To reduce the risk of contracting STDs, some people take a class of drugs called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The drugs are meant to be taken daily for maximum effectiveness, but studies show that daily doses can have harmful effects. PrEP medications contain an ingredient called tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and it has been linked to the following health problems:

  • Increased risk of kidney disease
  • Increased risk of kidney failure
  • Reduced bone density, especially around the spine and hip
  • Osteoporosis

People at the highest risk of developing those problems include patients with pre-existing kidney and bone issues, as well as patients who are 50 years old or older.

Popular PrEP medications that contain tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as their primary ingredient include:

  • Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir)
  • Atripla (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir)
  • Viread (tenofovir)
  • Stribild (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir)
  • Complera (rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir)

If you or someone you love takes a PrEP medication, be alert for the following symptoms of both kidney disease and bone loss:

Kidney disease symptoms

  • Shortness of breath
  • Itching and swelling
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weakness, confusion, and trouble thinking clearly
  • Changes in urination frequency

Bone loss symptoms

  • Pain in joints and extremities
  • Instability when walking and standing
  • Reduced mobility
  • Fractures

At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, our drug injury lawyers are here to help people who were harmed by PrEP medications. When you contact us, we’ll do everything we can to help you get compensation for your current and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and more after an injury from a harmful drug.

Call us today for a free consultation. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you.