Patient Information
SUSTIVA® (sus-TEE-vah)
[efavirenz (eh-FAH-vih-rehnz)]
capsules and tablets
ALERT:
Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with SUSTIVA.
Please also read the section “MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT
TAKE WITH SUSTIVA.”
Read this information
before you start taking SUSTIVA. Read it again each time you refill your prescription,
in case there is any new information. This leaflet provides a summary about
SUSTIVA and does not include everything there is to know about your medicine.
This information is not meant to take the place of talking with your doctor.
What is SUSTIVA?
SUSTIVA
is a medicine used in combination with other medicines to help treat infection
with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1), the virus that causes AIDS
(acquired immune deficiency syndrome). SUSTIVA is a type of anti-HIV drug
called a “non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor” (NNRTI). NNRTIs
are not used in the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 2 (HIV-2)
infection.
SUSTIVA works by lowering the amount
of HIV-1 in the blood (viral load). SUSTIVA must be taken with other anti-HIV
medicines. When taken with other anti-HIV medicines, SUSTIVA has been shown
to reduce viral load and increase the number of CD4+ cells, a type of immune
cell in blood. SUSTIVA may not have these effects in every patient.
SUSTIVA does not cure HIV or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using SUSTIVA.
Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection.
- Do not share needles or other injection equipment.
- Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.
- Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.
What are the possible side effects of SUSTIVA?
Serious psychiatric problems. A small number of
patients experience severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior
while taking SUSTIVA. Some patients have thoughts of suicide and a few have
actually committed suicide. These problems tend to occur more often in patients
who have had mental illness. Contact your doctor right away if you think you
are having these psychiatric symptoms, so your doctor can decide if you should
continue to take SUSTIVA (efavirenz).
Common
side effects. Many patients have dizziness, trouble sleeping, drowsiness,
trouble concentrating, and/or unusual dreams during treatment with SUSTIVA.
These side effects may be reduced if you take SUSTIVA at bedtime on an empty
stomach. They also tend to go away after you have taken the medicine for a
few weeks. If you have these common side effects, such as dizziness, it does
not mean that you will also have serious psychiatric problems, such as severe
depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior. Tell your doctor right away
if any of these side effects continue or if they bother you. It is possible
that these symptoms may be more severe if SUSTIVA is used with alcohol or
mood altering (street) drugs.
If you are dizzy,
have trouble concentrating, or are drowsy, avoid activities that may be dangerous,
such as driving or operating machinery.
Rash is
common. Rashes usually go away without any change in treatment. In a small
number of patients, rash may be serious. If you develop a rash, call your
doctor right away. Rash may be a serious problem in some children. Tell
your child’s doctor right away if you notice rash or any other side effects
while your child is taking SUSTIVA.
Other common
side effects include tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some
patients taking SUSTIVA have experienced increased levels of lipids (cholesterol
and triglycerides) in the blood.
Changes in
body fat. Changes in body fat develop in some patients taking anti-HIV
medicine. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper
back and neck (“buffalo hump”), in the breasts, and around the trunk. Loss
of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term
health effects of these fat changes are not known.
Liver problems. Some patients taking SUSTIVA have experienced serious liver problems including liver failure resulting in transplantation or death. Most of these serious side effects occurred in patients with a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis infection, but there have also been a few reports in patients without any existing liver disease.
Tell
your doctor or healthcare provider if you notice any side effects while taking
SUSTIVA.
Contact your doctor before stopping SUSTIVA
because of side effects or for any other reason.
This
is not a complete list of side effects possible with SUSTIVA. Ask your doctor
or pharmacist for a more complete list of side effects of SUSTIVA and all
the medicines you will take.
How should I
take SUSTIVA?
General Information
- You should take SUSTIVA on an empty stomach, preferably at bedtime.
- Swallow SUSTIVA with water.
- Taking SUSTIVA with food increases the amount of medicine in your
body, which may increase the frequency of side effects.
