Drug Class: Antiviral combinations
Usual Adult Dose for HIV Infection
1 tablet orally once a day
Use: As a complete regimen or in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection
Usual Adult Dose for Nonoccupational Exposure
US CDC Recommendations: 1 tablet orally once a day
Duration of therapy: 28 days
Comments:
- Only with expert consultation, an alternative regimen for HIV nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP)
- Efavirenz is contraindicated as nPEP in pregnant women; it should be avoided in nPEP regimens during the first trimester and should not be used for women of childbearing potential who might become pregnant during antiretroviral prophylaxis.
- Prophylaxis should be started as soon as possible, within 72 hours of exposure.
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Occupational Exposure
US Public Health Service working group recommendations: 1 tablet orally once a day
Duration of therapy: 28 days, if tolerated
Comments:
- Only with expert consultation, an alternative regimen for use as HIV postexposure prophylaxis
- Prophylaxis should be started as soon as possible, preferably within hours after exposure.
- The optimal duration of prophylaxis is unknown and may differ based on institution protocol.
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for HIV Infection
At least 40 kg: 1 tablet orally once a day
Use: As a complete regimen or in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection
Renal Dose Adjustments
Moderate or severe renal dysfunction (estimated CrCl less than 50 mL/min): Not recommended.
Liver Dose Adjustments
Mild liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh A): No adjustment recommended; caution recommended.
Moderate to severe liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh B or C): Not recommended.
Dose Adjustments
Concomitant rifampin:
- Patients weighing at least 50 kg: After administration of this drug (1 tablet orally once a day), an additional 200 mg/day of efavirenz is recommended.
Precautions
US BOXED WARNING:
- POSTTREATMENT ACUTE EXACERBATION OF HEPATITIS B: Severe acute exacerbations of HBV reported in patients coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV after stopping products containing emtricitabine and/or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Hepatic function of HIV-1/HBV-coinfected patients should be closely monitored with clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months after stopping this drug. If appropriate, initiation of antihepatitis B therapy may be necessary.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Previously demonstrated clinically significant hypersensitivity (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, toxic skin eruptions) to efavirenz
- Coadministration with voriconazole or elbasvir-grazoprevir
Safety and efficacy have not been established in pediatric patients weighing less than 40 kg; this drug is not recommended for use in these patients.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- Test patients for HBV infection before or when starting this drug.
- In all patients, assess serum creatinine, estimated CrCl, urine glucose, and urine protein before starting and during therapy as clinically appropriate; in patients with chronic kidney disease, also assess serum phosphorus.
- Monitor hepatic function before and during therapy.
- Perform pregnancy testing before starting this drug in adolescents and adults of childbearing potential.
- Administer on an empty stomach.
- Dosing at bedtime may improve tolerability of nervous system symptoms.
Storage requirements:
- Store in the original bottle; keep bottle tightly closed.
- Store at 25C (77F); excursions permitted to 15C to 30C (59F to 86F).
General:
- Each 3-drug fixed-dose combination tablet contains efavirenz 600 mg, emtricitabine 200 mg, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg.
Monitoring:
- General: Pregnancy testing in patients of childbearing potential (before starting therapy)
- Hepatic: Liver enzymes/hepatic function (before and during therapy); for chronic HBV in all patients (before therapy); hepatic function of HIV-1/HBV-coinfected patients with clinical and laboratory follow-up (for at least several months after stopping therapy)
- Infections/Infestations: For chronic HBV infection in all patients (before or when starting therapy)
- Metabolic: Serum phosphorus in patients with chronic kidney disease (before starting and as clinically appropriate during therapy)
- Musculoskeletal: Bone mineral density in patients with history of pathologic bone fracture or other risk factors for osteoporosis or bone loss
- Renal: Serum creatinine, estimated CrCl, urine glucose, and urine protein in all patients (before starting and as clinically appropriate during therapy)
Patient advice:
- Read the US FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information).
- If you also have HBV, do not stop this drug without consulting healthcare provider.
- Contact physician without delay if rash occurs.
- Watch for early signs of liver inflammation or failure (e.g., fatigue, weakness, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting) as well as later signs (e.g., jaundice, confusion, abdominal swelling, discolored feces); consult healthcare professional at once if such symptoms occur.
- Seek immediate medical evaluation if severe psychiatric side effects occur.
- Avoid potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating machinery) if CNS symptoms (e.g., dizziness, impaired concentration, drowsiness) occur.
- Avoid taking this drug with concurrent/recent use of nephrotoxic agents.
- If of childbearing potential, avoid pregnancy and inform healthcare provider if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this drug; always use a reliable form of barrier contraception with other methods of contraception (including oral or other hormonal contraception) during therapy and for 12 weeks after stopping this drug.
- Notify healthcare provider at once of any symptoms of infection.
- Take this drug on a regular dosing schedule to avoid missing doses.