Sustiva (Efavirenz) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

Sustiva

HIV and AIDS: Antiretroviral Drugs, Treatments and Medications »

Entry Inhibitors (including Fusion Inhibitors) and CCR5 Co-receptor Antagonist

Entry Inhibitors
Entry inhibitors block HIV entry into CD4+ cells.

Fusion inhibitors
The only drug in this class is T-20, which is administered as a twice daily subcutaneous injection. The most common side effect is redness and pain at the site of injection. Rarely, infection can occur at the injection site. There also are reports of generalized allergic reactions.

CCR5 antagonist
Although there were some early concerns of liver inflammation for drugs in this class, MVC appeared to be well tolerated in clinical trials without any specific toxicities attributable to the drug. However, it is a new drug in a new class and the first to actually target the cell. For these reasons, longer follow-up from clinical trials and those followed in the clinic will be very important for assessing the overall safety of the...

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Sustiva Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking efavirenz (Sustiva)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to efavirenz, or if you are using any of the following drugs:

cisapride (Propulsid);
midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);
pimozide (Orap); or
ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Using any of these medicines while you are taking efavirenz can cause serious medical problems or death.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take efavirenz. Before you take efavirenz, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease (including hepatitis B or C);
high cholesterol or triglycerides; or
if you have ever taken delavirdine (Rescriptor) or nevirapine (Viramune) and they were not effective in treating your condition.

FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not use efavirenz without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Use two forms of birth control, including a barrier form (such as a condom or diaphragm with spermicide gel) while you are taking efavirenz, and for at least 12 weeks after your treatment ends. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.

Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using efavirenz. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether efavirenz had any effect on the baby.

You should not breast-feed while you are using efavirenz. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I take efavirenz (Sustiva)?

Take efavirenz exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take efavirenz on an empty stomach at bedtime, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Efavirenz can cause side effects such as mood or behavior changes. These symptoms may improve the longer you take the medication. Taking efavirenz at bedtime may also lessen these effects. Contact your doctor if you have more serious symptoms such as severe depression or thoughts of hurting yourself.

Take efavirenz regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescriptions refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Do not take efavirenz as your only HIV medication. HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. Your disease may become resistant to efavirenz if you do not take it in combination with other HIV medicines your doctor has prescribed. Use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

To be sure efavirenz is helping your condition and not causing harmful effects, your blood and liver function may need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

This medication can cause you to have a false positive drug-screening test. If you provide a urine sample for drug-screening, tell the laboratory staff that you are taking efavirenz.

Store efavirenz at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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