Delavirdine (Rescriptor)
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Delavirdine FACT (Rescriptor) SHEET Published 2014 Summary Delavirdine is a type of anti-HIV drug called a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The most common side effect CONTACT US is a skin rash that usually goes away on its own. Delavirdine is taken three times a day, with or without food. by telephone 1-800-263-1638 416-203-7122 What is delavirdine? by fax Delavirdine, sold under the brand name Rescriptor, is a type of antiretroviral 416-203-8284 drug called a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. by e-mail How does delavirdine work? [email protected] To explain how delavirdine works, we need to first tell you some information about HIV. When HIV infects a cell, it takes control of that cell. HIV then forces by mail the cell to make many more copies of the virus. To make these copies, the cell 555 Richmond Street West uses proteins called enzymes. When the activity of these enzymes is reduced Suite 505, Box 1104 the production of HIV slows. Toronto ON M5V 3B1 Delavirdine belongs to a group of drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs or “non-nukes”). The enzyme reverse transcriptase is used by HIV-infected cells to make new viruses. Since delavirdine inhibits, or reduces the activity of this enzyme, this drug causes HIV-infected cells to produce fewer viruses. How do people with HIV use delavirdine? Delavirdine is rarely used in Canada today. Delavirdine is used in combination with other anti-HIV drugs. For more information on combinations of anti-HIV drugs, see CATIE’s Your Guide to HIV Treatment. For many people with HIV, the use of anti-HIV drugs has increased their CD4 count and decreased the amount of HIV in their blood (viral load). These beneficial effects help to reduce the risk of developing life-threatening CATIE FACT SHEET: Delavirdine (Rescriptor) infections. Neither delavirdine nor any other anti- Blood tests may show higher than usual levels of HIV medication is a cure for HIV. It is therefore liver enzymes. important that you do the following: To date, there have been no reports of side effects • See your doctor regularly so that he or she can unique to women. monitor your health. • Continue to practise safer sex and take other Drug interactions precautions to avoid passing HIV on to other people and protect yourself from different As delavirdine has complex interactions with other strains of HIV as well as other germs. drugs, always consult a pharmacist and doctor who is experienced with prescribing or dispensing this drug. Dosages of other drugs may have to Resistance and cross-resistance be raised or lowered, or some drugs may have to be changed. Over time, as HIV makes copies of itself, the virus can change its structure. These changes allow Drugs that should not be taken with delavirdine HIV to resist the effects of antiretroviral drugs. include terfenadine (Seldane) and astemizole Resistance to non-nukes, when used alone, appears (Hismanal), phenytoin, phenobarbital, as early as two weeks after treatment begins. carbamazepine (Tegretol), triazolam (Halcion), Combining delavirdine with at least two other drugs alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed), rifampin, may delay the development of drug resistance. To rifabutin (Mycobutin), cimetidine (Tagamet), limit the risk of resistance, all antiretroviral drugs ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), famotidine should be taken every day, exactly as prescribed. (Pepcid), quinidine, dapsone, and cisapride This strict schedule is necessary because resistant (Prepulsid). If you’re starting a new drug, check virus can develop if the level of drug in the blood with your doctor or pharmacist about potential drops. This may happen if doses are delayed interactions with delavirdine. or skipped. Delavirdine should be taken at least one hour It’s generally believed that all non-nukes may be before or one hour after taking ddI or any antacid cross-resistant. This means that, if HIV becomes (Maalox, Rolaids, Tums, etc.). resistant to one non-nuke, it may also be able to resist the effects of the other non-nukes. In other words, if the virus has become resistant to Dosage delavirdine it will probably be resistant to nevirapine The recommended dose of delavirdine is 400 mg and efavirenz. taken three times daily, with or without food. Side effects Availability The most common side effect of delavirdine is a skin Delavirdine is licensed in Canada for the treatment rash. The rash appears as red, slightly raised patches of HIV infection in adults. Your doctor can tell on the skin and may be itchy. Rash usually develops you more about the availability and coverage of within the first three weeks of taking delavirdine. delavirdine in your region. CATIE’s online module Although it often disappears on its own after a Federal, Provincial and Territorial Drug Access couple of weeks, anyone who develops a rash Programs also contains information about Canadian while using delavirdine should consult their doctor drug coverage. as soon as possible. If the rash is accompanied by fever, skin blisters, itching or burning eyes, swelling, muscle or joint pain, delavirdine must be stopped. Reference ViiV Healthcare. Rescriptor. Product monograph. Other side effects include headache, nausea, 5 March, 2013. diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and changes in dreams. Author(s): Maclean D, Toulouse B 2 Disclaimer Decisions about particular medical treatments should always be made in consultation with a qualified medical practitioner knowledgeable about HIV- CONTACT US and hepatitis C-related illness and the treatments in question. by telephone CATIE provides information resources to help people living with HIV and/or 1-800-263-1638 hepatitis C who wish to manage their own health care in partnership with 416-203-7122 their care providers. Information accessed through or published or provided by CATIE, however, is not to be considered medical advice. We do not recommend by fax or advocate particular treatments and we urge users to consult as broad a 416-203-8284 range of sources as possible. We strongly urge users to consult with a qualified medical practitioner prior to undertaking any decision, use or action of a medical nature. by e-mail [email protected] CATIE endeavours to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information at the time of publication. However, information changes and users are by mail encouraged to consult as broad a range of sources as possible. Users relying 555 Richmond Street West on this information do so entirely at their own risk. Neither CATIE, nor any of Suite 505, Box 1104 its partners, funders, employees, directors, officers or volunteers may be held Toronto ON M5V 3B1 liable for damages of any kind that may result from the use or misuse of any such information. The views expressed herein or in any article or publication accessed or published or provided by CATIE do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of CATIE nor the views of its partners and funders. Permission to reproduce This document is copyrighted. It may be reprinted and distributed in its entirety for non-commercial purposes without prior permission, but permission must be obtained to edit its content. The following credit must appear on any reprint: This information was provided by the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE). For more information, contact CATIE at 1-800-263-1638. Production of this document has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada. CATIE fact sheets are available for free at www.catie.ca 3.