- Taking SUSTIVA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome.
- SUSTIVA must be taken in combination with other anti-HIV medicines.
If you take only SUSTIVA, the medicine may stop working.
- Do not miss a dose of SUSTIVA. If you forget to take SUSTIVA, take
the missed dose right away, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do
not double the next dose. Carry on with your regular dosing schedule. If you
need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, ask your doctor
or pharmacist.
- Take the exact amount of SUSTIVA your doctor prescribes. Never change
the dose on your own. Do not stop this medicine unless your doctor tells you
to stop.
- If you believe you took more than the prescribed amount of SUSTIVA,
contact your local Poison Control Center or emergency room right away.
- Tell your doctor if you start any new medicine or change how you
take old ones. Your doses may need adjustment.
- When your SUSTIVA supply starts to run low, get more from your doctor
or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood
may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may
develop resistance to SUSTIVA and become harder to treat.
- Your doctor may want to do blood tests to check for certain side
effects while you take SUSTIVA (efavirenz).
Capsules
- The dose of SUSTIVA capsules for adults is 600 mg (three 200-mg
capsules, taken together) once a day by mouth. The dose of SUSTIVA for children
may be lower (see “Can children take SUSTIVA?”).
Tablets
- The dose of SUSTIVA tablets for adults is 600 mg (one tablet) once
a day by mouth.
Can children take SUSTIVA?
Yes, children who are able to swallow capsules can take SUSTIVA.
Rash may be a serious problem in some children. Tell your child’s doctor right
away if you notice rash or any other side effects while your child is taking
SUSTIVA. The dose of SUSTIVA for children may be lower than the dose for adults.
Capsules containing lower doses of SUSTIVA are available. Your child’s doctor
will determine the right dose based on your child’s weight.
Who should not take SUSTIVA?
Do
not take SUSTIVA if you are allergic to the active ingredient, efavirenz,
or to any of the inactive ingredients. Your doctor and pharmacist have a list
of the inactive ingredients.
What should I
avoid while taking SUSTIVA?
- Women should not become pregnant while taking SUSTIVA and
for 12 weeks after stopping it. Serious birth defects have been seen
in the offspring of animals and women treated with SUSTIVA during pregnancy.
It is not known whether SUSTIVA caused these defects. Tell your doctor
right away if you are pregnant. Also talk with your doctor if you want
to become pregnant.
- Women should not rely only on hormone-based birth control, such
as pills, injections, or implants, because SUSTIVA may make these contraceptives
ineffective. Women must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, such
as a condom or diaphragm, even if they also use other methods of birth control.
SUSTIVA may remain in your blood for a time after therapy is stopped. Therefore,
you should continue to use contraceptive measures for 12 weeks after you stop
taking SUSTIVA.
- Do not breast-feed if you are taking SUSTIVA. It is not known if SUSTIVA can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breast-feed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk. Talk with your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You may need to stop breast-feeding or use a different medicine.
- Taking SUSTIVA with alcohol or other medicines causing similar side effects as SUSTIVA, such as drowsiness, may increase those side effects.
- Do not take any other medicines without checking with your doctor. These medicines include prescription and nonprescription medicines and herbal
products, especially St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Before using SUSTIVA, tell your doctor if you
- have problems with your liver or have hepatitis. Your
doctor may want to do tests to check your liver while you take SUSTIVA or may switch you to another medicine.
- have ever had mental illness or are using drugs or alcohol.
- have ever had seizures or are taking medicine for seizures [for
example, Dilantin (phenytoin), Tegretol (carbamazepine), or phenobarbital].
Your doctor may want to switch you to another medicine or check drug levels
in your blood from time to time.
What important information should I know about
taking other medicines with SUSTIVA?
SUSTIVA
may change the effect of other medicines, including ones for HIV, and cause
serious side effects. Your doctor may change your other medicines or
change their doses. Other medicines, including herbal products, may affect
SUSTIVA. For this reason, it is very important to:
- let all your doctors and pharmacists know that you take SUSTIVA.
