(em trye SYE ta been, ril pi VIR een, & ten OF oh vir dye soe PROX il FUE ma rate)
US labeling: Treatment of HIV-1 infection (as a complete regimen) in antiretroviral treatment-naive patients 12 years or older with HIV-1 RNA ≤100,000 copies/mL at the start of therapy, and in certain virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) patients on a stable antiretroviral regimen at start of therapy in order to replace their current antiretroviral treatment regimen.
Canadian labeling: Treatment of HIV-1 infection (as a complete regimen) in adults with no known mutations associated with resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), emtricitabine, or tenofovir and with HIV-1 RNA ≤100,000 copies/mL.
Concurrent use of carbamazepine, systemic dexamethasone (>1 dose), oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (eg, dexlansoprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole), rifampin, rifapentine, and/or St John 's wort.
Canadian labeling: Additional contraindications (not in US labeling): Hypersensitivity to emtricitabine, rilpivirine, tenofovir or any component of the formulation.
Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogs, including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, in combination with other antiretrovirals.
HIV-1 and hepatitis B coinfection:Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is not approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and safety and efficacy have not been established in patients coinfected with HBV and HIV-1. Severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis B have been reported in patients who are coinfected with HBV and HIV-1 and have discontinued emtricitabine or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Monitor hepatic function closely with both clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months in patients who are coinfected with HIV-1 and HBV and discontinue antiretroviral treatment. If appropriate, initiation of anti-HBV therapy may be warranted.
HIV-1 infection: Oral: One tablet once daily
Missed dose: If ≤12 hours, take dose as soon as possible; if >12 hours, resume at next regularly scheduled time.
Dosage adjustment for concomitant therapy with rifabutin: One tablet once daily plus rilpivirine 25 mg
Refer to adult dosing.
HIV-1 infection: Children and Adolescents ≥12 years and ≥35 kg: Oral: Refer to adult dosing. Note: Not approved in Canadian labeling for use in pediatric patients <18 years of age.
CrCl ≥50 mL/minute: No dosage adjustments necessary.
CrCl <50 mL/minute: Use is not recommended.
ESRD requiring dialysis: Use is not recommended.
US labeling:
Mild to moderate impairment (Child-Pugh class A or B): No dosage adjustments necessary.
Severe impairment (Child-Pugh class C): There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturers labeling (has not been studied).
Canadian labeling:
Mild to moderate impairment (Child-Pugh class A or B): No dosage adjustments necessary; use with caution.
Severe impairment (Child-Pugh class C): Use is not recommended (has not been studied).
Oral: Administer with food. A protein drink is not a substitute for food.
Take with food. Consider calcium and vitamin D supplementation in patients with history of bone fracture or osteopenia.
Store at 25 ‚ °C (77 ‚ °F); excursions permitted between 15 ‚ °C to 30 ‚ °C (59 ‚ °F to 86 ‚ °F). Dispense in original container.
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Tablet, oral:
Complera: Emtricitabine 200 mg, rilpivirine 25 mg, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg
Acyclovir-Valacyclovir: May increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Products. Tenofovir Products may increase the serum concentration of Acyclovir-Valacyclovir. Monitor therapy
Adefovir: May diminish the therapeutic effect of Tenofovir Products. Adefovir may increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Products. Tenofovir Products may increase the serum concentration of Adefovir. Avoid combination
Aminoglycosides: May increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Products. Tenofovir Products may increase the serum concentration of Aminoglycosides. Monitor therapy
Antacids: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Management: Administer antacids at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after rilpivirine. Consider therapy modification
Antihepaciviral Combination Products: May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Atazanavir: Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate may decrease the serum concentration of Atazanavir. Atazanavir may increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Management: Must use ritonavir-boosting in adults; give combo (atazanavir/ritonavir 300mg/100mg and tenofovir 300mg) as a single daily dose with food. Pediatric patients, pregnant patients, and users of H2-blockers require other dose changes. Consider therapy modification
Boceprevir: May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Monitor therapy
Bosentan: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Cabozantinib: MRP2 Inhibitors may increase the serum concentration of Cabozantinib. Monitor therapy
CarBAMazepine: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Cidofovir: May increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Products. Tenofovir Products may increase the serum concentration of Cidofovir. Monitor therapy
Cobicistat: May enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Tenofovir Products. More specifically, cobicistat may impair proper tenofovir monitoring and dosing. Monitor therapy
CYP3A4 Inducers (Moderate): May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong): May increase the metabolism of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Consider an alternative for one of the interacting drugs. Some combinations may be specifically contraindicated. Consult appropriate manufacturer labeling. Consider therapy modification
