Get PrEP online now
Comparison between generic truvada and Descovy
Upload your insurance information to see if you can access free or low cost Descovy. 85%+ of Freddie patients with private insurance get Descovy for free.
Our clinicians will help answer your questions and determine what's best for your next prescription.
Descovy
About the drug
May cause a small degree of weight loss
* effectiveness based upon consistent daily use of medication
Effectiveness
Frequency required
Drug components
Manufacturer
Who is it for
99%*
One pill daily
Emtricitabine +
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (F/TDF)
Emtricitabine +
Tenofovir alafenamide (F/TAF)
Gilead
Various. Most common in Canada are Apotex, Pharmascience and JAMP.
Only:
Gay & bisexual cis men
Trans women
Side effect profile
General
Bone health
Kidney health
Weight loss/gain
Cholesterol
Very low rates of side effects overall. Some people experience “start-up” symptoms including diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, which usually resolve in a few weeks of PrEP. Safer to take for people with kidney issues, though monitoring is still recommended use.
Very low rates of side effects overall.
Some people experience “start-up” symptoms including diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, which usually resolve in a few weeks of PrEP use.
People with osteoporosis should avoid
People with kidney issues should avoid
Safe to take for people with mild kidney disease
May cause a small degree of weight gain in select patients
May cause small decreases in cholesterol
May cause small increases in cholesterol
Cost
Approved for use in Canada
Out of pocket cost
Covered by provincial plans (e.g. OHIP, AB-BC)?
Covered by private insurance?
Yes
Yes
~$250/month
~$1000/month
Yes
No
>99% of plans
>90% of plans
About the drug
Cholesterol
99%*
Covered by private insurance?
One pill daily
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
90%+ get generic truvada for free
May cause a small degree of weight loss
One pill daily
Effectiveness
Frequency required
Drug components
Who is it for
Manufacturer
Side effect profile
General
Bone health
Kidney health
Weight loss/gain
Cost
Approved for use in Canada
Out of pocket cost
Covered by provincial plans (e.g. OHIP, AB-BC)?
Descovy
About the drug
Cholesterol
Covered by private insurance?
generic ‘truvada’
Descovy or generic truvada - which do I choose?
We believe strongly in patient empowerment, so the choice is yours. In some situations it makes clinical sense to choose Descovy over generic truvada, or generic truvada over Descovy. Your Freddie clinician will advise you on making this decision.
For people without private insurance, the cost of Descovy is very high, so we recommend generic truvada.
Regardless, both options provide 99% protection against HIV and are recommended by Health Canada.
Interested in Descovy?
Cost to Freddie patients
85%+ with private insurance get Descovy for free. Without private insurance, Descovy is expensive.
Descovy
About the drug
Effectiveness
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
99%
Frequency Required
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
One pill daily
Drug components
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Emtricitabine +
Tenofovir alafenamide (F/TAF)
Manufacturer
Weight loss/gain
Bone health
Kidney health
General
Cholesterol
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Gilead
Who is it for?
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Only:
Gay & bisexual cis men
Trans women
Side effect profile
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Very low rates of side effects overall.
Some people experience “start-up” symptoms including diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, which usually resolve in a few weeks of PrEP use.
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Safe to take for people with mild kidney disease
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
May cause a small degree of weight gain in select patients
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
May cause small increases in cholesterol
Cost
Approved for use in Canada
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Yes
Out of pocket cost without provincial health card or private insurance
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
~$1000/month
Covered by provincial plans (e.g. OHIP)?
Covered by private insurance?
Cost to Freddie patients
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
No
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
>90% of plans
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
85%+ with private insurance get Descovy for free. Without private insurance, Descovy is expensive.
Comparison between generic truvada and Descovy
generic ‘truvada’
About the drug
Effectiveness
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
99%
Frequency Required
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
One pill daily
Drug components
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Emtricitabine +
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (F/TDF)
Manufacturer
General
Bone health
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Various. Most common in Canada are Apotex, Pharmascience and JAMP.
Who is it for?
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Side effect profile
Kidney health
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Very low rates of side effects overall.
Some people experience “start-up” symptoms including diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, which usually resolve in a few weeks of PrEP. Safer to take for people with kidney issues, though monitoring is still recommended use.
