Nevirapine (By mouth)

Introduction:

Nevirapine (ne-VIR-a-peen)

Used with other medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Nevirapine does not cure HIV or AIDS, but it may slow the worsening of the disease.

Brand Name(s):

Viramune, Viramune O/S

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Liquid, Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. Your dose may need to be increased after the first 2 weeks of taking the medicine. Do not stop taking the medicine or change the amount you take without asking your doctor.
• You may take this medicine with or without food. Take all other medicines your doctor has prescribed as part of your combination treatment.
• Shake the oral liquid gently just before using it.
• Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. If you are using a medicine cup, make sure you drink the full dose of medicine. After swallowing the medicine, add some water to the cup and drink the water. This will help to get all of the medicine out of the cup.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not take ketoconazole (Nizoral®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®), or St. John's wort while you are being treated with this medicine, unless your doctor says it is okay.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid®), clarithromycin (Biaxin®), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®), ergotamine (Ergomar®, Ergostat®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), methadone (Dolophine®), or rifabutin (Mycobutin®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using other medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (such as efavirenz, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, Crixivan®, Fotovase®, Invirase®, Kaletra®, Norvir®, Sustiva®,Viracept®).
• Tell your doctor if you are using narcotic pain reliever (such as fentanyl, Sublimaze®), medicine to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide, Klonopin®, Tegretol®, Zarontin®), medicine that weakens the immune system (such as cyclosporin, sirolimus, tacrolimus, Gengraf®, Neoral®, Protopic®, Rapamune®, Sandimmune®), medicine to treat heart rhythm problems (such as amiodarone, disopyramide, lidocaine, Norpace®), a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), or certain blood pressure medicines (such as diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil, Calan®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant, or if you have kidney disease or liver disease (including hepatitis B or C).
• You should not breast feed if you have HIV or AIDS, because you may give the infection to your baby through your breast milk.
• This medicine will not keep you from giving HIV to your partner during sex. Make sure you understand and practice safe sex, even if your partner also has HIV. Do not share needles with anyone.
• When you start taking HIV medicines, your immune system may get stronger. If you have certain infections, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, you may notice new symptoms when your body tries to fight them. If this occurs, be sure to tell your doctor.
• Tell your doctor right away if you develop any type of skin rash, even a mild rash. Stop taking the medicine and get emergency medical help if you have a rash with blisters, fever, mouth sores, red or irritated eyes, swelling in the face, muscle or joint pain, or weakness.
• Birth control pills may not work while you are using this medicine. To keep from getting pregnant, use another form of birth control. Other forms include condoms, a diaphragm, or contraceptive foam or jelly.
• This medicine may cause you to have excess body fat. Tell your doctor if you notice changes in your body shape, such as an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck, or around the chest and stomach area; or a loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Any type of skin rash.
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Dark-colored urine or pale stools.
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, or pain in the upper stomach.
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Diarrhea.
• Gaining weight around your neck, upper back, breast, face, or waist.
• Headache.
• Muscle or joint pain.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: