicability requirements. The table below shows if a program is available to you, based on your insurance status.

	Rx Advantage Card* for tenofovir	Canadian Prescription Savings* for tenofovir	tenofovir Drug Coupon*	tenofovir Patient Assistance Program*
Insured (federal, state or government)	Available	Available	Not Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Insured (Commercial or Private)	Available	Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Uninsured	Available	Available	Not Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Insured but without pharmacy benefit or drug coverage	Available	Available	Not Available	Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company

*This is not insurance.

Question 16

Are the NowPatient drug savings programs suitable for brand and generic versions of tenofovir?

Accepted Answer

No. Each program has applicability requirements. Please see below

	Rx Advantage Card* for tenofovir	Canadian Prescription Savings* for tenofovir	tenofovir Drug Coupon*	tenofovir Patient Assistance Program*
Brand	Yes	Yes	Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company	Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company
Generic	Yes	Yes	No	No

*This is not insurance.

Question 17

If you have Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage and none of the tenofovir savings options are applicable or affordable for me, what can you do?

Accepted Answer

If you are insured with Medicare and the tenofovir drug savings options are not applicable to you and still remain unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.

The government site is easy to use and after you have selected your state, it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.

People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid are called ‘dual eligibles’.

If you are denied Medicaid for tenofovir, and you are still unable to afford your copay or co-insurance element (for example if you are in the coverage gap or Donut Hole) then you may be eligible for a federal support program like Low Income Subsidy. To be eligible for Low Income Subsidy, you need to be a resident in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. You can check eligibility online at SSA Medicare D Extra Help. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Question 18

I am uninsured or underinsured and none of the tenofovir prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?

Accepted Answer

If you are uninsured or underinsured (for example, tenofovir is not covered by your plan) and the drug savings options are not applicable or still unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.

The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.

If you are denied and all else fails, and if you have been prescribed tenofovir for an FDA-approved indication, you can call the pharmaceutical company to see if they have any other assistance programs.

Question 19

I am commercially or privately insured and none of the tenofovir prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?

Accepted Answer

If your medication is not covered by your plan, you can appeal your insurance company’s decision. Sometimes, a formal appeal can result in the drug being covered if it is deemed medically necessary.

If you cannot afford your copay contribution, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.

However, being privately insured might complicate your eligibility for Medicaid, as having private insurance may be considered in the financial eligibility assessment.

The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. If you qualify, state Medicaid may cover the full cost of your medication.

Question 20

If I have federal, state or commercial insurance and none of the tenofovir prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, are there any other support organisations that can help me with my co-insurance or copay contributions?

Accepted Answer

If you have already tried Medicaid and received a denial letter or if you are insured with Medicare and have been denied Low-Income Subsidy, then you can try one of the following organizational support programs:

1. Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) assistance for tenofovir

If you are having trouble paying for your tenofovir medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN), may be able to assist you. To qualify for PAN assistance for tenofovir you will need to meet one or all of the following criteria:

Your income is below 400% of the federal poverty level
tenofovir is prescribed for an approved FDA indication
You live in and receive treatment in the United States or U.S. territories, even if you do not have U.S. citizenship
You have Medicare insurance coverage that covers tenofovir
If tenofovir is listed on PAN’s list of covered medications

You can check the Patient Access Network Foundation Website for more information.

2. HealthWell Foundation Copay Program for tenofovir

If you are having trouble paying for your tenofovir medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the HealthWell Foundation Copay Program may be able to assist you. To qualify for assistance for tenofovir you will need to meet the following criteria:

You live in and are being treated in the United States
You are insured and your plan covers tenofovir
If tenofovir is listed on the HealthWell Foundation’s list of covered medications

You can check the HealthWell Foundation Website for more information.

3. Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program for tenofovir

Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief program exists to help reduce the financial distress you or your family may face when paying for your tenofovir treatment. If you qualify and can demonstrate the need, the foundation will provide you with direct payment covering co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. To qualify for assistance for tenofovir you will need to meet the following criteria:

You must be currently insured and have coverage for tenofovir
You must have a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan
You must reside and receive treatment in the United States
Your Income must fall at or below 300% or 400% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) with consideration for the Cost of Living Index (COLI) and number in the household
Applications can also be completed by contacting the program sponsor, toll-free at 866-512-3861.

You can check the Patient Advocate Foundation Website for more information.