Rilpivirin

Additional information

Antiretrovirals for treatment of HIV are always given as a combination of at least three medicines. Cobicistat is used to boost the effect of other antiretroviral drugs. As studies on HIV patients always include patients receiving combination therapy it is difficult to know which of the studied medicines that cause changes in effect and/or adverse events.

Pharmacokinetics and dosing

The manufacturer reports no clinically relevant differences between men and women in the pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine and suggests no differences in dosing [1].

Effects

Both men and women have been included in the randomized trials [1]. In a randomized study in HIV infected adults (1040 men, 328 women) treated with rilpivirine or efavirenz plus tenofovir/emtricitabine, zidovudine/lamivudine or abacavir/lamivudine, no difference between men and women was found in achieving virological suppression response [2].

Adverse effects

In a randomized study in HIV infected adults (1040 men, 328 women) treated with rilpivirine or efavirenz plus tenofovir/emtricitabine or, zidovudine/lamivudine or abacavir/lamivudine nausea was more common in women in both treatment groups while abnormal dreams/nightmares were more frequent in men [2].

Reproductive health issues

Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult the Drugs and Birth Defects Database (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).