- tell your doctors and pharmacists about all medicines you take.
This includes those you buy over-the-counter and herbal or natural remedies.
Bring all your prescription and nonprescription medicines
as well as any herbal remedies that you are taking when you see a doctor,
or make a list of their names, how much you take, and how often you take them.
This will give your doctor a complete picture of the medicines you use. Then
he or she can decide the best approach for your situation.
Taking
SUSTIVA with St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), an herbal
product sold as a dietary supplement, or products containing St. John’s wort
is not recommended. Talk with your doctor if you are taking or are planning
to take St. John’s wort. Taking St. John’s wort may decrease SUSTIVA levels
and lead to increased viral load and possible resistance to SUSTIVA or cross-resistance
to other anti-HIV drugs.
MEDICINES YOU SHOULD
NOT TAKE WITH SUSTIVA
The following medicines
may cause serious and life-threatening side effects when taken with SUSTIVA.
You should not take any of these medicines while taking SUSTIVA:
- Vascor (bepridil)
- Propulsid (cisapride)
- Versed (midazolam)
- Orap (pimozide)
- Halcion (triazolam)
- Ergot medications (for example, Wigraine and Cafergot)
The following medicine should not be taken with SUSTIVA
since it contains efavirenz, the active ingredient in SUSTIVA:
- ATRIPLA (efavirenz, emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
The following medicines may need to be replaced
with another medicine when taken with SUSTIVA:
- Fortovase, Invirase (saquinavir)
- Biaxin (clarithromycin)
- Carbatrol, Tegretol (carbamazepine)
- Noxafil (posaconazole)
- Sporanox (itraconazole)
- REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate), if this is not the first time you are receiving treatment for your HIV infection
- Victrelis (boceprevir)
The following medicines may require a change in
the dose of either SUSTIVA or the other medicine:
- Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem or Tiazac (diltiazem),
Covera HS or Isoptin SR (verapamil), and others.
- The cholesterol-lowering medicines Lipitor (atorvastatin), PRAVACHOL
(pravastatin sodium), and Zocor (simvastatin).
- Crixivan (indinavir)
- Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir)
- Methadone
- Mycobutin (rifabutin)
- REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate). If you are taking SUSTIVA and REYATAZ,
you should also be taking Norvir (ritonavir).
- Rifadin (rifampin) or the rifampin-containing medicines Rifamate
and Rifater.
- Selzentry (maraviroc)
- Vfend (voriconazole) and SUSTIVA must not be taken together at standard
doses. Some doses of voriconazole can be taken at the same time as a lower
dose of SUSTIVA, but you must check with your doctor first.
- Zoloft (sertraline)
- Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, or Zyban (bupropion)
- The immunosuppressant medicines cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), Prograf (tacrolimus), or Rapamune (sirolimus).
These are not all the medicines that may cause
problems if you take SUSTIVA. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medicines
that you take.
General advice about
SUSTIVA:
Medicines are sometimes prescribed
for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do
not use SUSTIVA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give
SUSTIVA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It
may harm them.
Keep SUSTIVA at room temperature
(77° F) in the bottle given to you by your pharmacist. The temperature can
range from 59° to 86° F.
Keep SUSTIVA out
of the reach of children.
This leaflet summarizes
the most important information about SUSTIVA. If you would like more information,
talk with your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for the full
prescribing information about SUSTIVA, or you can visit the SUSTIVA website
at
www.sustiva.com or call 1-800-321-1335.
__________________
SUSTIVA is a registered
trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, ATRIPLA is a trademark of
Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC, PRAVACHOL is a registered
trademark of ER Squibb & Sons, LLC, and REYATAZ is a registered trademark
of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Other brands listed are the trademarks of
their respective owners.
Distributed by:
Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company
Princeton, NJ 08543 USA
SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) capsules made in India.
© Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 2012
1262274A8
510230013IN09
Rev August 2012