CYP3A4 Inhibitors (Strong): May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Monitor therapy
Dabrafenib: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Seek alternatives to the CYP3A4 substrate when possible. If concomitant therapy cannot be avoided, monitor clinical effects of the substrate closely (particularly therapeutic effects). Consider therapy modification
Darunavir: May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Monitor therapy
Darunavir: Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate may increase the serum concentration of Darunavir. Darunavir may increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Monitor therapy
Deferasirox: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Dexamethasone (Systemic): May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Diclofenac (Systemic): May enhance the nephrotoxic effect of Tenofovir Products. Management: Seek alternatives to this combination whenever possible. Avoid use of tenofovir with multiple NSAIDs or any NSAID given at a high dose. Consider therapy modification
Didanosine: Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate may diminish the therapeutic effect of Didanosine. Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate may increase the serum concentration of Didanosine. Management: Avoid concomitant treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and didanosine. Consider altering even existing, stable treatment to avoid this combination. Avoid combination
Efavirenz: Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside) may increase the serum concentration of Efavirenz. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside) may decrease the serum concentration of Efavirenz. Avoid combination
Enzalutamide: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Concurrent use of enzalutamide with CYP3A4 substrates that have a narrow therapeutic index should be avoided. Use of enzalutamide and any other CYP3A4 substrate should be performed with caution and close monitoring. Consider therapy modification
Ergonovine: Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside) may increase the serum concentration of Ergonovine. Specifically, this would be most likely with delavrdine, while other Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors may be more likely to decrease the concentration of Ergonovine. Avoid combination
Etravirine: Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside) may decrease the serum concentration of Etravirine. This has been observed with the NNRTIs efavirenz and nevirapine. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside) may increase the serum concentration of Etravirine. This has been observed with delavirdine. Avoid combination
Fosphenytoin: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Ganciclovir-Valganciclovir: May enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nucleoside). Hematologic toxicity with zidovudine is of particular concern. Ganciclovir-Valganciclovir may increase the serum concentration of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nucleoside). Management: Monitor patients receiving any of these combination closely for toxicity of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Avoid zidovudine. Intravitreal implants would not be affected. Consider therapy modification
H2-Antagonists: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Management: Administer histamine H2 receptor antagonists at least 12 hours before or 4 hours after rilpivirine. Consider therapy modification
Highest Risk QTc-Prolonging Agents: QTc-Prolonging Agents (Indeterminate Risk and Risk Modifying) may enhance the QTc-prolonging effect of Highest Risk QTc-Prolonging Agents. Management: Avoid such combinations when possible. Use should be accompanied by close monitoring for evidence of QT prolongation or other alterations of cardiac rhythm. Consider therapy modification
Ketoconazole (Systemic): May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Rilpivirine may decrease the serum concentration of Ketoconazole (Systemic). Monitor therapy
LamiVUDine: May enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Emtricitabine. Avoid combination
Ledipasvir: May increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Management: Avoidance of this combination is recommended under some circumstances. Refer to full monograph for details. Consider therapy modification
Lopinavir: May enhance the nephrotoxic effect of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Lopinavir may increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Monitor therapy
Lopinavir: May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Monitor therapy
Macrolide Antibiotics: May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Management: Consider the use of azithromycin or another non-macrolide alternative when appropriate to avoid this potential interaction. Exceptions: Roxithromycin. Consider therapy modification
Methadone: Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside) may increase the metabolism of Methadone. Management: Methadone dosage adjustments will likely be required with efavirenz and nevirapine, and may be necessary with rilpivirine as well. Consider therapy modification
MiFEPRIStone: May enhance the QTc-prolonging effect of QTc-Prolonging Agents (Indeterminate Risk and Risk Modifying). Management: Though the drugs listed here have uncertain QT-prolonging effects, they all have some possible association with QT prolongation and should generally be avoided when possible. Consider therapy modification
Mitotane: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Doses of CYP3A4 substrates may need to be adjusted substantially when used in patients being treated with mitotane. Consider therapy modification
Moderate Risk QTc-Prolonging Agents: QTc-Prolonging Agents (Indeterminate Risk and Risk Modifying) may enhance the QTc-prolonging effect of Moderate Risk QTc-Prolonging Agents. Monitor therapy
