Why is this medicine prescribed?
Doravirine is used along with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It is also used to replace current medication therapy in certain people already taking HIV medications. Doravirine is in a class of medications called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. Although doravirine does not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes may decrease the risk of transmitting (spreading) the HIV virus to other people.
Are there other uses for this medicine?
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should this medicine be used?
Doravirine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Take with or without food once daily. Take doravirine at around the same time every day.
Take doravirine exactly as directed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Doravirine helps to control HIV infection but does not cure it. Continue to take doravirine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking doravirine without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking doravirine or miss doses, your condition may become more difficult to treat. When your supply of doravirine starts to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking doravirine,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to this drug, any part of this drug, or any other drugs, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
- some medications should not be taken with doravirine. Other medications may cause dosing changes or extra monitoring when taken with doravirine. Make sure you have discussed any medications you are currently taking or plan to take before starting doravirine with your doctor and pharmacist. Before starting, stopping, or changing any medications while taking doravirine, please get the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
- the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with doravirine: St. John's wort. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking doravirine. Do not start any of these medications while taking doravirine without discussing with your healthcare provider.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an infection that does not go away or that comes and goes such as cytomegalovirus (CMV; a viral infection that may cause symptoms in patients with weak immune systems), mycobacterium avium complex disease (MAC; a bacterial infection that may cause serious symptoms in people with AIDS), pneumonia, or tuberculosis (TB; a type of lung infection) or an autoimmune disease (conditions that develop when the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake) such as Graves' disease (condition where the body attacks the thyroid gland causing it to be overactive), polymyositis (condition that causes muscle weakness but not skin rash), Guillain-Barré syndrome (weakness, tingling, and possible paralysis due to sudden nerve damage), and autoimmune hepatitis (condition in which the cells of the immune system attack the liver).
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking doravirine, call your doctor.
- Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Some of the medication and HIV may be passed to your baby in your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks of breastfeeding your baby if you are taking doravirine.
- you should know that while you are taking medications to treat HIV infection, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight other infections that were already in your body or cause other conditions to occur. This may cause you to develop symptoms of those infections or conditions. If you have new or worsening symptoms during your treatment with doravirine be sure to tell your doctor.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What should I do if I forget to take a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What should I do in case of overdose?
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222
. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help . If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
What side effects can this medicine cause?
Doravirine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- tiredness
- nausea
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- abnormal dreams
- dizziness
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- fever; rash; itching; peeling, blistering, blisters or peeling of the skin; mouth sores; or red, swollen eyes
Doravirine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online ( https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch ) or by phone (
1-800-332-1088).What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not store the tablets in a pillbox or pill-organizer. Do not remove the desiccant (drying agent) from the bottle.
Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach https://www.upandaway.org
Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to doravirine.
Keep a supply of doravirine on hand. Do not wait until you run out of medication to refill your prescription.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.