Understanding HIV - Learn what you can do to help reach your treatment goals

Understanding HIV - Learn what you can do to help reach your treatment goals

Welcome to the EDURANT® patients and caregivers website.

Like most people, you probably have questions about HIV and how it’s treated. This site was created to answer some of your questions and help you learn about EDURANT® (rilpivirine) 25-mg tablets, a prescription medicine used in adults who have never taken HIV medicines before and used with other HIV medicines.

This website does not take the place of talking with your healthcare professional. You should talk with your healthcare professional when you start taking medication and at regular checkups. You should not change or stop treatment without first talking with your healthcare professional.

About EDURANT®

  • EDURANT® (rilpivirine) is a prescription medicine that helps to treat HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection in adults. EDURANT® is a type of HIV medicine called a non–nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), also known as a non–nuke
  • EDURANT® is used in adults who have never taken HIV medicines before and must be taken with other HIV medicines
    • The use of other medicines active against HIV in combination with EDURANT® may increase your ability to fight HIV. Your healthcare professional will work with you to find the right combination of HIV medicines
    • It is important that you remain under the care of your healthcare professional during treatment with EDURANT®
  • It is not known if EDURANT® is safe and effective in children

EDURANT® does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. You should remain on your HIV medications without stopping to ensure that you control your HIV infection and decrease the risk of HIV-related illnesses.

Please read Important Safety Information at left and below, and talk to your healthcare professional to learn if EDURANT® is right for you.

Important Safety Information

Can EDURANT® be taken with other medicines?

EDURANT® may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how EDURANT® works and may cause serious side effects. If you take certain medicines with EDURANT®, the amount of EDURANT® in your body may be too low and it may not work to help control your HIV infection, and the HIV virus in your body may become resistant to EDURANT® or other HIV medicines that are like it. To help get the right amount of medicine in your body, you should always take EDURANT® with a meal.

Do not take EDURANT® if you are taking the following medicines:

  • The anti–seizure medicines carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol–XR®, Teril®, Epitol®), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin–125®, Phenytek®)
  • The anti–TB medicines rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampin (Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®, Rifadin®) and rifapentine (Priftin®)
  • A proton pump inhibitor medicine for certain stomach or intestinal problems, including esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo®), lansoprazole (Prevacid®), omeprazole (Prilosec®), pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®), rabeprazole (Aciphex®)
  • More than 1 dose of the steroid medicine dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium phosphate
  • St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Also tell your doctor if you take:

  • An antacid medicine that contains aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take EDURANT®
  • A histamine–2 blocker medicine, including famotidine (Pepcid®), cimetidine (Tagamet®), nizatidine (Axid®), or ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac®). Take these medicines at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take EDURANT®
  • The antibiotic medicines clarithromycin (Biaxin®), erythromycin (E–Mycin®, Eryc®, Ery–Tab®, PCE®, Pediazole®, Ilosone®), and troleandomycin (TAO®)
  • An antifungal medicine by mouth, including fluconazole (Diflucan®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), posaconazole (Noxafil®), voriconazole (Vfend®)
  • Methadone (Dolophine®)

This is not a complete list of medicines. Before starting EDURANT®, be sure to tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you are taking or plan to take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Before taking EDURANT®, also tell your healthcare professional if you have had or currently have liver problems (including hepatitis B or C), have ever had a mental health problem, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. It is not known if EDURANT® will harm your unborn baby. You and your healthcare professional will need to decide if taking EDURANT® is right for you.

Do not breastfeed if you are taking EDURANT®. You should not breastfeed if you have HIV because of the chance of passing HIV to your baby

What are the possible side effects of EDURANT®?

EDURANT® can cause serious side effects including:

  • Depression or mood changes. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless, feeling anxious or restless, have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide), or have tried to hurt yourself
  • Changes in body shape or body fat have been seen in some patients taking HIV medicines. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known
  • Immune reconstitution syndrome: Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Call your healthcare professional right away if you start having new symptoms of infection

Other common side effects of EDURANT® include trouble sleeping (insomnia), headache, and rash.

This is not a complete list of all side effects. If you experience these or other symptoms, contact your healthcare professional right away. Do not stop taking EDURANT® or any other medications without first talking to your healthcare professional.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1–800–FDA–1088.

Please see accompanying Full Product Information for more details.