Edurant is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV virus causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This medicine is administered to patients that have no history of HIV treatment in the past.
Rilpivirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. This medicine does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. It lowers the amount of HIV in the blood and helps the immune system. It is significant in delaying the result from AIDS or HIV disease. However, note that it will not prevent you from spreading HIV to other people.
The users of this medicine will also continue to experience some of the problems that are related to AIDS or HIV disease. This medicine is only available with your doctor's prescription.
Before using Edurant, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.
Before using the medicine, the following needs to be considered:
Inform your doctor if you have any form of allergies or unusual reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. In addition, inform your healthcare professional of you have any form of allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives or animals.
For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. In pediatrics, appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric specific problems that would limit the usefulness of rilpivirine in children. In elderly patients, there is no information that is available on the relationship between age and the effects of rilpivirine.
Breastfeeding studies on mothers indicate that there are no adequate studies in women for determining the infant risks when using this medication during breastfeeding. One needs to weight the potential of use against the potential risks before taking this medication while breast feeding.
Drug interactions may present when using this medicine. It is known that certain medicines may not be used together completely. In other situations, two different medicines may be used together even when there is a possibility of a drug interaction. In this case, your doctor may want to vary the dose and precautions.
When receiving this medicine, it is also important for your healthcare professional to know that you are using the medicines that you are listed below. The use of these medicines and their interactions are selected on the basis of their potential significant and may not be all inclusive. Use of these medicines with any of the following medicines is not recommended though it may be required in some cases.
When both of the medicines are prescribed together; your doctor may advise you to make changes as will be recommended. These medicines include:
Amifampridine
Bepridil
Carbamazepine
Cisapride
Dexamethasone
Dronedarone
Esomeprazole
Fluconazole
Fosphenytoin
Ketoconazole
Lansoprazole
Mesoridazine
Nelfinavir
Omeprazole
Oxcarbazepine
Pantoprazole
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin
Pimozide
Piperaquine
Posaconazole
Primidone
Rabeprazole
Rifampin
Rifapentine
Saquinavir
Sparfloxacin
St John's Wort
Terfenadine
Thioridazine
Ziprasidone
Use of rilpivirine with any of the following medicine is not recommended. But it may be required in some of the cases. When both of the medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often they can use one or both the medicines.
If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. They include:
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
They include:
Boceprevir
and Methadone
Other Interactions may occur when the medicine is used at or around times of eating certain types of foods. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also occur. Discuss with your doctor the use of your medicine with food or alcohol or tobacco. Other medical problems may also affect the use of medicines.
Always inform your doctor if you have any other medical problems such as depression, history of liver or liver disease such as hepatitis B or C infection. Use this medicine with caution. Severe kidney disease may make these conditions worse. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
3 Proper Usage
Use Edurant exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. Keep taking rilpivirine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better. Do not stop taking it without checking first with your doctor. When your supply of the medicine is running low, contact your doctor or pharmacist ahead of time. Do not allow yourself to run out of the medicine. It is important to take rilpivirine together with other medicines. Take all other medicines your doctor has prescribed at the right time of day.
This will make your medicines work better. It is best to take this medicine with food. If you are taking a stomach medicine for heartburn or ulcers (eg, cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, ranitidine, Axid , Pepcid , Tagamet , or Zantac ), take the heartburn medicine at least 12 hours before or 4 hours after rilpivirine. If you are taking antacids that contain aluminum, magnesium, or calcium, take the antacid at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after rilpivirine.
If you are taking didanosine (Videx ), take the medicine on an empty stomach and at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after rilpivirine. Dosing The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.
If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets): For treatment of HIV infection: Adults and children 12 years and older and weighing at least 35 kilograms (kg) 25 milligrams (mg) once a day. Children younger than 12 years Use is not recommended. Missed Dose If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.
However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. If you miss a dose of this medicine and it is less than 12 hours since your regular time, take it as soon as you can and take your next dose at the normal time. If you miss a dose and it is more than 12 hours since your regular time, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the normal time.
Storage Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
4 Precautions to Take
In using Edurant, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor.
Regular medical checkups to assess progress at regular visits of the medical facilities ensure that the medicine is working properly and without the any of the unwanted effects. To do this, blood tests may be required for the screening of the unwanted effects. This medicines does not lower the risk of getting infected with HIV aids and infecting others through the sexual contacts or by contamination through the blood tests.
HIV is spread or acquired from others through infected body fluids such as blood, vaginal fluid or semen. When infected, it is best to avoid sexual activity involving an exchange of body fluids with other people.
When you have sex, always wear or have your partner use a condom or rubber. It is significant to only use condoms that are made of latex or polyurethane and use them often every time you have the sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions or blood.
When using needles, avoid sharing or using already used needles or equipment with anyone. If you have any questions about this, always check with the medical doctor. It is advisable not to use rilperivirine. Moreover, when using the following medicines.
Certain stomach medicines (eg, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, or Protonix), dexamethasone (Decadron)
or St. John's wort
It is suggested that serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine in some people. It is important to check with your medical doctor immediately when you observe signs of blistering, peeling, or loose skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills with this medicine. It is also possible that serious allergic reactions can occur such as anaphylaxis and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome).
Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Inform your doctor right away when you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, lightheadedness or dizziness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth with this medicine. It is important to inform your doctor immediately when you feel depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourself. Also, inform your doctor in case of any unusual thoughts or behaviors that may trouble you. If they are new ones and seem to get worse.
This medicine may also cause serious liver problems. This may occur in patients with a history of hepatitis B or C infection. In the event that any of the following symptoms are observed:
This medicine may also cause you to have extra body fat. Inform your doctor if you notice changes in your body shape, such as an increased in the amount of fat at the upper back or neck region of the body or around the chest and stomach area. You may also lose the fat from your legs, arms or face.
The use of this medicine may boost your immune system. In case of any changes in your health, immediately inform your medical doctor. It is known that the immune system is relevant since it will initiate a fight with infections that were hidden in your body for diseases such as pneumonia, herpes, or tuberculosis.
Autoimmune disorders such as Graves’ disease, polymyositis, and Guillain-Barr syndrome may also occur. Even before medial tests are performed on you, it is important that you have any of the medical tests and inform your doctor if you are using any of the medicines listed below. The results of the tests may also be affected by these medicines.
Never take any other form of medicines unless it has been directed by your medical doctor. This includes both prescription and non-prescription medicines available over the counter, herbal or vitamins supplements.
It is known that not all the side effects may occur in the event of using Edurant. However, when it occurs, this will require medical attention. Check with your medical doctor immediately if you have any of the following side effects. The less common side effects includes:
Abdominal or stomach fullness changes in behavior cloudy or bloody urine discouragement feeling sad or empty gaseous abdominal or stomach pain
Some of the side effects may occur and may not need any medical attention. The side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional will be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional when the side effects continue or become bothersome and also when you have any questions about them. In addition, less common side effects include:
Some of the incidences are not known such as decreased amount of fat from your legs, arms, or face, increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck, or around the chest and stomach area. There are other forms of side effects that may also occur and are not listed here. When they are noticed, it is important to check with your medical doctor. Similarly, call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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