Details

Nevirapine is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body. Nevirapine is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Nevirapine will not prevent or cure HIV or AIDS. Nevirapine can cause severe or fatal liver problems. Nevirapine may also cause severe or life-threatening skin reactions. To make sure you can safely take nevirapine, tell your doctor if you have skin problems liver disease (or a history of hepatitis or cirrhosis) kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis) or if you have ever taken delavirdine or efavirenz and they were not effective in treating your condition.

Typical Uses

Nevirapine is used with other HIV medications to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. Nevirapine belongs to a class of drugs known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Nevirapine should not be used to prevent HIV infection after accidental exposure (such as needle sticks, blood/bodily fluid contact). Different HIV medications are used to prevent infection after exposure.

Side Effects

Common nevirapine side effects may include fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing any other signs of new infection the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild or changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

Drug Interactions

• Nevirapine+atazanavir- Using atazanavir together with nevirapine may alter the blood levels and effects of both drugs. Combining these medications may significantly reduce the blood levels and effects of atazanavir and increase the blood levels and effects of nevirapine.
• Nevirapine+caspofungin- Using nevirapine together with caspofungin may cause caspofungin to be less effective. Let your doctor know if your infection worsens or your symptoms don't improve. Talk with your doctor before using nevirapine while you are using caspofungin.
• Nevirapine+daclatasvir- Nevirapine may significantly decrease the blood levels of daclatasvir, which may reduce its effectiveness in treating hepatitis C. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Nevirapine+leflunomide- Leflunomide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as nevirapine may increase that risk. Because leflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it.
• Nevirapine+mipomersen- Mipomersen may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as nevirapine may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while being treated with these medications.

Mechanism of action

Nevirapine belongs to a class of anti-HIV medicines called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that HIV needs in order to multiply. Nevirapine stops reverse transcriptase from working, and thus helps control HIV-1 infection.

Pregnancy Category : B