Cholesterol
Weight loss/gain
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
People with osteoporosis should avoid
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
People with kidney issues should avoid
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
May cause a small degree of weight loss
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
May cause small decreases in cholesterol
Cost
Approved for use in Canada
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Yes
Out of pocket cost without provincial health card or private insurance
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
~$250/month
Covered by provincial plans (e.g. OHIP)?
Covered by private insurance?
Cost to Freddie patients
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
Yes
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
>99% of plans
Those at higher risk for HIV, including:
-Gay & bisexual cis men
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Heterosexuals
-Cis women
-People who inject drugs
90%+ get generic truvada for free
*effectiveness based upon consistent daily use of medication
Comparison between generic truvada and Descovy
ADHD Medications
Adderall XR®
MEDICATION
DELIVERY
DURATION OF ACTION
Release mode (immediate / delayed %)
AMPHETAMINE-BASED PSYCHOSTIMULANTS
Granules can be sprinkled
~12 hours
50 / 50
Capsule content can be diluted in liquid or sprinkled
Chewable tablets should be chewed thoroughly (if applicable)
Vyvanse®
~13-14 hours
Not Applicable (Prodrug)
METHYLPHENIDATE-BASED PSYCHOSTIMULANTS
Biphentin®
Granules can be sprinkled
~10-12 hours
40 / 60
Concerta®
Osmotic-Controlled Release Oral Delivery System (OROS®)
~12 hours
22 / 78
Foquest®
Granules can be sprinkled
~16 hours
20 / 80
NON-PSYCHOSTIMULANT - SELECTIVE NOREPINEPHRINE REUPTAKE INHIBITOR
Strattera® (Atomoxetin)
Capsule needs to be swallowed whole to reduce GI side effects
Up to 24 h
Not Applicable
Common Side Effects
Body System
Side Effects
Psychostimulants
Non-
Psychostimulants
BP and HR decrease
Cardiovascular system
BP and HR increase
✓
✓
Gastrointestinal System and Nutritional Disorders
Appetite suppression
✓
✓
Constipation/Diarrhea
✓
✓
Dry mouth
✓
✓
GI upset
✓
✓
Nausea/vomiting
✓
✓
Nervous System and Psychiatric Disorders
Anxiety
✓
✓
Dizziness
✓
Dysphoria/irritability
✓
✓
Headache
✓
✓
Tics
✓
Uncommon
Rebound effect
✓
✓
Somnolence
Initial insomnia
✓
✓
Other
Decrease in weight
Sexual dysfunction
Skin reactions
✓
Uncommon
✓
✓
✓
✓
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
ADHD MEDICATIONS
Instructions on Taking Your Medication
Patient Medication Guide
Most side effects will settle down within 2-3 weeks of taking medication.
Take your first dose in the morning when you wake up (unless otherwise indicated by your Frida clinician).
- Depending on your medication, its effects may last 12-16 hours so you do not want to take it late in the day or you may have difficulty falling asleep at night.
Twice per week, take your blood pressure (BP) before taking your medication and 1-4 hours after taking it.
- Send both BP numbers to us by secure message via the Frida patient portal.
- If the top number is more than 140 or the bottom number is more than 90, please wait for us to respond to your message before continuing to take the medication.
- If there is a sudden increase or decrease in your BP, please send us the BP reading by secure message.
Try taking your medication at the same time every day and your BP on a weekly basis.
Instructions on Taking Your Blood Pressure
_________________________________________
When Should I Take My Blood Pressure Measurements?
- At least one hour after taking your BP medication
- If you are checking to see your body’s response to a new ADHD medication or a change in your medication, take the measurement 1-4 hours after taking your dose
- At least two hours after a meal
- After emptying bladder and bowel
- One hour after drinking coffee or smoking
- Thirty minutes after exercise
- Always after resting five minutes, without talking
Conditions for Good Reading
- Comfortable, distraction-free environment
- Without talking or moving
- In the sitting position with back supported
- Legs uncrossed with feet flat on the floor
- Arm bare with lower edge of cuff 3cm above elbow
- Arm supported with middle of cuff at heart level
Blood Pressure Limits
- For most people, target BP should be less than or equal to 120/80 and heart rate should be less than 100 beats per minute.
- If your BP is regularly 140/90 or above (either the top or bottom numbers) or your heart rate is regularly above 100 beats per minute, you should visit a physician in person.
- If your BP is 180/110 or higher or your resting heart rate is 120 beats per minute and you are experiencing shortness of breath, you should visit an urgent care or emergency room.