Rilpivirine

Generic name: rilpivirine [ RIL-pi-VIR-een ]
Brand name: Edurant
Dosage form: oral tablet (25 mg)
Drug class: NNRTIs

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Aug 20, 2024. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is rilpivirine?

Rilpivirine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body. HIV is the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Rilpivirine is used in combination with other antiviral medicines to treat HIV. Rilpivirine is for use in adults and children at least 12 years old who weigh at least 77 pounds (35 kilograms) who have never before taken an HIV medicine and who have an amount of HIV-1 in their blood (this is called 'viral load') that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL. Rilpivirine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Rilpivirine is sometimes used with a medicine called cabotegravir as a daily "lead-in dose" to help determine that you can safely use a combination form of these medicines given as a monthly injection. Rilpivirine and cabotegravir may also be given short-term in place of the monthly injectable combination for up to 2 months. When used with cabotegravir for these purposes, rilpivirine is only for adults with HIV who have already used other antiviral medicines that have controlled their viral load.

Rilpivirine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Rilpivirine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Rilpivirine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• mood changes, anxiety, feeling sad or hopeless, thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself;

• liver problems--right-sided upper stomach pain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• symptoms of depression--mood changes, feelings of low self-worth, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, new sleep problems, thoughts about hurting yourself.

Rilpivirine affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken rilpivirine). Tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of a new infection--fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;

• trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or

• swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Common side effects of rilpivirine may include:

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• depression;

• skin rash;

• headache; or

• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use rilpivirine if you are allergic to it.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with rilpivirine. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

• carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin;

• rifampin, rifapentine;

• esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole;

• St John's wort; or

• more than one dose of dexamethasone.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a serious skin rash or allergic reaction after taking a medcine that contains rilpivirine;

• liver disease (rilpivirine can cause hepatitis B or C to come back or get worse);

• kidney disease; or

• depression or mental illness.

To prevent HIV in a newborn baby, use all medications to control your infection during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breastfeed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

Rilpivirine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old or weighing less than 77 pounds (35 kilograms).

How should I take rilpivirine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Rilpivirine is usually taken once per day with a full meal (not just a protein drink). Always take the medicine with food.

When given together, rilpivirine and cabotegravir are usually taken once per day starting at least 28 days before you switch to the monthly injectable combination. On the last day you take rilpivirine and cabotegravir, you will receive your first monthly injectable dose of these medicines.

If you miss or plan to miss an injection by more than 7 days, call your healthcare provider to discuss your treatment options.

You may need frequent medical tests while taking rilpivirine, and for several months after your last dose.

Use all HIV medications as directed. Do not change your dose or stop using a medicine without your doctor's advice. Remain under the care of a doctor.

Store rilpivirine in its original container at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Related/similar drugs

Biktarvy, Descovy, Cabenuva, Truvada, Atripla, Stribild, Epzicom, Complera

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine with food as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 12 hours late for the dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking rilpivirine?

Using rilpivirine will not prevent your disease from spreading. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Ask your doctor how to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe.

What other drugs will affect rilpivirine?

Some medicines can make rilpivirine much less effective when taken at the same time. If you take any of the following medicines, take them separately from your dose of rilpivirine:

• An antacid or didanosine (Videx EC): take either of these medicines at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after you take rilpivirine.

• A stomach acid reducer (such as cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, ranitidine, Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac): take it at least 12 hours before or 4 hours after you take rilpivirine.

Rilpivirine can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.

Many drugs can affect rilpivirine, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the difference between HIV treatments Odefsey and Complera?
• What drugs are contained in HIV treatment Juluca?

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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