What is Rilpivirine?
Rilpivirine, an antiviral medication, prevents the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying within your body. HIV is a virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome and AIDS. Rilpivirine can be used with other antiviral drugs to treat HIV. Rilpivirine can be used by adults and children over 12 years of age who weigh at least 77 pounds and have not taken HIV medication before. They must also have a viral load (also known as 'viral burden') in their blood that does not exceed 100,000 copies/ml. Rilpivirine does not cure HIV or AIDS. As a "lead in dose", rilpivirine can be used daily with cabotegravir to determine if you are able to safely use the monthly injection form of this combination. The monthly injectable combination can be replaced by a short-term treatment of rilpivirine with cabotegravir for a maximum of two months. Rilpivirine, when used in conjunction with cabotegravir to treat HIV, is only available for HIV-positive adults who have used other antiviral medications that have reduced their viral load. Rilpivirine can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Rilpivirine
If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling on your face or in your throat, or a severe reaction to your skin (such as a fever, sore throat, burning in the eyes, or skin pain or rashes that are red or purple and cause blistering or peeling), seek emergency medical attention. If you experience a severe drug reaction, seek medical attention. This can include a skin rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms. Other symptoms may include muscle aches or weakness, unusual bruises, or a yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Rilpivirine can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Feelings of sadness or despair; feelings of anxiety or thoughts about harming yourself or committing suicide;
- Liver issues--right-sided upper stomach pain, dark urine production and jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes); are symptoms that signal liver issues;
- Symptoms of depression include mood changes, low self-esteem, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, and thoughts of harming yourself.
Rilpivirine can affect your immune system and cause side effects. These may occur weeks or even months after taking rilpivirine. Tell your doctor about:
- Signs of an infection: fever, sweats at night, swollen lymph glands, colds, sores, coughing, wheezing, and diarrhea.
- If you have difficulty speaking or swallowing, have problems with balance, eye movements, or weakness, or feel prickly, then it could be a sign of a problem.
- Impotence, menstrual changes, swelling of the neck or throat (enlarged thyroid)
Some of the common side effects associated with rilpivirine include:
- Sleep problems (insomnia);
- Depression;
- Skin rash
- Headache
- Changes in the shape or location (especially of your arms, legs, and breasts), as well as changes in your body fat.
There may be other side effects. Need advice about side effects? Speak to your physician.The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
Inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking, as well as any new ones. Some drugs are not to be taken together, and others can cause drug interactions.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to rilpivirine, then it is best not to use it.
When rilpivirine is combined with certain medicines, they can have unwanted or harmful effects. If you are also taking
- Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin;
- Rifampin, rifapentine;
- Esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole
- John's Wort,
- Dexamethasone can be taken in more than one dose.
Inform your physician of any of the following issues:
- A serious skin reaction or allergy after taking a medication that contains rilpivirine
- Liver disease can be caused by rilpivirine (hepatitis C and B can return or become worse if rilpivirine is taken).
- Kidney disease
- Depression or mental illness.
Use all medications to control your infection while pregnant. You may have your name listed on a registry of antiviral pregnant women. Breastfeeding is not recommended for women with HIV/AIDS. Even if the baby was born HIV-free, the virus can be transmitted to the infant through your breast milk. Anyone younger than 12 or weighing under 77 pounds (35 kg) is not allowed to use rilpivirine.
How to take Rilpivirine?
Read all instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow all instructions on the label. Follow the directions on the label. Rilpivirine should be taken with a meal once a day (not only a protein shake). Always eat food when taking the medication. Rilpivirine, cabotegravir, and other medicines are taken together once a day for at least 28 consecutive days. Then you can switch to the monthly injection combination. You will receive the first monthly injection of these drugs on the day after you finish taking rilpivirine or cabotegravir. Call your healthcare provider if you plan to miss more than seven days of an injection. Discuss your treatment options. You may require frequent medical testing while taking rilpivirine and for several weeks after your last dose. All HIV medications should be taken as prescribed. Do not stop taking a medication or change the dose without consulting your doctor. Continue to be under the doctor's care. Store rilpivirine at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you miss a dose, skip it if you're more than 12 hours behind. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once. Refill your prescription before you run out.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect being exposed to poisonous materials and require emergency assistance or seek immediate medical care for symptoms related to poison.
What should be avoided?
The use of rilpivirine does not stop the spread of your illness. Share razors and toothbrushes. Consult your doctor about how to avoid HIV transmission while sexing. It is not safe to share syringes or needles for drugs or medicines.
Interaction with other drug
Some medications can reduce the effectiveness of rilpivirine when taken together. Do not take rilpivirine with any of these medicines:
- Take an antacid, or Didanosine( videxec), at least two hours before or four hours after taking rilpivirine.
- Take a stomach acid reducer such as cimetidine (Pepcid, Tagamet, or Zantac), famotidine (Famotidine), nizatidine (Ranitidine), or cimetidine (Famotidine) at least 12 hours prior to taking rilpivirine and 4 hours afterwards.
Rilpivirine may cause serious heart problems if it is taken with other medications for asthma, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, or cancer. Several drugs interact with rilpivirine and should not be taken together. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you have stopped using. Included are prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions.
