Choosing an HIV Regimen

Convenience

HIV treatment is not one size fits all. Recognize that everyone is unique and that HIV medications are not one size fits all. What's right for one person may not be what's right for you. Because it's important to take medications every day as directed, your medications should fit in with your daily activities. Participating in your care means working together with your physician and other healthcare professionals. They are your advisers, and their goals are to help you control HIV and make smart choices for the future.

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Patient's considerations

Some of the important health areas that HIV-positive patients need to be aware of include general health, hepatitis B, C, or other liver disease, mental health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and reproductive health. Additionally, family relationships, schedules, and activities are important to consider.

Things to remember about HIV treatment:

HIV medications are given in combination
Starting HIV treatment is an individual decision that you will make with your doctor
The best way to help avoid resistance is to take every dose of your anti-HIV medicine on time, every day
Talk to your doctor about how side effects from your medications may be managed

INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

VIRAMUNE is indicated for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection.

VIRAMUNE does not cure HIV or AIDS, and has not been shown to reduce the risk of passing HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination.

VIRAMUNE can cause severe liver disease and skin reactions that can cause death. These reactions occur most often during the first 18 weeks of treatment, but can occur later. Ask your healthcare provider about how to recognize symptoms of skin and liver problems.

Stop taking VIRAMUNE if you have any of these reactions. Do not restart VIRAMUNE if you experience any of these reactions. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have any of these reactions.

VIRAMUNE is only for people diagnosed with HIV. If you have not been diagnosed as HIV positive, then do not take VIRAMUNE.

Any patient can experience liver problems with VIRAMUNE, but women and patients who have higher CD4 counts when they begin VIRAMUNE treatment have a greater risk. If you are a woman with CD4+ >250 cells/mm³, or a man with CD4+ >400 cells/mm³, you should not begin taking VIRAMUNE unless you and your doctor have decided that the benefit of doing so outweighs the risk. Women, including pregnant women, with CD4+ cell counts >250 cells/mm³ are at the greatest risk.

Do not take VIRAMUNE if you have severe liver problems.

The dose of VIRAMUNE for adults is one 200-mg tablet daily for the first 14 days, followed by one 200-mg tablet twice daily. VIRAMUNE is always taken with other anti-HIV medications. The 14-day lead-in period is important because it can help reduce your chances of getting a potentially serious skin rash. If you have a skin rash during the first 14 days, immediately contact your doctor and do not increase your VIRAMUNE dose to twice a day. The total duration of the once daily lead-in dosing period should not exceed 28 days, at which point an alternative regimen may need to be started.

Other side effects that patients have experienced include nausea, fatigue, fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and myalgia. Changes in body fat may occur in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. Immune reconstitution syndrome has been reported in patients treated with combination ARV therapy.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.