Efavirenz
Efavirenz is an HIV medicine taken once a day as part of combination treatment. PockDose sells Sustiva tablets in 200mg and 600mg strengths.
What efavirenz is used for
Efavirenz is an NNRTI antiviral (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor). It is used in combination treatment of HIV-1, the commonest type of HIV, in adults, adolescents and children from three months of age who weigh at least 3.5kg. The virus copies itself using an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, and efavirenz binds to that enzyme so the copying step stalls. Fewer new virus particles are made, which gives the immune system room to recover. It is never used on its own: a regimen combines it with two other HIV medicines, and it is taken long term.
Taking efavirenz every day
One tablet a day, at the same time each day, on an empty stomach. Evening suits most people, and bedtime is the usual choice, because efavirenz is well known for making the first week or two hazy and sleeping through part of that is easier. Keep meals out of the way of the dose: a fatty meal increases how much efavirenz is absorbed, which can sharpen the dizziness. Levels build up steadily over the first days of daily dosing rather than after a single tablet.
Side effects of efavirenz
Dizziness, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, vivid or unusual dreams and poor sleep are the classic early effects, and they usually ease as the body adjusts. Rash is common and often mild. Less often, efavirenz causes liver problems — yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pain in the upper right of the abdomen — or a blistering, peeling skin reaction. Some people develop low mood or confusion while taking it, and in rare cases thoughts of harming themselves.
Mixing efavirenz with other medicines
Efavirenz is broken down by liver enzymes and also speeds some of them up, so it changes how other medicines behave and they change how it behaves. Rifampicin, an antibiotic used for tuberculosis, lowers efavirenz levels. Some antifungals and some other HIV medicines raise them. Efavirenz itself can lower the levels of methadone and of a few other drugs. With a list this long, a new medicine is best checked before it joins the regimen.
Sustiva, the efavirenz tablets sold here
Sustiva is the efavirenz tablet sold here, a film-coated tablet in 200mg and 600mg strengths. Both contain the same active ingredient, so the strength you order comes down to the dose you take. Efavirenz sits alongside the other antivirals in the HIV treatment range, which covers the ingredients used with it.
Sources
- Efavirenz 600mg film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
- EFAVIRENZ- efavirenz tablet, film coated — DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Can I order Efavirenz online in Hong Kong?
Efavirenz can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Sustiva, also sold as Efavirenz tablets, as 200mg and 600mg tablets. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or turns up damaged, it is sent again free, and where that is not possible the order is refunded.
How are Efavirenz prices shown?
It depends on the strength and pack size. The efavirenz product listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Efavirenz?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order efavirenz. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What brand names does efavirenz have?
Sustiva is a brand name of efavirenz. Here, efavirenz can be bought online as generic Sustiva. These are generics, not the original brand.
Why is efavirenz taken at bedtime?
The first weeks on efavirenz often bring dizziness, drowsiness and vivid dreams. Taking the dose in the evening means you sleep through the worst of it. These effects usually fade over two to four weeks as the body adjusts, though some people notice them for longer.
Can I drink alcohol with efavirenz?
Alcohol is not off limits, but it piles onto the dizziness and drowsiness efavirenz already causes, and the first weeks are when that stacks up most. A glass with dinner is one thing; a night out on top of a fresh dose can leave you badly unsteady. Drinks are best kept light and well before the bedtime tablet.
Does efavirenz cause a rash?
Yes, it is one of the more common effects. A mild rash tends to turn up in the first two weeks or so, and in most people it fades while the tablets carry on. Blistering, peeling, mouth sores or a fever alongside the rash point to a different, serious skin reaction.
Does St John's wort affect efavirenz?
Yes. St John's wort, a herbal remedy often taken for low mood, speeds up the liver enzymes that clear efavirenz and lowers the amount left in the blood, so the antiviral can stop working properly. It is one of the supplements to leave out while taking efavirenz.