Efavirenz, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; antiretroviral; anti-HIV

Generic and brand names: efavirenz, oral; Sustiva

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth along with other medicines to treat HIV infection. This medicine must be taken with other anti-HIV medicines to keep from developing resistant strains of HIV.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• liver or kidney disease
• bleeding disorders
• diabetes
• heart disease
• hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• high cholesterol
• mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, or paranoia
• problems with substance abuse
• seizures

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not change your dosage on your own. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. If you are not sure of how much and how often to take this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

Take this medicine with other medicines your healthcare provider prescribes. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly.

Do not take this medicine with meals that are high in fat.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Take it at bedtime for the first few weeks. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

What if I miss a dose?

Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose and it is within 6 hours of the time you usually take it, take the dose following a meal as soon as possible. If you miss a dose and it is more than 6 hours after the time you usually take it, then skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: confusion, loss of balance, sudden change in behavior, thoughts of suicide.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine is not a cure for HIV infection. You may continue to get illnesses associated with advanced HIV infection, including other infections. There is no evidence that this medicine will reduce the risk of spreading HIV through sexual contact or blood contamination.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

You may develop a rash. This usually goes away without any change in treatment. Occasionally, the rash becomes serious. Report any rash to your healthcare provider right away, especially if it lasts for more than 2 days.

When taken with this medicine, alcohol and other drugs may make you dizzier and drowsier than usual. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

This medicine may cause dizziness, trouble concentrating, depression, or drowsiness. These symptoms often go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Taking this medicine at night may help to make these symptoms less bothersome. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these your healthcare provider right away): Depression that does not go away; hallucinations; serious rash with a fever; blistering; mouth sores; red eyes; swelling; muscle pain or joint pain; extreme weakness; dark urine; light-colored bowel movements; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Other: Numbness, indigestion, stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, trouble sleeping, dizziness, drowsiness, abnormal dreams, trouble concentrating, headaches, sweating.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., Erythrocin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), and rifapentine (Priftin)
• antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital
• antifungal medicines such as caspofungin (Cancidas), itraconazole (Sporanox), voriconazole (Vfend), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as ritonavir (Norvir), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir mesylate (Viracept), didanosine (Videx, Videx EC), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, and shots (talk to your healthcare provider if you need birth control)
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), felodipine (Plendil), and amlodipine (Norvasc)
• medicines to treat migraine headaches such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Ercaf), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine), and eletriptan (Relpax)
• methadone (Dolophine)
• sedatives as alprazolam (Xanax) , diazepam (Valium), and triazolam (Halcion)
• St. Johns wort
• vitamins
• warfarin (Coumadin)

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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