II. Indications

  1. HIV Infection (combination therapy)
    1. NNRTIs carry a high risk of induced HIV resistance
    2. Never use NNRTIs as monotherapy in HIV Infection

III. Contraindications

  1. Moderate to severe liver disease (Child-Pugh B or C)
  2. Avoid in HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis

IV. Mechanism

V. Medications

  1. Immediate Release Tablets: 200 mg
  2. Immediate Release Suspension: 50 mg/5 ml
  3. Extended Release (XR) Tablets: 100 mg, 400 mg
    1. Do not chew, crush or split XR tablets

VI. Dosing: Adult

  1. Use as combination therapy with other Antiretrovirals
  2. Immediate Release
    1. Start: 200 mg orally daily for 14 days or until any rash resolves, then
    2. Next: 200 mg orally twice daily (if NO rash or hepatotoxicity)
      1. May switch to Nevirapine XR formulation at any time after initial 14 day dose titration
      2. Restart at daily immediate dose if medication is stopped for >7 days
  3. Extended Release (Nevirapine XR)
    1. Take 400 mg orally once daily
  4. Renal Dosing
    1. Give supplemental 200 mg immediate dose after Hemodialysis

VII. Dosing: Child

  1. Use as combination therapy with other Antiretrovirals
  2. Immediate Release (age >15 days old)
    1. Start: 150 mg/m2 (max 200 mg) orally daily for 14 days or until any rash resolves, then
    2. Next: 150 mg/m2 (max 200 mg) orally twice daily (if NO rash or hepatotoxicity)
      1. Age 2 to 8 years old may need dose increase to 200 mg/m2 (max 200 mg) twice daily
      2. May switch to Nevirapine XR formulation at any time after initial 14 day dose titration
      3. Restart at daily immediate dose if medication is stopped for >7 days
  3. Extended Release (Nevirapine XR, age >=6 years)
    1. BSA 0.58 to 0.83 m2: Give 200 mg orally once daily
    2. BSA 0.84 to 1.16 m2: Give 300 mg orally once daily
    3. BSA >1.16 m2: Give 400 mg orally once daily (adult dose)

VIII. Adverse Effects

  1. See NNRTI for class related adverse effects
  2. Acute Life-threatening Hypersensitivity Skin Reaction
    1. Stop Nevirapine and do not rechallenge if signficant drug rash develops
    2. Rash is less likely if starting at lower daily dose
  3. Hepatotoxicity
    1. Severe hepatoxicity risk
      1. Acute, rapid, severe liver failure has been described after only a few weeks of treatment
    2. Risk factors
      1. Pre-treatment CD4 >400 in men or >250 in women
      2. First 6 weeks of therapy
      3. Pre-existing liver disease (e.g. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or baseline elevated LFTs)
        1. Contraindicated in moderate to severe liver disease (Child-Pugh B or C)
    3. Monitoring
      1. Obtain LFTs at baseline, and at least once montly (as well as 2 weeks after each dose change)
      2. Monitor LFTs closely for first 18 weeks of treatment
      3. Stop Nevirapine and do not rechallenge if signficant hepatotoxicity occurs

IX. Safety

  1. Avoid in Lactation
  2. Pregnancy
    1. Not recommended as a first-line NNRTI in pregnancy
    2. However, may be used in pregnancy if risk outweighs benefit
    3. Has been used off-label for single dose prevention of vertical transmission in labor (or to delivered newborn)
    4. Pregnancy registry exists

X. Drug Interactions

  1. Granulocytopenia
    1. More common in children coadministered Zidovudine
  2. CYP3A4 Inducer
    1. Avoid with Atazanavir, Ketoconazole, Oral Contraceptives or St Johns Wort
  3. Methadone
    1. Nevirapine may reduce Methadone effects

XI. Efficacy

  1. Original studies showed good efficacy when combined with 2 Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (nRTIs)

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Related Studies

Ontology: Nevirapine (C0132326)

Definition (NCI) A benzodiazepine non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. In combination with other antiretroviral drugs, nevirapine reduces HIV viral loads and increases CD4 counts, thereby retarding or preventing the damage to the immune system and reducing the risk of developing AIDS.
Definition (MSH) A potent, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in combination with nucleoside analogues for treatment of HIV INFECTIONS and AIDS.
Definition (CSP) potent, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used, usually in combination with nucleoside analogs, for treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D019829
SnomedCT 108704001, 386898005
LNC LP21317-0, MTHU013861
English 6H-Dipyrido(3,2-b:2',3'-e)(1,4)diazepin-6-one, 11-cyclopropyl-5,11-dihydro-4-methyl-, Nevirapine, nevirapine, nevirapine (medication), Nevirapine [Chemical/Ingredient], NEVIRAPINE, 11-Cyclopropyl-5,11-dihydro-4-methyl-6H-dipyrido(3,2-b:2',3'-e)(1,4)diazepin-6-one, NVP, Nevirapine (product), Nevirapine (substance)
Swedish Nevirapin
Czech nevirapin
Finnish Nevirapiini
Russian NEVIRAPIN, НЕВИРАПИН
Japanese ネビラピン
Polish Newirapina
Spanish nevirapina (producto), nevirapina (sustancia), nevirapina, Nevirapina
French Névirapine
German Nevirapin
Italian Nevirapina
Portuguese Nevirapina

Ontology: Viramune (C0728726)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Nucleic Acid, Nucleoside, or Nucleotide (T114)
MSH D019829
English viramune, Viramune