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Women Alive
Taking Sustiva? Things You Should Know
Dupont Pharmaceuticals Fact Sheet
Spring 1999
Take SUSTIVA at approximately the same time every day. (You should take SUSTIVA at bedtime for the first few weeks or if you have side effects such as dizziness or trouble concentrating). SUSTIVA must be taken in combination with other HIV drugs as part of your total treatment. Take SUSTIVA once-a-day. Take your other HIV drugs as directed by your doctor. You can take SUSTIVA with or without food. However, it should not be taken with a high fat meal. You may have dizziness, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, and unusual dreams, but these symptoms tend to go away after 2 to 4 weeks. If they do not go away, call your doctor. If you experience these symptoms, you should avoid driving or operating machinery. You may develop a skin rash after you start taking SUSTIVA. In most patients, the rash goes away within a few weeks. In a small number of patients, rash may be serious. Call your doctor if you develop a rash. If you skip a dose the virus may become harder to treat. If you miss a dose, call your doctor. Do not stop taking SUSTIVA unless your doctor tells you to. If you have side effects and want to stop taking SUSTIVA, call your doctor first. Contact your doctor if you are starting or changing any prescription or non-prescription medicines. Always tell your doctor about all the other drugs you are taking. Do not take SUSTIVA if you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. You should use a condom or diaphragm in addition to other birth control methods. Do not take SUSTIVA if you are breastfeeding. Always ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for help. Don't be afraid to ask questions. For more information contact: http://www.sustiva.com.
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