Etravirine is marketed under the name Intelence. It is taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.

Do not take with the antiretroviral drugs atazanavir/ritonavir, and protease inhibitors taken without ritonavir or other NNRTIs. It is not recommended to take etravirine with some drugs used to treat epilepsy, rifampicin (an antibiotic used to treat infections, including TB), or St John’s wort.

When taken with the anti-HIV drug maraviroc, a dose adjustment of maraviroc may be needed.

Some drugs can interact with etravirine and change blood levels of one or both drugs, so dose adjustments may be needed. It’s important your doctor knows about any other drugs you are taking, including drugs used to treat bacterial infections, including TB (clarithromycin, rifabutin), statins, drugs used to treat certain heart conditions, antifungal treatments, immunosuppressants, drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, clopidogrel, dexamethasone, diazepam and warfarin.

Etravirine may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (such as the pill, patches or an implant). If you are using this type of contraceptive to prevent pregnancy you should discuss this with your doctor who might recommend using an additional or different type of contraception.

Etravirine may work for people whose HIV has resistance to other NNRTIs.

Severe rash, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction. You should watch out for the following symptoms accompanying any rash if you are starting etravirine: fever, generally feeling ill, extreme tiredness, muscle or joint aches, blisters, oral lesions, eye inflammation, facial swelling and/or signs and symptoms of liver problems (e.g. yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, dark or tea-coloured urine, pale-coloured stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain, aching or sensitivity on your right side below your ribs). If you develop these symptoms whilst taking this drug you should contact your HIV clinic immediately or A&E if out of hours.

Anaemia, low platelet count, diabetes, raised blood sugar, triglyceride or cholesterol levels, anxiety, difficulty in sleeping, headache, heart attack, high blood pressure, indigestion and acid reflux, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain, kidney failure, tiredness, rash, peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves in the hands or feet).

Take with food. If you find it difficult to take the tablet whole, you can disperse it in a glass of water. Stir it well and drink it straight away. Add some more water and drink that too, to make sure you have taken the entire dose.

The usual adult dose is one white 200mg tablet or two white 100mg tablets taken twice a day. Your doctor may recommend taking 400mg etravirine once a day. However, do not change to this dosage without consulting your doctor.