Nevirapine is an oral medication that is used for the treatment of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus HIV. It is similar to efavirenz Sustiva and delavirdine Rescriptor. Nevirapine is in a class of drugs called reverse transcriptase inhibitors which also includes zalcitabine Hivid zidovudine Retrovir didanosine Videx and lamivudine Epivir. During infection with HIV the HIV virus multiplies within the bodys cells. The newly-formed viruses then are released from the cells and spread throughout the body where they infect other cells. In this manner the infection spreads to new uninfected cells that the body is continually producing and HIV infection is perpetuated. When producing new viruses the HIV virus must manufacture new DNA for each virus. Reverse transcriptase is the enzyme that the virus uses to form this new DNA. Nevirapine directly inhibits the activity of reverse transcriptase and blocks the production of DNA and new viruses. Unlike zidovudine nevirapine does not need to be converted to an active form and it does not compete with the compound thymidine triphosphate that is required by HIV virus to make new DNA. Nevirapine does not kill existing HIV virus and it is not a cure for HIV. The FDA approved nevirapine in September 1996.

The starting dose for adults is 200 mg daily. After 14 days the dose should be increased to 200 mg every 12 hours. Nevirapine must be administered in combination with other anti-HIV drugs because the HIV virus quickly becomes resistant to treatment when nevirapine is used alone.

Nevirapine may be administered without regard to meals since food does not reduce its absorption.

The most common side effects of nevirapine are rash headaches diarrhea nausea fever abdominal pain and muscle pain myalgia. The most serious side effects are liver failure and severe skin reactions.

Rifampin Rifadin rifabutin Mycobutin ketoconazole Nizoral and St. Johns Wort decrease blood concentrations of nevirapine by increasing its breakdown. Decreased blood concentration may reduce the effect of nevirapine.

Nevirapine reduces the blood concentration of oral contraceptives and this could result in inadequate birth control. Nevirapine also decreases the concentration of methadone Dolophine and this could lead to narcotic withdrawal symptoms.

Nevirapine is used together with other anti-HIV drugs for the treatment of HIV infection.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Store at room temperature 15-30°C 59-86°F.