Vemlidy

Vemlidy is a very well-tolerated medication with minimal side effects. The most commonly reported side effects are headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, cough, nausea, and back pain. Not everyone experiences side effects, and among those who do, approximately only 1% stopped taking Vemlidy. Vemlidy is processed by the kidneys, so there is some risk of decreased kidney function. Before starting treatment, patients should have their creatinine clearance (CrCl) assessed. Routine monitoring of glucose and protein in the urine and of serum phosphorus should be standard of care, too. If you experience any pain in the extremities, persistent or worsening bone achiness/pain, or fractures with or without muscular pain, consult your medical provider immediately. Although rare, Vemlidy may lead to lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the blood, which could be fatal. Signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or excessively fatigued, difficulty breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, feeling cold and chills (especially in arms and legs), dizziness and light-headedness, fast or irregular heartbeat, or unusual muscle pain. If you experience any of these symptoms contact your medical provider immediately. Two liver conditions—hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) or steatosis (fatty liver)—may occur. Signs and symptoms of these liver conditions include yellowing of the eyes and/or skin (jaundice), dark colored urine, light colored stools, nausea, loss of appetite, and pain, achiness or tenderness of the liver (lower right side of the belly, below the ribcage and next to the belly button).

Be sure to tell your medical provider or pharmacist about all the medications, supplements, and herbs you take, whether they are prescribed, over-the-counter, or illicit, before starting this regimen. Report any changes in your medications as they happen. Because Vemlidy is related to Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, TDF), the two medications cannot be taken together. Similarly, Vemlidy cannot be taken with any of the following HIV combination medications, as they contain tenofovir (TDF or TAF): Atripla, Biktarvy, Cimduo, Complera, Delstrigo, Descovy, Genvoya, Odefsey, Stribild, Symfi, Symfi Lo, Symtuza, or Truvada. If taken with the anticonvulsant carbamazepine, Vemlidy dosage should be increased to two tablets once per day. Vemlidy should not be taken with other anticonvulsants, such as oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin. Vemlidy should also not be taken with the antimycobacterial medications, such as rifabutin, rifampin, and rifapentine, or St. John’s wort.

Vemlidy will not cure HBV—currently, no HBV medication will cure you—but it can decrease your risk of long-term complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. Vemlidy is related to Viread but uses a smaller dose that is more efficiently delivered so the risks of kidney disease and loss of bone density appear to be less. 

Before starting Vemlidy, you should be tested for HIV. If you are co-infected with HBV/HIV, you should not treat HBV without also treating your HIV to prevent resistance mutations in the HIV. In people with HBV/HIV co-infection, the combination of Emtriva and Vemlidy (or Viread) is the preferred regimen for treatment of HBV. If you have HBV/HIV, and need to switch from any tenofovir-containing regimen—such as Vemlidy—there is a risk of an HBV flare-up with signs and symptoms of acute HBV infection. Abrupt discontinuation of Vemlidy may cause a severe, acute exacerbation of hepatitis B, which can result in hepatic decompensation and liver failure. If Vemlidy is discontinued, your doctor should closely monitor you for symptoms of exacerbation. Do not stop this medication without talking to your doctor first. See HBV Reactivation on page 27 for more information and consult your medical provider. For individuals with HBV/HCV co-infection, or who are at risk of HBV reactivation while undergoing HCV DAA treatment, Vemlidy is one of the medications that can be prescribed to prevent this from happening, and is safe to use while being treated for HCV.

There is no dosage adjustment requirement for people with kidney disease who have a CrCl greater than or equal to 15 mL per minute. People with end stage kidney disease (a CrCl below 15 mL per minute) can take Vemlidy as long as they are undergoing dialysis. On days of dialysis, Vemlidy should be taken upon completion of dialysis. Vemlidy is safe for people with mild liver damage (Child-Pugh A), but it should not be used in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B or C). Vemlidy is currently only approved for use in adults.