Rilpivirine, Oral ril-py-VIR-een

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; antiretroviral; anti-HIV

Generic and brand names: rilpivirine, oral; Edurant

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth along with other medicines to treat HIV infection. This medicine must be taken with other anti-HIV medicines to keep from developing resistant strains of HIV.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• liver or kidney disease
• hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
• mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, or paranoia

Taking this medicine with certain other medicines may be life-threatening. Tell your provider about ALL of the medicines and natural remedies you take.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not change your dosage on your own. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. Do not run out of this medicine. If you are not sure of how much and how often to take this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

Take this medicine with other medicines your healthcare provider prescribes. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly.

Always take this medicine with a meal. If you take an antacid that contains aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, take the antacid at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after this medicine.

What if I miss a dose?

Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose within 12 hours of the time you usually take it, take your dose with a meal as soon as possible and then take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. If it is more than 12 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine is not a cure for HIV infection. You may continue to get illnesses associated with advanced HIV infection, including other infections. There is no evidence that this medicine will reduce the risk of spreading HIV through sexual contact or blood contamination.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Your body fat may change as a result of taking this medicine. Your legs and arms may be thin but your chest, belly, back, and neck may have more fat. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

This medicine may cause immune reconstitution syndrome (IRS). As the immune system gets stronger, the body's responses to diseases such as pneumonia or tuberculosis may also get stronger. Talk with your provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these your healthcare provider right away): Depression that does not go away; hallucinations; sudden change in thoughts or behavior; suicidal thoughts; chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; sudden fainting; unusual tiredness or weakness; dark urine; light-colored bowel movements; severe nausea or vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Other: stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, dizziness, drowsiness, abnormal dreams, trouble sleeping, headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium such as AlternaGEL, Maalox, Mylanta, and Tums (take antacids at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after this medicine)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S.), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), pentamidine (NebuPent), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin), rifapentine (Priftin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• antifungal medicines such as caspofungin (Cancidas), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), and voriconazole (Vfend)
• anti-HIV medicines such as amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), didanosine (Videx, Videx EC), efavirenz (Sustiva), efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Atripla), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir mesylate (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), thioridazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), and phenobarbital
• arsenic trioxide (Trisenox)
• boceprevir (Victrelis)
• bosentan (Tracleer)
• chloroquine (Aralen)
• conivaptan (Vaprisol)
• dexamethasone
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), nicardipine (Cardene), propafenone (Rythmol), procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace)
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• medicines to reduce stomach acid such as cimetidine (Tagamet), esomeprazole (Nexium), famotidine (Pepcid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), nizatidine (Axid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (AcipHex), and ranitidine (Zantac) (take these at least 12 hours before or 4 hours after rilpivirine)
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• St. Johns wort
• vandetanib (Caprelsa)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.