Tenvir contains Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), an antiretroviral medicine. It belongs to the class of nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and is widely used in the management of HIV infection and chronic hepatitis B.

Mechanism of Action

• Tenofovir is converted inside the body into its active form, tenofovir diphosphate.

• This substance mimics the natural building blocks of viral DNA.

• When the virus tries to multiply, tenofovir gets inserted into the viral DNA chain, causing premature termination of DNA synthesis.

• As a result, the replication of HIV and Hepatitis B virus is blocked.

  Uses

  • HIV-1 infection (used in combination with other antiretrovirals).

  • Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

  • Sometimes used in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), combined with other medicines, to reduce the risk of HIV infection in high-risk individuals.

    Adverse Effects

    • Common: nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fatigue.

    • Kidney problems (renal impairment, Fanconi syndrome).

    • Bone problems (loss of bone mineral density, osteoporosis, fractures).

    • Lactic acidosis and hepatomegaly with steatosis (rare but serious).

    • May raise liver enzymes in some patients.