Real Stories and Resources | VEMLIDY® (tenofovir alafenamide)

Real VEMLIDY patients share their stories

Hear from others about why they decided to take VEMLIDY, what starting treatment was like, and
how they stay on track with their routine.

“VEMLIDY was easy to fit into my life. It’s just a pill, and it’s tiny, and I take it once a day with food.” – Betsy

[Betsy]

I’m Betsy. I’m a mother of four. My husband and I both work full time, and we are constantly running around.

We do competitive cheer, wrestling, soccer, ballet, sometimes basketball, and it’s a very full and fun life, and it is very busy.

I was diagnosed with hepatitis B in 2007. Right after I found out I was pregnant, they did a routine blood test and discovered it then. I didn’t have any symptoms of hep B. The referring physician kind of just sent me on my way, told me it was no big deal, so I just didn’t really ever think about it.

So, about 14 years later, my mom was getting just a random scan, and they found a tumor on her liver. It was diagnosed as HCC—hepatocellular carcinoma.

I started doing some research. I came across hep B over and over, and the doctor did confirm that the cancer was a result of the hepatitis B. We realized that my mom probably had hep B for a really long time, and we had no idea.

When we found out that she had cancer, I was devastated. I can’t imagine life without my mom. She is everything to me.

Around that time, I consulted with my GI. My hep B levels were low, so we didn’t really worry about it, but months later, I was feeling so tired all the time. I couldn’t get through a full day. I had to start taking naps.

I was so tired that I started forgetting when games were. I was beginning to miss everyday moments like helping the kids with their homework or sending them off to school before they went to the bus just saying, “I love you.” So, that was hard.

So, I finally followed up about a year later, because things were busy, and found out that my hep B levels were really high, and my liver enzyme levels were also very high.

I didn’t realize that my numbers could jump so quickly within just a few months. I was 38 years old. I knew I had to do something about my hep B.

I work in the pharmaceutical industry, so I knew where to look and what I was looking for in a treatment.

My doctor and I talked about many different options, and we decided that VEMLIDY was the right treatment for me.

She made sure that I understood that VEMLIDY wasn’t a cure, but it could help lower the amount of hep B in my body, and it could improve the condition of my liver.

My doctor and I discussed any other kind of medications that I was taking that might interact with VEMLIDY.

She told me that the most common side effect of VEMLIDY is headache.

Together we decided to move forward with VEMLIDY.

After just months of taking VEMLIDY, my doctor told me that my hep B virus levels were undetectable, and my liver enzyme levels were back into the normal range!

I felt that I could finally enjoy those everyday moments with my kids, and I could be there for them.

Of course, this is just my experience. Everybody’s experience with VEMLIDY may be different.

If you’re living with hep B, I think it’s important to know that you can do something about it and to talk to your doctor to see if VEMLIDY is the right option for you.

It was easy to fit into my life. It’s just a pill, and it’s tiny, and I take it once a day with food. VEMLIDY is kind of a no-brainer for me.

Initially, my doctor assumed that VEMLIDY wouldn’t be covered by my insurance, but we found out later that it was covered, and I was eligible for the co-pay coupon, so my co-pay ended up being zero!

[voiceover]

VEMLIDY is a prescription medicine used to treat chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults with stable liver disease.

Before starting VEMLIDY, your doctor will test if you have HIV infection.

If you have both HBV and HIV, and only take VEMLIDY, the HIV virus may develop resistance and become harder to treat.

Serious side effects can occur, including kidney problems and kidney failure. Your doctor will test your kidneys when starting and during treatment.

Rare, life-threatening side effects include a build-up of lactic acid and liver problems.

Tell your doctor if you are or plan to be pregnant or breastfeeding as VEMLIDY may pass into your breastmilk, have HIV infection, kidney disease, and about all the medicines and supplements you take.

Do not stop taking VEMLIDY without talking to your doctor as the hepatitis B may get worse if you stop treatment.

The most common side effect was headache.

Ask your doctor if VEMLIDY is right for you.

Please see Important Safety Information for important warning on worsening of hepatitis B virus infection.

[Betsy]

My doctor discussed how important it was to stay on VEMLIDY and to make sure I take it every day so that we could keep my hep B levels low.

I’m not just staying on VEMLIDY for me. I’m staying on VEMLIDY for everybody that I love.

I’m staying on VEMLIDY because of my family and because I want to do the things that I am capable of doing.

There’s a lot ahead of us. I’m excited for the school graduations and for the dances and the happy moments and the sad moments.

I just want to keep enjoying the moments that matter.

“I switched to VEMLIDY, which is covered by my insurance. My doctor told me about the Co-pay Coupon Program. I was able to enroll, and my co-pay is $0.” – Frank

[Frank]

I’m Frank. I’m 56 years old.

I live in Fountain Valley.

I am married. I have three daughters.

I'm active and I love to exercise outside, and it's easy to do where I live in Southern California.

I'm originally from South Vietnam and my brother and I left when I was only nine.

We left on a wooden boat with nothing but clothes on our back.

I was very scared and we didn't know where we were going and we weren't sure we were ever going to see my parents again.

Thankfully, I had my older brother with me, because seeing his determination helped me build my own.

My childhood shaped me into who I am.

I was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B in 2014, when I was 47.

When I was diagnosed, I was jaundiced. I was rushed to the hospital.

They ran a series of blood tests and told me that I had chronic hepatitis B.

Before I was diagnosed, I didn't have any symptoms.

I hadn't been sick before; it was a total shock.

I was worried that I wouldn't be able to support my wife and my family.

I was afraid of missing out on the moments that matter.

I asked my doctor for his recommendation.

He told me it was really important for me to start treatment right away to lower my hep B virus level and improve my liver health.

I had trouble swallowing my first medication and I skipped it a lot.

I didn't take my hep B medication as much, so my hep B virus level went even higher than when I was originally diagnosed.

Having chronic hep B made me very tired and sometimes it was very hard for me to find the energy to work out.

My first hep B pill was not right for me.

I reached out to my doctor and he recommended VEMLIDY in 2017 and I switched.

I've been taking VEMLIDY daily ever since.

The VEMLIDY pill is small and easy to take.

It works well for me and it fits into my daily routine. I take it every day with food.

VEMLIDY has become a regular part of my daily life.

I'm grateful that my doctor was open to having a conversation about my medication.

I'm happy that my doctor recommended VEMLIDY for me.

My doctor and I discussed any other kinds of medication that I was taking that might interact with VEMLIDY that may cause side effects and affect how VEMLIDY works.

Before starting VEMLIDY, my doctor also told me about common side effects like headaches, and some other serious side effects that can occur, including kidney problems and kidney failure.

I appreciate that there are saving and support options available for VEMLIDY. For my previous medication, I had to pay a co-pay every month.

But then I switched to VEMLIDY, which is covered by my insurance. My doctor told me about the Co-pay Coupon Program. I was able to enroll, and my co-pay is zero.

Every six months, I go to my doctor to get blood tests done to check my hep B virus level and my liver enzymes.

VEMLIDY helps me manage my hep B.

My hep B levels were undetectable within months of starting VEMLIDY and have stayed that way since.

My liver enzymes were within the normal range, too.

I think it's important for people to know about hep B and not be afraid.

I want my friends and other people like me to feel like they can speak up about treating hep B and know they are not alone.