Viramune is used for:

Treating HIV infection. It must be used along with other HIV medicines.

Viramune is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It works by blocking the growth of HIV.

Do NOT use Viramune if

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Viramune
• you have severe liver problems
• you have had a serious liver or skin reaction while taking Viramune
• you are taking ketoconazole, rifampin, or St. John's wort

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Viramune :

Some medical conditions may interact with Viramune . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have liver problems (eg, hepatitis), abnormal liver function tests, or certain skin problems (eg, growths, rash)
• if you have kidney problems or are receiving dialysis
• if you have a fever, a high CD4 count, or abnormally high level of white blood cells

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Viramune . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Prednisone because the risk of severe skin rash may be increased
• Fluconazole because it may increase the risk of Viramune 's side effects
• Rifampin or St. John's wort because they may decrease Viramune 's effectiveness
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, atorvastatin), or rifabutin because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Viramune
• Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, disopyramide), azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), calcium channel blockers (eg, diltiazem, nifedipine), carbamazepine, cisapride, clarithromycin, clonazepam, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, efavirenz, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), ethosuximide, exemestane, fentanyl, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, indinavir), hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills), methadone, sirolimus, tacrolimus, or tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors (eg, dasatinib) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Viramune )

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Viramune may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Viramune :

Use Viramune as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions

• Viramune comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Viramune refilled.
• Take Viramune by mouth with or without food.
• Take Viramune with a full glass of liquid. You may take it with water, milk, or soda.
• Taking this medicine at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
• Continue to take Viramune even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Viramune, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If you miss taking Viramune for more than 7 days, contact your doctor before you start to take it again.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Viramune .

Important safety information

• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
• Viramune is not a cure for HIV infection. Patients may still get illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.
• When your medicine supply is low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. Do not stop taking Viramune, even for a short period of time. If you do, the virus may grow resistant to the medicine and become harder to treat.
• Viramune does not stop the spread of HIV to others through blood or sexual contact. Use barrier methods of birth control (eg, condoms) if you have HIV infection. Do not share needles, injection supplies, or items like toothbrushes or razors.
• Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Viramune . The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.
• Viramune may improve immune system function. This may reveal hidden infections in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of infection (eg, fever, sore throat, weakness, cough, shortness of breath) after you start Viramune .
• Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Viramune . To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).
• Lab tests, including liver function tests, heart and blood tests, and CD4 counts, may be performed while you use Viramune . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Viramune should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 2 months old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Viramune while you are pregnant. Viramune is found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Viramune to the baby.

Possible side effects of Viramune :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; headache; mild nausea or stomach pain; tiredness; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); change in the amount of urine produced; dark urine; eye irritation, pain, redness, or swelling; fever, chills, or sore throat; general feeling of being unwell; loss of appetite; mouth sores; muscle or joint aches or pain; pale stools; red, swollen, peeling, or blistered skin; severe, persistent, or unusual nausea, stomach pain, tiredness, or weakness; swollen lymph glands; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.