Delavirdine (By Mouth)

Delavirdine (de-la-VIR-deen)

Treats human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Delavirdine does not cure HIV or AIDS, but combinations of drugs that treat HIV infection may slow the disease progress and may prolong your life.

Brand Name(s):

Rescriptor
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to delavirdine.

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much to use and how often. Do not stop using the medicine or change the amount you use without talking to your doctor first.
• You may take the tablets with or without food.
• The tablets may be dissolved in about 3 ounces (about 1/2 cup) of water. It may take a few minutes for the tablets to break up. When the tablets are dissolved, stir the mixture and drink it right away. Rinse the glass with more water and drink that too, so you get all of the medicine.
• Patients who do not produce enough stomach acid (achlorhydria) should take this medicine with an acidic drink such as orange or cranberry juice.

If a dose is missed:

• Use the missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for your next dose.
• Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next regular dose.
• You should not use two doses at the same time.
• It is important that you use the medicine every day at the times your doctor has prescribed.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the tablets at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you use astemizole (Hismanal®), terfenadine (Seldane®), cisapride (Propulsid®), ergotamine, alprazolam (Xanax®), midazolam (Versed®), triazolam (Halcion®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), quinidine, clarithromycin (Biaxin®), dapsone, calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, nifedipine and others, fluoxetine (Prozac®), or ketoconazole. Combining delavirdine with these medicines may increase the risk of unwanted side effects from these drugs or from delavirdine.
• These medicines may keep delavirdine from working as well: carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), phenobarbital, rifampin (Rifadin®), or acid blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid®), nizatidine (Axid®), or ranitidine (Zantac®). Tell your doctor if you are using these or any other medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you use a blood thinner (Coumadin®), indinavir (Crixivan®) or saquinavir (Invirase®).Your doctor may want to change your dose of these medicines.
• You should not use didanosine or antacids within 1 hour before or one hour after your dose of delavirdine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Check with your doctor before using delavirdine if you have liver disease.
• You may have a rash when you first start using this medicine. The rash may be mild and go away in 1 or 2 weeks. Tell your doctor right away if you get a rash. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help the itching or discomfort.
• If the rash is severe or if you have a rash with a fever, blisters, mouth sores, eye redness, swelling, or aching muscles or joints, stop using the medicine and tell your doctor right away.
• If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before using delavirdine.
• You should not breastfeed if you have HIV or AIDS, because you may give the infection to your baby through your breast milk.
• Report any changes in your health to your doctor. The long-term effects of this medicine are not yet known.
• Delavirdine will not keep you from giving HIV to your partner during sex. Make sure you understand and practice safe sex, even if your partner also has HIV. Do not share needles with anyone else.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Rash, especially a rash with fever, blisters, mouth sores, eye redness, swelling, or joint and muscle aches

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
• Tiredness, headache

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.