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents: May enhance the nephrotoxic effect of Tenofovir Products. Management: Seek alternatives to these combinations whenever possible. Avoid use of tenofovir with multiple NSAIDs or any NSAID given at a high dose. Consider therapy modification
Osimertinib: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Osimertinib may decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
OXcarbazepine: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
PHENobarbital: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Phenytoin: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Primidone: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Proton Pump Inhibitors: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Avoid combination
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside): May increase the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. This mechanism applies to coadministration of delavirdine. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside) may decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. This mechanism applies to coadministration of efavirenz, etravirine, and nevirapine. Avoid combination
Ribavirin (Oral Inhalation): May enhance the hepatotoxic effect of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nucleoside). Monitor therapy
Ribavirin (Systemic): May enhance the hepatotoxic effect of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nucleoside). Monitor therapy
Rifabutin: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Management: Increase the rilpivirine adult dose to 50 mg/day during rifabutin treatment. Decrease back to 25 mg/day following rifabutin discontinuation. Use of rifabutin with the emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir alafenamide combination product is not recommended. Consider therapy modification
Rifamycin Derivatives: May decrease the serum concentration of Rilpivirine. Exceptions: Rifabutin. Avoid combination
Siltuximab: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Simeprevir: Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate may decrease the serum concentration of Simeprevir. Simeprevir may increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Monitor therapy
St Johns Wort: May decrease the serum concentration of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside). Specifically, St. Johns Wort may increase the metabolism of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Non-Nucleoside). Avoid combination
Telaprevir: May increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Monitor therapy
Tipranavir: Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate may decrease the serum concentration of Tipranavir. Tipranavir may decrease the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Monitor therapy
TiZANidine: CYP1A2 Inhibitors (Weak) may increase the serum concentration of TiZANidine. Management: Avoid these combinations when possible. If combined use cannot be avoided, initiate tizanidine at an adult dose of 2 mg and increase in 2-4 mg increments based on patient response. Monitor for increased effects of tizanidine, including adverse reactions. Consider therapy modification
Tocilizumab: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Velpatasvir: May increase the serum concentration of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. Monitor therapy
CBC with differential, reticulocyte count, creatine kinase, CD4 count, HIV RNA plasma levels, serum phosphorus; serum creatinine (prior to initiation and as clinically indicated during therapy), urine glucose and urine protein (in patients at risk for renal impairment or who experienced renal impairment while taking adefovir), hepatic function tests, bone density (patients with a history of bone fracture or have risk factors for bone loss); fever, skin reactions, and/or hypersensitivity reactions; testing for HBV is recommended prior to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy; weight (children). If used as therapy replacement in virologically suppressed patients meeting criteria, additional HIV-1 RNA and regimen tolerability monitoring is recommended to assess potential virologic failure or rebound.
Patients with HIV and HBV coinfection should be monitored for several months following tenofovir discontinuation.
Observed in patients receiving the same doses of emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir as the combination product; also see individual agents.
>10%:
Endocrine & metabolic: Increased serum cholesterol ( ≤14%), increased LDL cholesterol (1% to 13%)
Hepatic: Increased serum ALT (1% to 19%), increased serum AST (1% to 16%)
2% to 10%:
Central nervous system: Depression (2% to 9%), headache (2%), insomnia (2%)
Endocrine & metabolic: Adrenocortical insufficiency (7%; not associated with any serious events)
Hepatic: Increased serum bilirubin (1% to 6%)
Renal: Increased serum creatinine ( ≤6%)
<2% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Abnormal dreams, anxiety, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, glomerulonephritis (membranous and mesangioproliferative), hypersensitivity reaction, immune reconstitution syndrome, increased serum triglycerides ( ≥500 mg/dL), nausea, nephrolithiasis, nephrotic syndrome, vomiting, weight gain
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Cardiac effects: In healthy subjects, supratherapeutic dosages of rilpivirine (75 mg once daily and 300 mg once daily) have been shown to prolong the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram; use caution when coadministering with drugs with a known risk of torsades de pointes. Canadian labeling also recommends using with caution in patients predisposed to proarrhythmic conditions (eg, clinically significant bradycardia, congenital prolongation of the QTc interval, acute myocardial ischemia, hypokalemia, heart failure).
