Generic Name: delavirdine (de la VIR deen)
Brand Names: Rescriptor
What is Rescriptor (delavirdine)?
Delavirdine is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.
Delavirdine is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Delavirdine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Delavirdine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Rescriptor (delavirdine)?
Do not take delavirdine with pimozide (Orap), alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or ergot medicines such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Wigraine), or methylergonovine (Methergine). These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking delavirdine.
There are many other medicines that can interact with delavirdine, or make it less effective. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.
Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Rescriptor (delavirdine)?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to delavirdine, or if you are using any of the following drugs:
alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);
pimozide (Orap); or
ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).
Using any of these medicines while you are taking delavirdine can cause serious medical problems or death.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Before taking delavirdine, tell your doctor if you have:
- liver disease;
high cholesterol or triglycerides;
low stomach acid production; or
if you have ever taken efavirenz (Sustiva) or nevirapine (Viramune) and they were not effective in treating your condition.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether delavirdine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.
Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using delavirdine. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether delavirdine had any effect on the baby.
You should not breast-feed while you are using delavirdine. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk.
How should I take Rescriptor (delavirdine)?
Take delavirdine exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Do not take delavirdine as your only HIV medication. HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. Your disease may become resistant to delavirdine if you do not take it in combination with other HIV medicines your doctor has prescribed.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Delavirdine can be taken with or without food.
If you have a condition of decreased stomach acid, your doctor may recommend taking delavirdine with an acidic beverage such as orange or cranberry juice.
The 100-milligram delavirdine tablets may be dissolved in water to make swallowing easier. Place 4 tablets into at least 3 ounces (just under 1/3 cup) of water. Let the liquid stand for a few minutes, then stir to allow the tablets to disperse evenly in the liquid. Drink this mixture right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.
The 200-milligram delavirdine tablet must be swallowed whole. Do not crush, chew, or disperse the tablet in water.
It is important to take delavirdine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescriptions refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Store delavirdine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
See also: Rescriptor dosage (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a delavirdine overdose are not known.
What should I avoid while taking Rescriptor (delavirdine)?
If you also take an antacid, take it at least 1 hour before or after taking delavirdine. Do not take antacids and delavirdine at the same time. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
Rescriptor (delavirdine) side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
any other signs of new infection.
Less serious side effects may include:
mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or bloating;
diarrhea or constipation;
headache, mood changes;
blurred vision;
cough, stuffy nose;
muscle or joint pain;
sleep problems (insomnia), unusual dreams;
tired feeling, trouble concentrating; or
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Rescriptor (delavirdine)?
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
sildenafil (Viagra);
St. John's wort;
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
a cholesterol medication such as Lipitor or Zocor;
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);
heart or blood pressure medications such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;
heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone), flecainide (Tambocor), or propafenone (Rythmol), or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);
medications to prevent organ transplant rejection;
other HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Invirase);
a sedative such as estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), quazepam (Doral), or temazepam (Restoril);
seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or carbamazepine (Tegretol);
steroid medicine such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) or fluticasone (Advair, Flovent, Flonase); or
stomach medications such as Axid, Pepcid, Prevacid, Prilosec, Tagamet, or Zantac.
This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact with delavirdine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
More Rescriptor resources
- Rescriptor Side Effects (in more detail)
- Rescriptor Dosage
- Rescriptor Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Rescriptor Drug Interactions
- Rescriptor Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Rescriptor - Add your own review/rating
- Rescriptor Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Rescriptor Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Rescriptor Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Rescriptor MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare Rescriptor with other medications
- HIV Infection
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about delavirdine.
See also: Rescriptor side effects (in more detail)
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