Nevirapine

1 medicine

Nevirapine is an antiretroviral used with other medicines to treat HIV infection. It can cause severe, sometimes fatal liver injury and serious skin reactions, especially in the first weeks, so it is started at a low dose and never restarted after a serious reaction.

Viramune

Nevirapine

200mg

Viramune is a hiv medication containing Nevirapine, available as 200mg tablets.

from $3.60 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Nevirapine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) used together with other antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV-1 infection, and to help prevent transmission from mother to child around birth.
  • Treatment starts with a two-week lead-in period at a lower dose before increasing to the full dose; this reduces (but does not eliminate) the risk of severe rash.
  • Nevirapine can cause severe, sometimes fatal liver injury and serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, most often in the first 6 to 18 weeks of treatment. If you have a serious rash or signs of liver injury, stop the drug and get medical care immediately; it must never be restarted after such a reaction.
  • Seek urgent care for yellowing skin or eyes, fever with a spreading rash or blistering, or unusual tiredness with nausea.

What nevirapine treats

Nevirapine treats HIV-1 infection as part of a combination antiretroviral regimen. It is also used as a short course around delivery to reduce the chance of a mother passing HIV to her baby. It does not treat HIV-2 infection, and it does not cure HIV.

How nevirapine works

Nevirapine binds directly to HIV's reverse transcriptase enzyme, at a site distinct from where the viral genetic material sits. This locks the enzyme's shape and blocks its ability to copy the virus's RNA into DNA, a step the virus needs before it can insert its genetic material into a human cell. Unlike some other antiretrovirals, it does this without being built into the DNA chain itself.

Before you take it

  • Tell your prescriber about any liver disease, hepatitis B or C infection, or previous rash or allergic reaction to nevirapine, since these raise the risk of serious harm.
  • Follow the two-week lower-dose lead-in exactly as prescribed; increasing to the full dose early raises the risk of severe rash.
  • Higher CD4 counts at the start of treatment are linked to a greater risk of liver injury and rash; your prescriber will weigh this before starting nevirapine.
  • If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, discuss the risks and benefits with your prescriber.

Side effects

Common effects are rash, headache, nausea, and tiredness, especially during the first weeks.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

  • A spreading rash, blistering, mouth ulcers, or peeling skin.
  • Fever, swollen glands, or facial swelling alongside a rash.
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, severe nausea, or right-sided abdominal pain.
  • Unusual tiredness or weakness that does not improve.

Safety essentials

  • Severe hepatotoxicity and serious skin reactions in the early weeks of treatment are the defining risk of nevirapine; report any new rash or symptoms of liver problems immediately, and never restart the drug after a serious reaction of either kind.
  • Your prescriber will monitor liver function closely during the first months of treatment.
  • Missing doses or stopping early can allow the virus to become resistant; take nevirapine exactly as prescribed alongside your other antiretrovirals.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.