Intelence

Generic name:etravirine [ E-tra-VIR-een ]
Drug class:NNRTIs

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 11, 2022.

What is Intelence?

Intelence is an antiviral medicine that prevents the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body.

Intelence is used with other medicines to treat HIV in adults and children who are at least 6 years old. HIV causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Intelence is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Warnings

In rare cases, Intelence can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

Intelence must be taken in combination with other HIV medications. However, some drugs can raise or lower your blood levels of etravirine. Intelence can also affect blood levels of certain other drugs. This can make your medicines less effective or increase side effects. TELL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ALL OTHER MEDICINES YOU USE.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take Intelence if you are allergic to etravirine.

To make sure you can safely take Intelence, tell your doctor if you have any liver disease, including hepatitis B or C.

Intelence must be taken in combination with other HIV medications. However, there are certain combinations of medicines that should not be used together with etravirine. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

You SHOULD NOT take Intelence together with:

• delavirdine;

• efavirenz;

• nevirapine;

• rifabutin, rifapentine, rifampin;

• rilpivirine;

• St. John's wort;

• ritonavir when given with fosamprenavir or tipranavir;

• ritonavir in doses of more than 600 milligrams twice daily; or

• seizure medications - carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital.

You MUST take Intelence together with ritonavir if you are also taking a protease inhibitor, such as atazanavir, dolutegravir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, or nelfinavir.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I take Intelence?

Take Intelence exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Intelence must be taken in combination with other HIV medications. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

If a child is taking this medication, tell your doctor if the child has any changes in weight. Intelence doses are based on weight in children.

Intelence works best if you...