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| Pronunciation |
|
 (e
FAV e
renz) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Sustiva™ |
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|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Antiretroviral Agent, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
(Non-Nucleoside) |
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|
| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- This medicine is used in combination with other medicines to treat
HIV infections.
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|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to efavirenz or any other part of the
medicine.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to treat HIV infection. It is usually taken with
2 other medicines.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Efavirenz stops the HIV virus from increasing. It blocks reproduction
of the virus.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- The medicine must be taken exactly as directed.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach. Do not take with fatty foods.
- Take at bedtime for the first 2-4 weeks. This makes side effects
easier to handle.
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
|
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|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Do not run out of this medication. Get it refilled today!
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Protect against sexual spread of disease. Use an effective method of
birth control. Talk with healthcare provider if you have questions.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine. Talk with healthcare provider if
you have questions.
- Breast-feeding is not recommended in HIV
disease.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Dizziness and changes in thinking clearly. Use caution in driving,
doing other tasks or activities that require mental alertness. These should
improve.
- Inability to sleep. Should improve.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help. Should improve.
- Rash. Usually seen in the first 3 weeks of
medicine.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe headache.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically (if no improvement in 2-4
weeks).
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
|
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|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
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|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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