Sustiva is a drug belonging to the group of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It is widely used in order to cure the HIV infection. Introduced in 1998, Efavirenz being combined with two reverse transcriptase suppressor showed greater efficacy than protease inhibitors and nevirapine. The studies that were conducted in inSouth Africa among 2817 HIV-positive adult patients demonstrated the benefits of efavirenz before nevirapine. Sustiva as a whole has proved to be a more effective and safe drug. Sustiva is able to inhibit the advancement of HIV up to 144 weeks. The advantages of Sustiva include the fact that it can be taken 1 time per day. Studies have shown that in 95% of patients 48 weeks after the onset of Sustiva, there was a decrease in viral load and an increase in CD4 T-lymphocyte count. This medical remedy has good tolerability. At the beginning of the therapy, there are adverse reactions on the CNS, but after a few weeks, their severity can be significantly reduced. The advised dosage of Efavirenz is 600 mg once a day (tablets can be as per 200 or 600 mg). It is desirable to take the dose before a bedtime.

Sustiva is not prescribed to pregnant, because it has teratogenic properties. During the medical care, it is necessary to choose an adequate way of contraception. Against the background of Sustiva, there was a significant reduction in the contraceptive effect of the use of implants with etonogestrel. This medical agent helps to lower the concentrations of etonogestrel, levonorgestrel, and norelgestromin in the blood.

Do not administrateSustiva concomitantly with astemizole or ergot alkaloids, cisapride or midazolam, as well as with terfenadine, and triazolam, or even with oral contraceptives. The simultaneous consumption of saquinavir and amprenavir with efavirenz is possible if this combination enhances ritonavir (otherwise serum concentrations are inadequate). It is not recommended to eat efavirenz together with food containing a large amount of fat. As this affects the absorption of the drug, lowering its concentration. If the medical care with efavirenz was preceded by the treatment with protease inhibitors, it is advised that, during the first week of the regiment, efavirenz continues to receive a protease suppressor. When using lopinavir, reinforced atazanavir, indinavir, rifabutin, methadone simultaneously with efavirenz, the adjustment of the dosages of these drugs is required.

The administration of Sustiva is most often accompanied by adverse effects on the CNS. Often there are undesirable effects such as the nightmares, the feeling of dizziness, drowsiness, feeling of confusion, the incoherence of mind, impaired concentration, insomnia, depersonalization. The patient before the administration of efavirenz should remember that he or she would rather not engage in potentially hazardous motions that may need one to be better concentrated than usual. In particular, during the regiment of treatment with a help of Sustiva, it is not allowed to drive the car or operate any machinery.

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