IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.

ETRAVIRINE - ORAL

(et-ra-VIR-een)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Intelence

USES: Etravirine is used with other medications to help control your HIV infection, thereby improving your quality of life. It also lowers your risk of getting complications from HIV (e.g., new infections, cancer). This medication is usually prescribed to people who have taken other HIV medications (e.g., efavirenz, nevirapine, delavirdine) that did not work well enough to control their HIV. Etravirine is known as a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). It blocks the virus from growing and infecting more cells.

Etravirine is not a cure for HIV, and it does not prevent the spread of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination (e.g., sharing used needles).

HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using etravirine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth after meals, usually 2 times daily or as directed by your doctor. Swallow the medication whole. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets.

If you have difficulty swallowing this medication whole, you may place the medication in a glass of water. Stir the mixture well until it looks milky, then drink all of the mixture immediately. To make sure you have taken the whole dose, add more water to the glass to rinse it several times, and drink all the rinse water.

It is very important to continue taking this medication (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Do not increase your dose or take this medication more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and the risk of serious side effects may be increased.

Do not take less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase and/or make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant).

This medication works best when the amount of drug in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.