This medicine is taken by mouth to treat HIV-1 infection. It may be given with other medicines. It is not a cure for HIV, and you may continue to get diseases associated with HIV. Also, this medicine does not reduce the risk of spreading the disease to others.

Proper Use

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not change your dosage or stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember but do not double the next doses.

Please Note

Add one dose (4 tablets) of this medicine to at least 3 ounces (or one-half cup) of water, allow the tablets to break up in the water, then stir until the medicine is evenly mixed. Drink the mixture right away. Rinse the cup or glass with some more water then swallow the rinse.

If you have a condition called achlorhydria (lack of acid in the stomach), take this medicine with orange or cranberry juice.

If you are taking an antacid such as Maalox, take this medicine and the antacid 1 hour apart.

This medicine may interact with many prescription and nonprescription medicines. Be sure your doctor and pharmacist know about all the medicines you are taking.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding an infant. The US Public Health Service recommends that mothers who have HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed their babies, especially babies who do not have HIV.

Possible Side Effects

Serious: Rash is the major side effect of this medicine. If while taking this medicine, you have a severe rash or a rash along with fever, blistering, sores in your mouth, swelling, or muscle or joint aches, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor right away.

Other: Headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Possible Drug Interactions

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it may increase or decrease the effects of the medicines. Or the combination may cause harmful side effects. Some medicines that may interact with this medicine are:

• anticonvulsants (Dilantin, Tegretol, Neurontin, etc.)
• terfenadine (Seldane) and astemizole (Hismanal), which have been withdrawn from the market by their manufacturers because of serious side effects
• antimicrobial agents such as Biaxin, Dapsone, Mycobutin
• benzodiazepines such as Valium, Librium, Xanax, Serax, Ativan, Tranxene, Paxipam, Restoril
• cisapride (Propulsid)
• nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
• Hydergine, Ergostat, Cafergot
• Norvir, Crixivan, Invirase
• Quinidine
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and nonprescription antacids
• ketoconazole (Nizoral).

Be sure that you tell all doctors who treat you about all medicines you are taking, including nonprescription products.

This educational document includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Other Names For This Medication:

delavirdine mesylate, oral; Rescriptor (delavirdine mesylate, oral)