|
|
 |
Nevirapine fact sheet
Reposted courtesy of IRIN PlusNews,22 May 2002
|
The South African government recently changed its position on providing Nevirapine to HIV positive pregnant women, yet in the Constitutional Court, the government is still appealing a court order to distribute the drug saying more research is needed on its safety. The following is a PlusNews fact sheet on the drug.
What is Nevirapine?
Nevirapine (also called Viramune) is a drug that slows the reproduction of HIV by interfering with an important viral enzyme. It attaches itself to the enzyme in the infected cell and stops the virus from copying itself into the cell's genetic make-up. In combination with other drugs, Nevirapine may lower your HIV viral load, increase your CD4 cell count, and reduce your likelihood of developing complications. Viral load refers to a measurement of HIV in your bloodstream (a lower value is better), and CD4 count is a marker of your immune function (a higher value is better).
Nevirapine is used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV infection. An example of such a combination would be AZT, 3TC and Nevirapine.
Who should take it?
Nevirapine has been approved for use in combination with other antiretrovirals to treat HIV in adults. As with AZT, treatment with
Nevirapine during labour has been shown to reduce mother-to-child transmission by 50 percent. The advantage of Nevirapine is that a single dose could be affordable even in developing countries where the cost of most AIDS drugs is still too high.
How is it taken?
Nevirapine can be taken orally in the form of a tablet. It may be used alone as a single oral dose to the mother during labour and a single oral dose to the infant within 24 hours after birth for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV for pregnant women who are not taking antiretroviral therapy at the time of labour.
The recommended dosage of nevirapine is 200 mg once a day for the first two weeks, and then 200 mg twice a day afterwards. Frequently missed doses diminish the effectiveness of medications and increase the likelihood that the virus will develop resistance.
Nevirapine is also available as a liquid suspension for children.
What are its side effects?
The most common side effects of Nevirapine are skin rash, fever, nausea and headaches. It can also cause liver damage. Because it is processed in the body by the liver, Nevirapine can affect the liver and cause other drugs to be processed too quickly. Due to this effect, Nevirapine often lowers the levels of other drugs, making them ineffective.
How much does it cost?
Nevirapine is a cheaper alternative to most antiretroviral drugs and two doses of the drug cost up to US $4. Its manufacturer, Boehringer
Ingelheim, has announced it will give the medication free to HIV positive pregnant women in state hospitals in developing countries to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
SOURCES: AIDS Treatment Data Network, AEGIS, The Body
[This Item is Delivered to the English Service of the UN's IRIN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.]
|
| Was this article helpful to you? |
 ?100%???? ?0%
|
|
Back
|
|
|
|
