Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) for hepatitis B
Content date: 11 November 2026
TAF is a daily medicine that controls hepatitis B virus. It differs from TDF in strength and instructions; do not switch between them yourself.
Your next step
Check your written prescription and monitoring plan. If anything is unclear, ask your care team before changing a dose.
Get urgent help: Get urgent help for new jaundice, confusion, markedly reduced urine, or breathlessness with profound weakness.
How to use
- The usual adult Vemlidy dose is one 25 mg tablet daily with food. If prescribed during haemodialysis, take it after dialysis on treatment days. Severe kidney impairment or advanced loss of liver function requires specialist assessment before prescribing. For a missed dose, follow your own leaflet or ask the pharmacist; never double the dose.
Storage
- Keep Vemlidy in its original, tightly closed container to protect from moisture. Follow your pack’s temperature requirement; some Vemlidy packs specify below 30°C. Keep away from children.
Tests and follow-up
- Check kidney function, urine protein/glucose and, with kidney disease, phosphorus before and during treatment, alongside liver enzymes and HBV DNA. Test for HIV before treatment. Continue recommended liver checks and ultrasound surveillance.
Possible side effects: what to expect
- Not everyone gets side effects. Headache, nausea or tiredness may occur, sometimes with diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort. Take the dose with food as prescribed, and discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms rather than changing treatment yourself.
- Kidney problems can occur, so kidney monitoring continues according to your circumstances even when you feel well. Report reduced urine or symptoms after adding medicines. Do not stop Vemlidy suddenly: hepatitis B can flare severely.
Important
- Do not stop or run out: a serious hepatitis flare can follow. Review all medicines, especially rifampicin, seizure medicines, St John’s wort and painkillers that affect the kidneys. Do not add TDF or another tenofovir-containing medicine. Discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding with your clinician. Treatment suppresses HBV but usually does not eliminate the virus.
My prescribed plan - complete with the team
Brand / device: ........................ | Dose and how I take or use the medicine: ........................
Next dose: ........................ | Next blood tests: ........................
Team contact: ........................
Brand / device: ........................ | Dose and how I take or use the medicine: ........................
Next dose: ........................ | Next blood tests: ........................
Team contact: ........................
When to get help
Get urgent help for new jaundice, confusion, markedly reduced urine, or breathlessness with profound weakness.
Contact the clinic for persistent headache or nausea, symptoms after adding another medicine, or repeated missed doses.