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Medicines
nevirapine (NVP)
Nevirapine is used in combination with
other medicines to treat HIV, and to
prevent passing HIV to a baby during birth.
Important: To treat HIV, you must give
NVP with other medicines. It is important
to take this medicine every day, in the
recommended dose. If a woman uses
NVP alone to prevent passing HIV to her
child in birth, it may not work as well to
treat her own HIV later. For fewer allergic
reactions, which can be a problem with
NVP, give once a day for the first 14 days.
Side effects: Rash, fever, nausea, headache.
Seek care immediately for signs of allergy:
red or purple areas on the skin, rashes or
other spreading skin problems, fever,
yellow skin or eyes, or swollen liver.
Often comes in: tablets of 200 mg;
suspension of 50 mg per 5 ml.
How to use:
For HIV (see p. 494), give 200 mg by
mouth once a day for 14 days, then give
200 mg 2 times a day, every day.
Also give other medicines.
To prevent HIV from passing to a baby
during birth (see p. 495):
For a woman who has not taken
medicines for HIV during pregnancy, give
200 mg by mouth when labor begins,
along with other medicines.
For any baby born to a woman with HIV,
give the baby 2 mg for each kilogram of
weight (or 6mg) immediately after the
birth. Then give 2 mg/kg to the baby for
6Â weeks if the mother is not
breastfeeding. If she is breastfeeding, give
2 mg/kg of NVP to the baby until 1 week
after breastfeeding has ended.
continued…
nevirapine, continued
WARNING: Nevirapine can cause
serious problems in the liver. Stop
giving this drug if the person has
signs of hepatitis (see p. 336). It
should never be restarted.
Women with CD4 counts over 250
are more likely to have an allergic
reaction to nevirapine. If possible,
they should use another ART
medicine.
tenofovir (TDF)
Tenofovir is used in combination with
other medicines to treat HIV.
Important: To treat HIV, you must give
TDF with other medicines. It is
important to take this medicine every
day in the recommended dose.
Do not give TDF to women who are less
than 18 years old.
Side effects: Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,
headaches, weakness.
Often comes in: tablets of 300 mg.
How to use:
For HIV (see p. 494), give 300 mg once
a day. You must also give other
medicines.
WARNING: Tenofovir can cause
kidney problems. Seek care
immediately if the person has
signs of kidney failure.
A Book for Midwives (2010)
497