- Decreased bone mineral density: In clinical trials, tenofovir has been associated with decreases in bone mineral density in HIV-1 infected adults and increases in bone metabolism markers. Serum parathyroid hormone and 1,25 vitamin D levels were also higher. Decreases in bone mineral density have also been observed in clinical trials of HIV-1 infected pediatric patients. Observations in chronic hepatitis B infected pediatric patients (aged 12 to 18 years) were similar. In all pediatric clinical trials, skeletal growth (height) appears unaffected. Consider monitoring of bone density in adult and pediatric patients with a history of pathologic fractures or with other risk factors for bone loss or osteoporosis. Consider calcium and vitamin D supplementation for all patients; effect of supplementation has not been studied but may be beneficial. Long-term bone health and fracture risk unknown. If abnormalities are suspected, expert assessment is recommended.
- Depressive disorders: May cause depression, depressed mood, dysphoria, major depression, mood changes, negative thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicidal ideation; if symptoms are noted, patients should be advised to seek professional intervention immediately; reevaluate risk versus benefit of continued combination therapy.
- Fat redistribution: May cause redistribution/accumulation of fat (eg, buffalo hump, peripheral wasting facial wasting, breast enlargement, cushingoid appearance).
- Hepatotoxicity: Hepatotoxicity has been reported with rilpivirine-containing regimens. Patients with hepatitis B or C or increased baseline liver function tests may be at greater risk, although some cases have occurred in patients with no preexisting disease or hepatic disease risk factors. Evaluate liver function tests in patients with increased baseline liver function tests or with hepatitis B or C prior to treatment initiation and periodically during therapy; also consider evaluation of patients with no preexisting hepatic disease or hepatic disease risk factors.
- Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity and severe skin reactions have been reported, including severe rash or rash accompanied by fever, blisters, mucosal involvement, conjunctivitis, facial edema, angioedema, hepatitis or eosinophilia, or drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) with regimens containing rilpivirine. Some skin reactions were accompanied by constitutional symptoms (eg, fever); other skin reactions were associated with organ dysfunction (eg, hepatic serum biochemistry elevations). In clinical trials, treatment-related rashes ≥Grade 2 were reported in 1% of patients. Most rashes were Grade 1 or 2 and occurred within the first 4 to 6 weeks of therapy. Monitor laboratory parameters and clinical status; discontinue if any hypersensitivity or skin rash develop.
- Immune reconstitution syndrome: Patients may develop immune reconstitution syndrome resulting in the occurrence of an inflammatory response to an indolent or residual opportunistic infection during initial HIV treatment or activation of autoimmune disorders (eg, Graves disease, polymyositis, Guillain-Barre syndrome) later in therapy; further evaluation and treatment may be required.
- Lactic acidosis/hepatomegaly: [US Boxed Warning]: Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis have been reported with nucleoside analogues (eg, tenofovir), including fatal cases; use with caution in patients with risk factors for liver disease (risk may be increased with female gender, obesity or prolonged nucleoside exposure) and suspend treatment in any patient who develops clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of lactic acidosis or hepatotoxicity (transaminase elevation may/may not accompany hepatomegaly and steatosis). Some cases of hepatotoxicity have occurred in patients with no hepatic disease prior to treatment.
- Osteomalacia and renal dysfunction: May cause osteomalacia with proximal renal tubulopathy. Bone pain, extremity pain, fractures, arthralgias, weakness, and muscle pain have been reported. In patients at risk for renal dysfunction, persistent or worsening bone or muscle symptoms should be evaluated for hypophosphatemia and osteomalacia.
- Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis has been reported with combination regimens that included tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; use with caution in patients with a prior history or risk factors for pancreatitis. Discontinue if pancreatitis is suspected.
- Renal toxicity: May cause renal toxicity (acute renal failure and/or Fanconi syndrome); avoid use with concurrent or recent nephrotoxic therapy (including high dose or multiple NSAID use). Acute renal failure has occurred in HIV-infected patients with risk factors for renal impairment who were on a stable tenofovir regimen to which a high dose or multiple NSAID therapy was added. Consider alternatives to NSAIDS in patients taking tenofovir and at risk for renal impairment. Calculate estimated creatinine clearance prior to initiation of therapy and monitor renal function (including recalculation of creatinine clearance and serum phosphorus) during therapy. In patients at risk for renal dysfunction, including patients who have experienced renal events while taking adefovir, assess serum phosphorus, urine glucose, and urine protein prior to and periodically during treatment. Use with caution in patients with low body weight (HHS [adult] 2015), or concurrent medications which increase tenofovir levels. IDSA guidelines recommend discontinuing tenofovir (and substituting with alternative antiretroviral therapy) in HIV-infected patients who develop a decline in GFR (a >25% decrease in GFR from baseline and to a level of <60 mL/minute/1.73 m2) during use, particularly in presence of proximal tubular dysfunction (eg, euglycemic glycosuria, increased urinary phosphorus excretion and hypophosphatemia, proteinuria [new onset or worsening]) (IDSA [Lucas 2014]).
