EFAVIRENZ 600 Tablet 30's
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Introduction About EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET contains Efavirenz which belongs to a group of medicines called Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is used with other antiretroviral medicines to manage HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) infection in adults and children (aged 3 months and above).
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is not recommended for use in patients allergic to Efavirenz. It is also not recommended for use in patients suffering from heart disease (such as changes in heart rate/rhythm, slow heartbeat, severe heart disease), and/or severe liver disease.
Before taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET, inform your doctor if you have a history of convulsion/fits/seizures, kidney problems (such as renal impairment), and/or other liver problems (such as chronic hepatitis B/C).
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is generally not recommended for use during pregnancy and in women planning for pregnancy since the medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby. Women of childbearing potential should effective contraceptive barriers while in management with EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET to manage accidental pregnancy. The medicine is also not recommended for use in breastfeeding women.
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is not recommended for use in children (aged less than 3 months) and also in children weighing less than 3.5 kg. The medicine is advised to be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years/above) after consulting the doctor.
The most common side effects of taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET are skin rash, abnormal dreams, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, nausea, and/or vomiting. Consult your doctor if any of these symptoms worsen.
Uses Of EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET
- Manage HIV infection in adults and children (aged 3 months and above) when combined with other antiretroviral medicines
How EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET Works
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET works by binding directly to the viral reverse transcriptase enzyme (substance used by HIV to make duplicate copies) which results in inhibition of it synthesis thus stopping the virus from producing new copies of virus in affected individuals.
How to use EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET
Take EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicines with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your physician will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.
Side Effects Of EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET
Common
- skin rash
- abnormal dreams, difficulty while concentrating, dizziness, headache, difficult to attain sleep, drowsiness, problems with coordination/balance
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea
- itching
- tiredness
- feeling anxious/depressed
Uncommon
- nervousness, forgetfulness, confusion, seizures, abnormal thoughts
- blurred vision
- feeling of spinning sensation
- pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas) associated with stomach pain
- severe allergic skin reactions such as erythema multiforme, Stevens Johnson syndrome
- signs of inflammation of liver such as yellowing of skin or whites of eyes, itching, and/or abdominal pain
- breast enlargement in males
- angry behaviour, affected mood, hallucinations, mania (mental condition characterised by episodes of overactivity, elation/irritability), paranoia, suicidal thoughts
- whistling, ringing/other persistent noise in the ears
- tremor (shaking)
Rare
- itchy rash due to sunlight reaction
- liver failure
- unexplained distress feelings
Stop taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
- depression, strange/suicidal thoughts
- signs of opportunistic infection (illness that occurs as a severe infection in HIV patients) such as muscle weakness, racing heart beats, tremor, and/or hyperactivity
- severe rash associated with blistering of skin/fever
How To Manage Side Effects
Headache:
If EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET causes headache, then take rest and drink plenty of fluids. Try to avoid drinking alcohol. Ask your doctor to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET. If it lasts more than a week or becomes severe, then consult and inform your doctor.
Nausea and vomiting:
Take EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET with/just after a meal. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oil rich/spicy foods, sugary snacks and drinks. Avoid drinking too much liquid along with your meals, and drink slowly in between meals. Consult your doctor if the condition worsens.
Diarrhea:
Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Try to avoid taking any medicine on your own to manage diarrhea. Consult and inform your doctor if the symptom worsens.
Dizziness:
Try to rest and get enough sleep. Try to avoid driving or operating any tools or machines while you feel dizzy. Limit consumption of alcohol, as it can aggravate dizziness. Consult and inform your doctor if the symptom worsens.
Itchy Skin:
Try to pat or tap your skin instead of scratching it. Hold a damp towel to cool your skin. Wear loose clothing and avoid tight clothes, or clothes made from wool or synthetic fabrics. Avoid using perfumed soaps, deodorants or moisturizers and use a skin softener regularly.
Warning & Precautions
Pregnancy
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is generally not recommended for use during pregnancy and in women planning for pregnancy since the medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby. Women of childbearing potential should effective contraceptive barriers while in management with EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET to manage accidental pregnancy which is also advised to be continued for next 12 months after stopping management with the medicine. Consult your doctor before taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET.
Breastfeeding
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.
Driving and Using Machines
Do not drive or operate machines if you feel dizzy, drowsy, and/or impaired concentration after taking [GBNEYWORD].
Kidney
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems such as renal impairment. Contact your doctor before taking the medicine.
Liver
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is not recommended for use in patients suffering from severe liver disease. It should be used with caution in patients with other liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis B or C. Contact your doctor before taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET.
Allergy
Do not take EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET if you are allergic to Efavirenz, and/or any other ingredients of this medicine.
Heart Disease
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is not recommended for use in patients with heart problems such as changes in heart rate/rhythm, slow heartbeat, and/or severe heart disease. It is also not recommended for use in patients with a family history of heart problems. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.
