Generic Name: nevirapine
Pronunciation: VIH-rah-mune
Abbreviation: NVP
Drug Class: Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Company: Boehringer-Ingelheim
Approval Status: Approved
Generic Version Available: Yes
Drug Indication
Not part of a recommended or alternative treatment regimen for antiretroviral-naive people living with HIV, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents. Visit http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/aa_recommendations.pdf for the full DHHS guidelines.
General Info
Viramune is an HIV medication. It is in a category of HIV medicines called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Viramune was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by people living with HIV in 1996.
Viramune is available as an immediate-release (IR) tablets, which is taken twice a day, and as an extended-release tablet (XR), which is taken once a day.
Viramune must be used in combination with other HIV drugs.
Dosage
Adult Dose: One 200mg Viramune IR tablet once a day for 14 days, then one 400mg Viramune XR tablet once a day
Pediatric Dose: Age 6 to 18 years: One 150mg Viramune IR tablet or liquid for the first 14 days. Dosing then based on body surface area.
Dosing Info: Take with or without food.
Side Effects
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that women with CD4 counts over 250 and men with CD4 counts over 400 should not take Viramune as their first antireflective (ARV) regimen unless the benefits outweigh the risks. This is because Viramune can lead to serious liver problems in people with higher CD4 counts who start Viramune for the first time. This is especially true in pregnant women with higher CD4 counts. People whose CD4 counts have significantly increased from taking another ARV regimen (to greater than 250 in women and 400 in men) may can safely switch to Viramune, however.
In rare cases, liver problems can be very serious and become life-threatening. Therefore, if you develop any of the following symptoms while taking Viramune, call your doctor immediately: general ill feeling, tiredness, lack of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, darkening of the urine, pale stools, liver tenderness.
The most common side effect of Viramune is skin rash. In a small number of patients, rash has been serious and resulted in death. Therefore, if you develop a rash with any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: general ill feeling, fever, muscle or joint aches, blisters, mouth sores, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the inner surface of the eyelids), swelling of the face, tiredness.
If you must stop treatment with Viramune because you have these types of serious reactions, you must not take Viramune again.
Drug Interactions
For a review of drug interactions, including prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements that should not be taken with Viramune or may require dose adjustments, consult the Viramune package insert: http://bidocs.boehringer-ingelheim.com/BIWebAccess/ViewServlet.ser?docBase=renetnt&folderPath=/Prescribing+Information/PIs/Viramune+XR/ViramuneXR.pdf
Other Info
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or liver disease. In addition, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, if you are breastfeeding, and all your medical conditions, including all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you are taking.
Co-Pay Program Info: http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/PAPs_Copays_19740.shtml
Patient Assistance Program Info: http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/PAPs_Copays_19740.shtml
Last Reviewed: July 15, 2016