Disease-related concerns:
- Chronic hepatitis B: [US Boxed Warning]: Safety and efficacy during coinfection of HIV and HBV have not been established; acute, severe exacerbations of HBV have been reported following discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy. Not indicated for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. All patients with HIV should be tested for HBV prior to initiation of treatment. Use caution in patients with known or suspected hepatitis B or C infection (monitoring of liver function is recommended); monitor hepatic function closely for several months following discontinuation. If appropriate, initiation of HBV therapy may be needed.
- Renal impairment: Product is a fixed-dose combination and is not appropriate for use in patients with renal impairment (CrCl <50 mL/minute).
Concurrent drug therapy issues:
- Concurrent therapy: Avoid concurrent use with adefovir or lamivudine-containing products or other emtricitabine-, rilpivirine-, and/or tenofovir-containing products.
- Drug-drug interactions: Potentially significant interactions may exist, requiring dose or frequency adjustment, additional monitoring, and/or selection of alternative therapy. Consult drug interactions database for more detailed information.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Appropriate use: Patients with increased HIV-1 viral loads (HIV-1 RNA >100,000 copies/mL) or CD4+ cell counts <200 cells/mm3 at treatment initiation are more likely to develop treatment failure (Cohen 2011; HHS [adult] 2015; Molina 2011). Therefore, rilpivirine-based regimens should not be used in adolescent and adult HIV-1 patients with a pre-ART CD4 count <200 cells/mm3 and/or HIV RNA >100,000 copies/mL (HHS [adult] 2015). Rilpivirine resistance patterns are very similar to those of etravirine (including cross resistance with single substitutions at K101P, Y181I, and Y181V) (Azijn 2010). When used to replace an antiretroviral treatment regimen in virologically-suppressed patients currently on a stable regimen, patients must have no history of virologic failure; prior to regimen replacement, must have been suppressed for at least 6 months; must be currently on their first or second antiretroviral regimen, and have no history of resistance to emtricitabine, rilpivirine, or tenofovir.
- Monitoring: If used as therapy replacement in virologically suppressed patients meeting criteria, additional HIV-1 RNA and regimen tolerability monitoring is recommended to assess potential virologic failure or rebound.
B
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with this combination. Refer to individual monographs.
The HHS Perinatal HIV Guidelines consider emtricitabine in combination with rilpivirine and tenofovir to be an alternative NNRTI regimen for use in antiretroviral-naive pregnant women with a pre-treatment HIV RNA ≤100,000 copies/mL or CD4 cell count ≥200 cells/mm3 (HHS [perinatal] 2016).
Non-nucleoside, nucleoside, and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor combination; rilpivirine binds to reverse transcriptase and does not require intracellular phosphorylation for antiviral activity; emtricitabine is a cytosine analogue while tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is an analog of adenosine 5-monophosphate. Each drug interferes with HIV viral RNA dependent DNA polymerase activities resulting in inhibition of viral replication.
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience headache, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, diarrhea, dizziness, abdominal pain, skin discoloration, nightmares, or loss of strength and energy. Have patient report immediately to prescriber signs of too much lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis; fast breathing, fast heartbeat, abnormal heartbeat, vomiting, drowsiness, shortness of breath, feeling very tired or weak, severe dizziness, feeling cold, or muscle pain or cramps), signs of liver problems (dark urine, feeling tired, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, light-colored stools, vomiting, or yellow skin or eyes), signs of kidney problems (urinary retention, blood in urine, change in amount of urine passed, weight gain), signs of depression (suicidal ideation, anxiety, emotional instability, illogical thinking), burning or numbness feeling, shortness of breath, bone pain, muscle pain, painful extremities, change in body fat, severe skin irritation, mouth sores, dysphagia, severe eye irritation, or signs of infection (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.