Delavirdine (patient information)

IMPORTANT WARNING

The benefit from using delavirdine may be limited. If disease progression occurs, a different therapy should be used. Delavirdine should always be used with another antiviral medication to avoid resistance to the HIV virus. If you experience the following symptom, call your doctor immediately: a severe skin rash. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to delavirdine.

Why this medication is prescribed

Delavirdine is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in patients with or without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Delavirdine is not a cure and may not decrease the number of HIV-related illnesses. Delavirdine does not prevent the spread of HIV to other people.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How this medication should be used

Delavirdine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken three times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take delavirdine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

If you have trouble swallowing the tablets, they may be dispersed in water. To prepare, add four tablets to at least 3 ounces of water, allow to stand for a few minutes, and then stir until a uniform dispersion occurs. Drink the delavirdine-water mixture right away. Rinse the glass and swallow the rinse to ensure that you have gotten the entire dose.

If you are taking antacids, wait at least 1 hour between taking the antacid and taking delavirdine.

Special precautions

Before taking delavirdine:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to delavirdine or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially amprenavir (Agenerase); antacids; anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), andvalproic acid (Depakene); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); antihistamines such as astemizole (Hismanal) and terfenadine (Seldane); benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed), and triazolam (Halcion); calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), and nisoldipine (Sular); cisapride (Propulsid); clarithromycin (Biaxin); dapsone; ergot derivatives such as dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE 45), ergotamine tartrate (Ergostat, Medihaler Ergotamine); fluoxetine (Prozac); medications for stomach acid such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), ranitidine (Zantac); quinidine (Quinaglute); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin); sildenafil (Viagra); and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking delavirdine, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking delavirdine.

Special dietary instructions

If your doctor has told you that you do have not enough stomach acid, you should take delavirdine with orange or cranberry juice. Delavirdine may be taken with or without food, although it may be best to take it the same way each day.

What to do if you forget a dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Side effects

Minor side effects

Side effects from delavirdine are common. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• excessive tiredness
• headache
• upset stomach
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• hallucinations
• nightmares
• decreased libido (sex drive)
• rash

Severe side effects

If you experience any of the following symptoms, or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

• chest pain
• irregular heartbeat
• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• wheezing
• fainting
• severe skin rash accompanied by fever, blistering, oral lesions, red eyes, swelling, or muscle or joint pain

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions needed for this medication

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Other information

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to delavirdine.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Brand names

• Rescriptor®