Others
Before taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET, inform your doctor if you:
- have a history of convulsion/fits/seizures.
Use in Paediatrics:
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is not recommended for use in children (aged less than 3 months) or weighing less than 3.5kg. Consult your doctor before taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET.
Use in Geriatrics:
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years/above). Contact your doctor before taking the medicine.
Interactions
A. Drug - Drug interactions:
Before taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:
- St. John’s wort (herbal medicines used for depression)
- ginkgo biloba extracts (herbal medicines used for cerebrovascular insufficiency or cognitive disorders)
- medicines used to manage HIV (protease inhibitors like darunavir, ritonavir, indinavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir and fosamprenavir),
- maraviroc, emtricitabine and tenofovir, raltegravir, lamivudine and zidovudine (medicine used for HIV)
- medicines used to manage hepatitis C infection Ex. boceprevir, telaprevir, elbasvir, grazoprevir, simeprevir, sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, voxilaprevir, glecaprevir, pibrentasvir.
- medicines used to manage bacterial infections like AIDS-related mycobacterium avium complex (Ex. clarithromycin),
- medicines used for tuberculosis (Ex. rifabutin, rifampicin)
- medicines used to manage fungal infections like voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, fluconazole,
- medicines used to manage seizures like carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital
- medicines used to manage malaria (Ex. artemether, lumefantrine, atovaquone, proguanil)
- medicines used to lower blood fats like atorvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin
- methadone (medicine used for opiate addiction)
- sertraline (medicine used to manage depression)
- bupropion (medicine used to manage depression or to helps to stop smoking):
- medicines used for high blood pressure or heart problems (Ex. diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, verapamil)
- immunosuppressant’s like cyclosporine, sirolimus, or tacrolimus (medicines used to manage organ transplant rejection)
- medicines used to manage pregnancy like Hormonal contraceptive (Ex. medroxyprogesterone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, norgestimate or a contraceptive implant (Ex. etonogestrol implant)
- warfarin, acenocoumarol (medicines used to reduce blood clots),
- metamizole ( medicine used for fever and pain)
- medicines used to manage heart rhythm problems (Ex. flecainide or metoprolol),
- medicines used to manage depression and mental conditions like imipramine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, and pimozide.
- erythromycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole (medicines used to manage bacterial or fungal infections)
- aluminium or magnesium hydroxide antacids (medicines used to manage indigestion/ heart burn)
- cetirizine (medicines used to manage allergies)
- famotidine (medicines used for stomach ulcers)
- medicines used to manage anxiety and insomnia (Ex. lorazepam, midazolam, triazolam)
- paroxetine (medicines used to manage depression and mental illness)
- astemizole or terfenadine (medicines used to manage allergy symptoms)
- bepridil (medicines used to manage heart disease)
- cisapride (medicines used to manage heartburn)
- medicines used to manage migraine and cluster headaches such as ergot alkaloids (Ex. ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, and methylergonovine)
B. Drug - Food interaction:
Avoid consuming grapefruit juice while taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET as it may cause undesirable effects.
Overdosage:
If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital to manage overdose symptoms.
Synopsis
| Drug | : | Efavirenz |
| Pharmacological Category | : | Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | HIV infection |
| Dosage Forms | : | Tablet, Capsule |
More Information
- Keep EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET out of reach of children.
- Store EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET at room temperature
FAQs About EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET
What is EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET used for?
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is used with other antiretroviral medicines to manage HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) infection in adults and children (aged 3 months and above).
What are the common side effects of taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET?
The most common side effects of taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET are skin rash, abnormal dreams, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, nausea, and/or vomiting. Consult your doctor if any of these symptoms worsen.
How EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET works?
EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET works by binding directly to the viral reverse transcriptase enzyme (substance used by HIV to make duplicate copies) which results in inhibition of it synthesis thus stopping the virus from producing new copies of virus in affected individuals.
How EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET should be taken?
Take EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicines with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your physician will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.
Can EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET be used in pregnant women?
No, EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET is generally not recommended for use during pregnancy and in women planning for pregnancy since the medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby. Women of childbearing potential should effective contraceptive barriers while in management with EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET to manage accidental pregnancy which is also advised to be continued for next 12 months after stopping management with the medicine. Consult your doctor before taking EFAVIRENZ 600 TABLET.
References
1. KD. Tripathi. Antiviral drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 809.
2. Jessica Yee; Charles V. Preuss. Efavirenz. NIH National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. StatPeals [Internet]. NIH National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. September 2022. [Accessed on 14th December 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542316/
3. Milpharm Limited. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in July 2022] [Accessed on 14th December 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.7070.pdf
4. Cipla Limited. EFAVIR Capsules/Tablets. [Revised in April 2019] [Accessed on 14th December 2022] https://www.ciplamed.com/content/efavir-capsulestablets
Useful Diagnostic Tests
- ELISA test
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