If you are taking treatment to control your HIV infection, the name Etravirine is probably very familiar to you. This can be a very important drug in your treatment regimen. So, today we will talk very simply and politely about what exactly this drug is, how to use it, and what things to be careful about.
What kind of medicine is Etravirine?
Simply put, Etravirine is a drug that works against the HIV virus. Doctors call this class of drugs antiretroviral medicine . It is usually given to you in combination with several other HIV drugs.
The most important thing you need to understand here is that this medicine cannot completely cure HIV infection. However, it can help you live a healthy life by controlling the amount of HIV virus (viral load) in your body.
Also, when used correctly, this medicine can reduce the risk of you spreading HIV to someone else. But it does not eliminate the risk completely. Therefore, it is important to continue to follow safe methods.
Things to tell your doctor before using this medicine
It is very important that your doctor is fully aware of your health condition before prescribing Etravirine. Therefore, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
- If you have liver disease .
- If you have previously had an allergic reaction to Etravirine or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant or expecting a baby .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
Based on this information, the doctor will determine the treatment that is most suitable for you.
How to use the medicine correctly?
To get the most out of this medicine, it is essential to take it as directed.
- Take after meals: This medicine should always be taken after a meal . Do not take it on an empty stomach.
- Swallow with a glass of water: Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablet.
- If you have difficulty swallowing: If you have difficulty swallowing the tablet whole, you can dissolve it in a glass of water and drink it immediately. Ask your doctor for further advice.
- Take it on time: Get into the habit of taking your medicine at the same time every day.
- Do not skip doses:This is the most important thing. Do not skip a dose of the medicine for any reason. Do not stop taking the medicine, even if you feel better. If you miss doses, the HIV virus in your body may become resistant to this medicine. If that happens, not only this medicine but also other HIV medicines may not work for you in the future.
- Do not stop taking the medication without your doctor's advice.
Should this medicine be given to children?
This medicine is sometimes prescribed for children over the age of 2. However, it requires special precautions. Therefore, if you are giving this medicine to a child, talk to your pediatrician about it and get advice.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or, go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What if I miss a dose?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
Other drugs that may interact with Etravirine (Drug Interactions)
Etravirine is a drug that can easily interact with other medications. This means that when taken with other medications, the effects of Etravirine or the effects of the other medication may change. This can sometimes be dangerous.
You can get a clear idea about this from the table below.
| Drug interactions with Etravirine | |
|---|---|
| Do NOT Take Etravirine with this medicine. | |
| |
| Discuss with your doctor if taking this medicine. | |
|
|
Important: This list is not complete. Therefore, give your doctor a complete list of all medications you take (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements) . Also tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Things to be careful about while taking the medicine
- Regular medical checkups: Keep your doctor appointments and get any necessary blood work done.
- Severe skin reactions: This medicine can cause severe skin reactions in some people. These may occur weeks after starting the medicine . Tell your doctor right away if you develop a skin rash with fever or flu-like symptoms. These rashes may turn red or purple, then blister and the skin may peel off. Or you may have a red rash with a raised bump on your face, lips, neck, or armpits. These can be signs of a serious condition and should not be ignored.
What side effects might I experience?
Like any medicine, Etravirine can cause side effects. Some of them are serious, while others are common.
| Type of side effect | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Side effects that require immediate medical attention | |
| Severe allergies and skin diseases | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face/lips/tongue, red, blistered, peeling skin (even inside the mouth), fever, and swollen glands. |
| Signs of liver damage | Dark urine, light-colored stools, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, and extreme fatigue. |
| Other serious symptoms | General discomfort such as rapid or irregular heartbeat and fever. |
| Usually not serious (but tell your doctor if it persists) | |
| Digestive system problems | Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain. |
| Other minor effects | Dizziness , pain or numbness in the limbs, weight gain in the waist and back, and thinning of the face and limbs. |
Take-Home Message
- Etravirine is a drug that controls HIV, not a cure.
- Always take this medicine after a meal .
- Do not skip a dose of medication for any reason. Doing so can cause the virus to become resistant to the medication.
- If you develop severe allergic symptoms, such as a rash with fever, tell your doctor immediately.
- Give your doctor a complete description of all other medications you are taking.
- If you have any problems or concerns, talk to your doctor.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Etravirine (Etravirine / Intelence) tablets are a medicine used to treat which disease?
This is a very powerful new generation (NNRTI) drug that suppresses the 'AIDS / HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)' virus! This is not given to everyone first, it is used as a last resort drug to control the virus in severe patients who have continued to take other regular HIV drugs (First-line), and whose HIV virus has become accustomed to those drugs / the drugs do not work (Treatment-experienced / Multi-drug resistant).
💬 How does this drug (Etravirine) prevent the HIV virus from multiplying when other drugs don't work?
The biggest magic of this is its flexibility (Flexible conformation)! The HIV virus needs an enzyme machine called 'Reverse Transcriptase' to replicate. When the old drug gets stuck in that machine like a rock, the virus changes the shape of the machine and throws the drug away (Resistance). But this etravirine (Second-gen NNRTI) is a molecule that bends like rubber. Even though the virus changes the shape of the machine, this drug adapts to it and locks that machine forever (Allosteric inhibition).
💬 What are the fatal dangers of taking this powerful pill that kills the HIV virus?
The biggest and deadliest danger of this is 'Severe Skin Reactions (SJS/TEN). If you get a big rash and fever after taking the pill, and you get sores on your face/mouth, the skin may peel off and the patient may die (stop immediately)! Also, you must take this 'After a meal' (otherwise the medicine will not be absorbed).
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