Sustiva (Efavirenz) for HIV

Overview
Sustiva is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat HIV-1 infection in people at least three months old. Sustiva is recommended in combination with other antiretroviral medications. Sustiva is not recommended to be taken alone as monotherapy for HIV. Sustiva is also referred to by its drug name, Efavirenz, and by the abbreviation EFV. Efavirenz is a component of the combination drug Atripla. Sustiva is an antiviral medication of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) class. Sustiva is believed to work by preventing HIV from replicating in cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Sustiva is taken once daily. Sustiva comes in tablet or capsule forms.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Sustiva lists common side effects including rash, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and insomnia. Rare but serious side effects listed for Sustiva include pancreatitis and psychiatric symptoms.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Sustiva – RxList

Overview of HIV Treatments – AIDS.gov