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Nevirapine is an FDA-approved prescription that helps control HIV infection. This is usually used with another HIV medication. This comes as a 200 mg tablet for oral use.
What condition does Nevirapine treat?
Nevirapine is a medication mostly recommended by doctors for HIV infection. This is in the class of drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). This helps lessen the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can function well. This also lowers your chance of getting HIV complications such as cancer or new infections. Nevirapine will also help you improve your quality of life.
This medicine is not used to prevent HIV after accidental exposure. Different HIV medication is used to prevent infection after exposure.
How does Nevirapine work?
Once the cell is infected with HIV, it takes control of that cell. HIV at that moment forces the cell to create lots of replicas of the virus. To create these copies, the cells use proteins which are called enzymes. If the activity of these enzymes is decreased, the production of HIV slows.
Nevirapine inhibits with an enzyme called reverse transcriptase (RT). RT is used by infected cells to create different viruses. Since this medicine reduces or inhibits the activity of this enzyme, Nevirapine causes infected cells to create fewer viruses.
What is the dosage of Nevirapine?
The dosage of this medication will be different for different patients. Follow the directions of your doctor. If your dosage is not the same, do not change it unless it is instructed by your doctor.
The total of drug that you take is based on the:
- Time allowed between doses
- Strength of the medication
- Number of doses you take each day
- Medical condition for which you are using the medicine
Each dose of Nevirapine may be taken with or without food, and with soda, milk, or water. Keep taking Nevirapine for the full-time treatment, even though you start recovering after the first several dosages. If you stop using the medication ahead of time, your infection may not clear up.
It is essential to take this prescription as part of a combination treatment. Take all other medications your doctor has prescribed at the right time of the day. This will help you and make your medicines work better. If you stop taking Nevirapine for more than 7 days, ask your doctor how much to use before you start taking it again.
Nevirapine will work at its finest when there is a continuous total in the blood. Do not miss any doses to help retain blood levels constant. Similarly, it is best to take the medicine at evenly spaced times during the day. If you need assistance organizing the best times to take your medication, you may ask your doctor. Keep in mind to not take an extra dosage at the same time. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
What are the precautions in using Nevirapine?
- During the first few months you are taking Nevirapine, your blood will need to be tested often.
- This medicine may cause severe or life-threatening liver complications. Stop taking it and inform your doctor right away if you experience loss of appetite, nausea, upper stomach pain, fever, tiredness, unexplained muscle pain or weakness, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
- Nevirapine can also cause severe or fatal skin reactions. Stop taking the drug and call for emergency medical assistance if you have swelling in your tongue or face, fever, skin pain, or a rash that spreads and causes peeling and blistering.
- This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to it or if you have moderate to severe liver disease.
- Certain medications may interact with Nevirapine and must not be used at the same time. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use Telaprevir, Rilpivirine, Rifampin, Itraconazole, Delavirdine, Etravirine, and Atazanavir.
- To make sure that Nevirapine is safe for you, inform your doctor if you have liver disease, skin problems, or have ever taken Efavirenz or Delavirdine.
- Women infected with HIV or AIDS must not breastfeed a baby. Even though your baby is born without HIV, the virus might be passed to the baby in your breast milk. This medication is only used when needed and if prescribed by a doctor.
