how does this medication work? what will it do for me?
doravirine belongs to a class of medications called antiretroviral agents and more specifically, to the class of medications called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nnrtis). reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that is needed by human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) for reproduction. doravirine blocks the action of this enzyme.
when used in combination with other antiretroviral medications, doravirine treats hiv infection and helps prevent the hiv from reproducing. hiv is the virus responsible for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids). hiv infection destroys cd4 (t) cells, which are important to the immune system. the immune system helps fight infections. when used with other antiretroviral medications, doravirine reduces the amount of hiv in the blood and increases cd4 (t) cell counts.
doravirine must be taken with other medications to treat hiv infection. it is not intended to be taken alone. this medication does not cure aids and does not prevent it from being spread to others. it is used to slow further growth or reproduction of hiv and seems to slow down the destruction of the immune system. this may help to delay the development of problems such as infections related to aids or hiv.
this medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. as well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.
your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. if you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. it can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
what form(s) does this medication come in?
each white, oval-shaped, film-coated tablet, debossed with the corporate logo and "700" on one side, and plain on the other side, contains 100 mg of doravirine. nonmedicinal ingredients: carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose acetate succinate, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose; film coating: hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.
how should i use this medication?
the recommended adult dose of doravirine is 100 mg taken by mouth, once daily. it may be taken with or without food.
many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. if your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
it is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
if you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. if you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
store this medication in the original bottle at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
who should not take this medication?
do not take this medication if you:
- are allergic to doravirine or any ingredients of the medication
- are taking any of the following medications:
- carbamazepine
- enzalutamide
- mitotane
- oxcarbazepine
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin
- rifampin
- rifapentine
- st. john's wort
what side effects are possible with this medication?
many medications can cause side effects. a side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
the side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. if you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
the following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- fatigue
- headache
- nausea
- stomach pain
- trouble sleeping
- unusual dreams
- vomiting
- weakness
although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.
check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- signs of depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
- symptoms of immune system changes (e.g., fever, joint or muscle pain, redness, rash, swelling, or fatigue)
stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
- signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)
- signs of a severe skin reaction such as blistering, peeling, a rash covering a large area of the body, a rash that spreads quickly, or a rash combined with fever or discomfort
some people may experience side effects other than those listed. check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. these factors may affect how you should use this medication.
blood sugar: doravirine may cause an increase in blood sugar levels (may cause a loss of blood glucose control) and glucose tolerance may change. people with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using this medication.
if you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
cholesterol: doravirine can cause increased blood cholesterol levels. if you are at risk of developing high cholesterol or you have high cholesterol levels before starting doravirine, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
drowsiness/reduced alertness: doravirine may cause drowsiness or dizziness, affecting your ability to drive or operate machinery. avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other potentially hazardous tasks until you have determined how you are affected by this medication.
immune reconstitution syndrome: this medication may cause immune reconstitution syndrome, where signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections appear. these symptoms occur soon after starting anti-hiv medication and can vary. they are thought to occur as a result of the immune system improving and being able to fight infections that have been present without symptoms (such as pneumonia, herpes, or tuberculosis). report any new symptoms to your doctor immediately.
stopping the medication: if you stop taking this medication, your hiv infection could get worse. take the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor, and do not stop taking the medication without checking with your doctor first.
pregnancy: this medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. if you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
breast-feeding: it is not known if doravirine passes into breast milk. women who have hiv infection should not breast-feed because of the risk of passing hiv to a baby who does not have the infection.
children: the safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.
what other drugs could interact with this medication?
there may be an interaction between doravirine and any of the following:
- apalutamide
- bosentan
- dabrafenib
- deferasirox
- dexamethasone
- erdafitinib
- enzalutamide
- ergonovine
- other hiv non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nnrtis; e.g., efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
- ivacaftor
- lumacaftor
- methadone
- mitotane
- modafinil
- orlistat
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- rilpivirine
- st. john's wort
- seizure medications (e.g., carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin)
- sarilumab
- siltuximab
- tocilizumab
- voriconazole
if you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
an interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. also tell them about any supplements you take. since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
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