Etravirine for HIV

About etravirine

Etravirine is an antiretroviral medicine. It is used for infezione da virus dell'immunodeficienza umana (HIV). It slows the progress of HIV infection, but it is not a cure. HIV destroys cells in the body, called CD4 T cells. These cells are a type of white blood cell and are important because they are involved in protecting your body from infection. If left untreated, the HIV infection weakens your immune system so that your body cannot defend itself against bacteria, viruses and other germs. Etravirine slows down the progress of HIV infection by reducing the amount of virus in your body. It does this by stopping the virus from copying (replicating) itself.

Etravirine will be prescribed for you by a doctor who is a specialist. It belongs to a group of antiretroviral medicines known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It is given alongside a number of other antiretroviral medicines, as part of a combination therapy. Taking three or more antiretroviral medicines at the same time is more effective than taking one alone. Taking a combination of different medicines also reduces the risk that the virus will become resistant to any individual medicine. It is vital to take them exactly as prescribed to maintain success and to help to prevent the virus from becoming resistant to the medicines. These medicines are usually taken for life.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking etravirine it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• Se hai problemi con il funzionamento del tuo fegato.

• Se hai un raro disturbo ereditario del sangue chiamato porfiria.

• Se stai assumendo altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about etravirine, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take etravirine exactly as your doctor tells you to. There are three strengths of tablet available: 200 mg for adults, and 25 mg and 100 mg for older children. The usual adult dose is one 200 mg tablet twice daily. If your child has been prescribed etravirine, your doctor will tell you what dose should be taken. Where possible the two daily doses should be taken 12 hours apart - so, the first dose in the morning and the other in the evening. It is important that etravirine tablets are taken following a meal or after a snack, as this will help your body to absorb the medicine.

• If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, you can mix the tablet into water, providing you then swallow the mixture straightaway.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, providing it is within six hours of the time you should have taken it. If it is more than six hours since you should have taken it, leave out the missed dose but remember to take your next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Mantieni i tuoi appuntamenti regolari con il tuo medico in modo che i tuoi progressi possano essere monitorati. Avrai bisogno di fare esami del sangue regolari.

• It is important that you continue to take etravirine and your other antiretroviral treatment regularly. This will help to prevent the HIV from becoming resistant to the medicines you are taking. Even if you miss only a small number of doses, the virus can become resistant to treatment.

• If you develop an infection soon after you start the treatment, let your doctor know. As a result of taking etravirine, your immune system may start fighting an infection which was present before you started the treatment, but which you may not have been aware of.

• Segui attentamente qualsiasi consiglio che il tuo medico ti dà riguardo ai cambiamenti dello stile di vita per ridurre il rischio di danni al cuore e ai vasi sanguigni. Questi possono includere smettere di fumare, mangiare in modo sano e fare esercizio fisico regolarmente.

• Anche se il trattamento con farmaci antiretrovirali può ridurre il rischio di trasmettere l'HIV ad altri attraverso il contatto sessuale, non lo elimina completamente. È importante che usi i preservativi.

• Non è raro che le persone con HIV si sentano giù o addirittura depresse, soprattutto subito dopo che è stata fatta la diagnosi e iniziato il trattamento. Se hai sentimenti di depressione o pensieri angoscianti riguardo al farti del male, dovresti parlarne con il tuo medico immediatamente.

• Alcune persone che hanno assunto farmaci antiretrovirali (soprattutto per un lungo periodo) hanno sviluppato una condizione chiamata osteonecrosi. Questa è una malattia ossea in cui il tessuto osseo muore a causa di una ridotta fornitura di sangue. Porta a dolori articolari e rigidità, e può causare difficoltà nei movimenti. Se noti uno di questi sintomi, parla con il tuo medico.

• If you buy any medicines, supplements or herbal remedies 'over the counter', check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with etravirine and your other medicines. This is because some medicines interfere with antiretrovirals and can stop them from working properly.

• Alcune persone che assumono farmaci antiretrovirali sviluppano cambiamenti nel modo in cui il grasso corporeo è distribuito nel corpo. Questo può comportare cambiamenti nell'immagine corporea. Il tuo medico discuterà con te la possibilità di questo.

• Se devi sottoporti a un'operazione o a un trattamento dentistico, informa la persona che esegue il trattamento sui medicinali che stai assumendo.

• Treatment for HIV is usually lifelong. Continue to take etravirine regularly, even if you feel well. This is to keep your immune system healthy.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with etravirine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se si verificano altri sintomi che ritieni possano essere dovuti alle compresse, parla con il tuo medico o farmacista per ulteriori consigli.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light. The bottle contains a desiccant to keep the tablets dry - do not transfer the tablets into any other container.