Sustiva

Precautions to keep in mind

Efavirenz may cause dizziness, difficulty in concentrating, or drowsiness. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

Check with your physician before taking efavirenz with alcohol or other medicines that affect the central nervous system (CNS). The use of alcohol or other medicines that affect the CNS with efavirenz may worsen the side effects of this medicine, such as dizziness, poor concentration, drowsiness, unusual dreams, and trouble in sleeping. Some examples of medicines that affect the CNS are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; medicine for depression; medicine for anxiety; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics.

Check with your doctor right away if you have serious psychiatric problems, such as severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior.

Efavirenz does not decrease the risk of transmitting the HIV infection to others through sexual contact or by contamination through blood.

Women of childbearing potential should use two forms of birth control while taking this medicine, a barrier method of contraception and an oral or other hormonal method of contraception.

Check with your doctor promptly, if you develop a skin rash.