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Efavirenz Contributions by FoundHealth

Article Revisions

Edited Efavirenz Overview: Overview 14 years ago

(e FAV e renz)

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Sustiva®

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Sustiva®

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Stocrin

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Antiretroviral Agent, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (Non-nucleoside)

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• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.

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• If you have an allergy to efavirenz or any other part of this medicine.

• 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, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

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• Efavirenz works to injure the virus and fight the infection.

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• Use prescription as directed, even if feeling better.

• Take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

• Swallow tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

• Take this medicine at bedtime if it causes sleepiness.

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• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

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• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

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• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

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Edited Efavirenz Overview: 14 years ago

Created: 2006-10-13 12:13:11.0

Modified: 2010-04-07 13:02:14.0

Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.

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• This medicine is used to treat HIV infection.

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• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• 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.

• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

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What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Do not run out of this medicine.

• If you have high cholesterol, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Do not take St John's wort with this medicine. It may make this medicine less effective.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions.

• To protect against sexually-transmitted diseases, use a latex condom.

• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy in HIV disease.

• Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work to prevent pregnancy. Use another form of birth control while taking this medicine.

• Breast-feeding is not recommended in HIV disease in the U.S.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Depression.

• Nervous and excitable.

• Inability to sleep.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Diarrhea.

• High cholesterol level.

• High triglyceride level.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• If you are planning to harm yourself or the desire to harm yourself increases.

• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.

• Severe headache.

• Not able to eat.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Severe diarrhea.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

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