Explanation

Nevirapine (also called Viramune®) is a medicine used to fight HIV.

What does it do?

Nevirapine is an anti-viral medicine and it fights HIV. It is a type of reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

Nevirapine gives your immune system a chance to get stronger, which helps it to win the battle against HIV.

What does it look like?

Nevirapine comes as a tablet that you take with a drink. It also comes as a liquid, which you can take instead of tablets. Very young children take it as a liquid, too.

The tablets and the liquid have different amounts of nevirapine inside them, and your doctor will choose which is best for you to take.

When do I have to take it?

Your doctor will tell you when to take nevirapine. You will usually have to take it once a day at first. After 2 weeks, you usually take it twice a day, and always at the same time of day.

Don't forget to take your nevirapine. Even if the adults looking after you forget - go and remind them!

But what if I don't feel like taking it?

It's very important to take your nevirapine at the same time each day. If you don't take your nevirapine your HIV will keep spreading, making it harder for your immune system to fight it.

Taking your medicine is the best way to help your immune system win the battle against HIV.

What should I do if I forget to take it?

If you notice within 8 hours of missing your dose, take nevirapine as soon as you notice, and afterwards take the next dose at the usual time.

If it's MORE than 8 hours since the time you usually take nevirapine, wait until the next time you are due to take it and take your normal dose then.

Don't take twice as much next time to catch up on a missed dose. Remember the three Ds: Don't Double Dose!

How much do I take?

The tablet and liquid each have different amounts of nevirapine inside them. How much you should take depends on how old you are and how much you weigh.

Your doctor will decide what your own perfect dose is. The right dose is really important. It's the best way to avoid getting side effects .

What are the most likely side effects I might get?

The side effects that you are most likely to get if you take nevirapine is an itchy or red rash that hurts when you touch it.

You are likely to get a rash within the first few weeks of starting on nevirapine. If you notice a rash, tell your doctor. If it is really bad, your doctor will probably give you a different medicine to take instead of nevirapine.

Some other side effects you might get are:

Sore muscles

a fever (feeling hot and cold)

feeling really tired

feeling or being sick

having a headache

having a sore tummy

having diarrhoea (runny poos)

Tell your doctor if you notice these or any other side effects when you are taking nevirapine.

What other side effects might I get?

While you are taking nevirapine your doctor will give you blood tests, as nevirapine can affect how well your liver is working. The results of these tests can tell your doctor if your liveris not working as well as usual.

You could get hepatitis. If you get this, it's usually during the first 18 weeks of taking nevirapine. If it's serious it can:

Cause pain in your abdomen (above your tummy)

Make you feel sick

Make your skin turn a yellowish colour

Make you lose your appetite

If you notice any of these symptoms stop taking nevirapine and tell your doctor straight away.

Nevirapine can make your joints ache, and can also give you anaemia.

Are there any other side effects that you haven't mentioned?

You could be allergic to nevirapine. If so, you may get a serious rash. You could also:

Have a fever (feeling hot and cold, sweating)

Get blisters on your skin

Get sores around your mouth

Get swollen eyes

Have a swollen face

Have aching muscles or joints

Feel short of breath

Feel just generally unwell

Have pain around your tummy or above it

If you get an allergic reaction, it is more likely to happen during the first 18 weeks of taking nevirapine. If you notice any of the symptoms in the list above, you should stop taking your medicine and tell your doctor straight away.

Very rarely, nevirapine can cause anaphylaxis. If you go into anaphylaxis, you must go to hospital straight away.

Is it safe for me to take nevirapine?

If you have had any sort of allergic reaction, rash or other side effects caused by nevirapine in the past, don't take it again. Tell your doctor and he or she can decide on another medicine for you to take instead.

If you have any liver or kidney problems, make sure you talk to your doctor before you take nevirapine.

Is it OK for me to take Nevirapine if I'm already taking other medicines?

Nevirapine can sometimes stop other medicines from working properly, or the other medicines might stop nevirapine from working. Some of these medicines include:

medicine to treat bacterial infections (especially TB)

medicine to treat fungal infections

medicine to treat some heart problems

the herbal medicine 'St. John's Wort', which is used to treat depression

other medicines to treat HIV

Always tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any vitamins or herbal supplements.

Do I need to know anything else about nevirapine?

Nevirapine should always be taken with at least one other anti-viral medicine to treat HIV. Taking two medicines together like this is called combination therapy.

Combination therapy that includes nevirapine can cause changes in the shape of your body. You might get skinnier in some places (like around your arms and legs) and then get a bit fatter in other places (like around your tummy).

Some people who have combination therapy with drugs like nevirapine get something called osteonecrosis. In osteonecrosis, the blood supply to your bones becomes cut off. At first, this causes pain in your joints and can make it difficult for you to move.

If you notice these symptoms tell your doctor straight away.

What if I have any more questions?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people with HIV in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.