Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Genvoya.
What should I know about alternatives to Genvoya, such as Dovato, Truvada, and Descovy?
Genvoya, Dovato, Truvada, and Descovy are all prescription medications used to treat HIV in certain people.
Truvada and Descovy may be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP involves taking HIV drugs before possible HIV exposure to prevent contracting the virus. But Dovato and Genvoya are not used for PrEP.
Talk with your doctor to determine the best HIV medication for you. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about alternatives to Genvoya for treating HIV.
Does Genvoya cause weight gain or weight loss?
No. In studies, people taking Genvoya didn’t report changes in weight. Other HIV drugs such as raltegravir (Isentress) may cause weight gain, but this isn’t a side effect of Genvoya.
Having HIV can lead to weight loss. Some people who’ve lost weight due to HIV may gain the weight back once they begin treatment for their condition.
If you have concerns about weight gain or weight loss while taking Genvoya, talk with your doctor.
Could Genvoya cause a false positive on a drug test?
No, Genvoya isn’t known to cause false positives on a drug test. (A false positive occurs when test results are positive for certain drugs that haven’t been used.)
Efavirenz (Sustiva), another drug used to treat HIV, is known to cause false positives for certain drugs, including cannabis and benzodiazepines. But Genvoya isn’t known to cause this effect.
Does Genvoya cause pancreatitis?
No, Genvoya doesn’t cause pancreatitis. This wasn’t seen in the drug’s studies.
Pancreatitis has been reported with some older drugs used to treat HIV, including didanosine and stavudine. (Didanosine and stavudine are no longer available in the United States and have been replaced by newer medications for HIV). But Genvoya isn’t known to cause this side effect.
It’s important to note that pancreatitis has been reported in people taking certain newer HIV drugs. These include medications from two groups of drugs called integrase inhibitors and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Genvoya contains medications from both of these drug groups, but Genvoya itself isn’t known to cause pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis can be mild or severe and may include:
Call your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of pancreatitis while taking Genvoya. But go to the emergency room or call 911 (or your local emergency number) if your symptoms feel life threatening.
Could I experience hair loss during my Genvoya treatment?
No, Genvoya shouldn’t cause hair loss. This wasn’t a side effect reported in the drug’s studies.
Older drugs previously used to treat HIV were known to cause hair loss. But Genvoya is a newer type of HIV drug that doesn’t cause hair loss.
If you’re concerned about hair loss during your treatment, talk with your doctor.
Is depression a side effect of Genvoya?
No, Genvoya isn’t known to cause depression. This wasn’t a side effect seen in studies of the drug.
In Genvoya’s studies, there were very rare reports of suicidal thoughts or behaviors among people with a history of depression. The risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors wasn’t seen in people who’d never had depression.
Before you start taking Genvoya, tell your doctor if you have depression or other mental health conditions or have had them in the past. Call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the closest emergency room if you experience suicidal thoughts while taking Genvoya.
SUICIDE PREVENTION
If you think someone is at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting another person:
- Call 911 or your local emergency number.
- Stay with the person until help arrives.
- Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other things that may cause harm.
- Listen, but don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
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