Sustiva
CDC: HIV Hits 1,000 Young Americans Each Month »
"Nov. 27, 2012 -- Every month, 1,000 more young Americans ages 13 to 24 get an incurable infection that's deadly unless held at bay by daily doses of costly drugs -- and many of them don't even know it.
That infection is HIV, the virus"...
Read the CDC: HIV Hits 1,000 Young Americans Each Month article »
Sustiva
OVERDOSE
Some patients accidentally taking 600 mg twice daily have reported increased nervous system symptoms. One patient experienced involuntary muscle contractions.
Treatment of overdose with SUSTIVA should consist of general supportive measures, including monitoring of vital signs and observation of the patient's clinical status. Administration of activated charcoal may be used to aid removal of unabsorbed drug. There is no specific antidote for overdose with SUSTIVA. Since efavirenz is highly protein bound, dialysis is unlikely to significantly remove the drug from blood.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Hypersensitivity
SUSTIVA is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated clinically significant hypersensitivity (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, or toxic skin eruptions) to any of the components of this product.
Contraindicated Drugs
For some drugs, competition for CYP3A by efavirenz could result in inhibition of their metabolism and create the potential for serious and/or life-threatening adverse reactions (eg, cardiac arrhythmias, prolonged sedation, or respiratory depression). Drugs that are contraindicated with SUSTIVA are listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Drugs That Are Contraindicated or Not
Recommended for Use With SUSTIVA
| Drug Class: Drug Name | Clinical Comment |
| Antimigraine: ergot derivatives (dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine) | Potential for serious and/or life-threatening reactions such as acute ergot toxicity characterized by peripheral vasospasm and ischemia of the extremities and other tissues. |
| Benzodiazepines: midazolam, triazolam | Potential for serious and/or life-threatening reactions such as prolonged or increased sedation or respiratory depression. |
| Calcium channel blocker: bepridil | Potential for serious and/or life-threatening reactions such as cardiac arrhythmias. |
| GI motility agent: cisapride | Potential for serious and/or life-threatening reactions such as cardiac arrhythmias. |
| Neuroleptic: pimozide | Potential for serious and/or life-threatening reactions such as cardiac arrhythmias. |
| St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) | May lead to loss of virologic response and possible resistance to efavirenz or to the class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). |
Last reviewed on RxList: 8/29/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
Additional Sustiva Information
Sustiva - User Reviews
Sustiva User Reviews
Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.
Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Sustiva sorted by most helpful.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
WebMD Daily
Get breaking medical news.
Updated & New
