Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most significant adverse reactions observed in patients treated with efavirenz are: •psychiatric symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )], •nervous system symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )], •rash [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )].
•hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Most common adverse reactions (>5%, moderate-severe) are impaired concentration, abnormal dreams, rash, dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue, insomnia, and vomiting.( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Macleods Pharmaceutical Ltd at 1-888-943-3210 or 1-855-926-3384 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates reported cannot be directly compared to rates in other clinical studies and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
Adverse Reactions in Adults.
The most common (>5% in either efavirenz treatment group) adverse reactions of at least moderate severity among patients in Study 006 treated with efavirenz in combination with zidovudine/lamivudine or indinavir were rash, dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue, insomnia, and vomiting Selected clinical adverse reactions of moderate or severe intensity observed in ≥2% of efavirenz-treated patients in two controlled clinical trials are presented in Table 2 Table 2: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Adverse Reactions of Moderate or Severe Intensity Reported in ≥2% of EFAVIRENZ TABLETS-Treated Patients in Studies 006 and ACTG 364 Study 006 LAM-, NNRTI-, and Protease Inhibitor-Naive Patients Study ACTG 364 NRTI-experienced, NNRTI- and Protease Inhibitor-Naive Patients Adverse Reactions Efavirenz b + ZDV/LAM (n=412) Efavirenz b + Indinavir (n=415) Indinavir + ZDV/LAM (n=401) Efavirenz b + Nelfinavir + NRTIs (n=64) Efavirenz b + NRTIs (n=65) Nelfinavir + NRTIs (n=66) 180 weeks c 102 weeks c 76 weeks c 71.1 weeks c 70.9 weeks c 62.7 weeks c Psychiatric Body as a Whole Fatigue 8% 5% 9% 0 2% 3% Pain 1% 2% 8% 13% 6% 17% Central and Peripheral Nervous System Dizziness 9% 9% 2% 2% 6% 6% Headache 8% 5% 3% 5% 2% 3% Insomnia 7% 7% 2% 0 0 2% Concentration impaired 5% 3% <1% 0 0 0 Abnormal dreams 3% 1% 0 — — — Somnolence 2% 2% <1% 0 0 0 Anorexia 1% <1% <1% 0 2% 2% Gastrointestinal Nausea 10% 6% 24% 3% 2% 2% Vomiting 6% 3% 14% — — — Diarrhea 3% 5% 6% 14% 3% 9% Dyspepsia 4% 4% 6% 0 0 2% Abdominal pain 2% 2% 5% 3% 3% 3% Anxiety 2% 4% <1% — — — Depression 5% 4% <1% 3% 0 5% Nervousness 2% 2% 0 2% 0 2% Skin & Appendages Rash d 11% 16% 5% 9% 5% 9% Pruritis <1% 1% 1% 9% 5% 9% a Includes adverse events at least possibly related to study drug or of unknown relationship for Study
Includes all adverse events regardless of relationship to study drug for Study ACTG
b Efavirenz tablets provided as 600 mg once daily.
c Median duration of treatment.
d Includes erythema multiforme, rash, rash erythematous, rash follicular, rash maculopapular, rash petechial, rash pustular, and urticaria for Study 006 and macules, papules, rash, erythema, redness, inflammation, allergic rash, urticaria, welts, hives, itchy, and pruritus for ACTG
— = Not Specified.
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • QTc prolongation : Consider alternatives to efavirenz in patients taking other medications with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes or in patients at higher risk of Torsade de Pointes.
( 5.2 ) • Do not use as a single agent or add on as a sole agent to a failing regimen.
Consider potential for cross resistance when choosing other agents.
( 5.3 ) •Not recommended with ATRIPLA, which contains efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, unless needed for dose adjustment when coadministered with rifampin.
( 5.4 ) • Serious psychiatric symptoms : Immediate medical evaluation is recommended for serious psychiatric symptoms such as severe depression or suicidal ideation.
Like all medications, Efavirenz can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: