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Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC)

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SUSTIVA (NDA-020972)

(EFAVIRENZ)

Safety-related Labeling Changes Approved by FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

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11/08/2023 (SUPPL-59)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

7 Drug Interactions

7.4 Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions

(Extensive changes to table 5; please refer to label for complete information)   

10/29/2019 (SUPPL-57)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.12 Immune Reconstitution Syndrome

(additions underlined)

Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves’ disease, polymyositis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and autoimmune hepatitis) have also been reported to occur in the setting of immune reconstitution; however, the time to onset is more variable, and can occur many months after initiation of treatment.

5.6 Nervous System Symptoms

(additions underlined)

Late-onset neurotoxicity, including ataxia and encephalopathy (impaired consciousness, confusion, psychomotor slowing, psychosis, delirium), may occur months to years after beginning efavirenz therapy. Some events of late-onset neurotoxicity have occurred in patients with CYP2B6 genetic polymorphisms which are associated with increased efavirenz levels despite standard dosing of SUSTIVA. Patients presenting with signs and symptoms of serious neurologic adverse experiences should be evaluated promptly to assess the possibility that these events may be related to efavirenz use, and whether discontinuation of SUSTIVA is warranted.

6 Adverse Reactions

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

(addition underlined)

Central and Peripheral Nervous System: abnormal coordination, ataxia, encephalopathy, cerebellar coordination and balance disturbances, convulsions, hypoesthesia, paresthesia, neuropathy, tremor, vertigo

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

(additions underlined)

Nervous System Symptoms

Inform patients that there is a risk of developing late-onset neurotoxicity, including ataxia and encephalopathy which may occur months to years after beginning SUSTIVA therapy.

PATIENT INFORMATION

(additions underlined)

SUSTIVA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Nervous system symptoms… Symptoms may include:

  • lack of coordination or difficulty with balance

Some nervous system symptoms (e.g. confusion, slow thoughts and physical movement, and delusions [false beliefs] or hallucinations [seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear]) may occur months to years after beginning SUSTIVA therapy. Promptly contact your health care provider should any of these symptoms occur.

10/10/2017 (SUPPL-56)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

4 Contraindications

(additions underlined)

  • SUSTIVA is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated clinically significant hypersensitivity (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, or toxic skin eruptions) to any of the components of this product.

  • Coadministration of efavirenz with elbasvir and grazoprevir is contraindicated

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.5 Psychiatric Symptoms

(additions underlined)

Postmarketing cases of catatonia have also been reported and may be associated with increased efavirenz exposure. Patients with serious psychiatric adverse experiences should seek immediate medical evaluation to assess the possibility that the symptoms may be related to the use of SUSTIVA, and if so, to determine whether the risks of continued therapy outweigh the benefits.

5.9 Hepatotoxicity

(additions underlined)

Postmarketing cases of hepatitis, including fulminant hepatitis progressing to liver failure requiring transplantation or resulting in death, have been reported in patients treated with SUSTIVA. Reports have included patients with underlying hepatic disease, including coinfection with hepatitis B or C and patients without pre-existing hepatic disease or other identifiable risk factors.

SUSTIVA is not recommended for patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment. Careful monitoring is recommended for patients with mild hepatic impairment receiving SUSTIVA.

Monitoring of liver enzymes before and during treatment is recommended for all patients. Consider discontinuing SUSTIVA in patients with persistent elevations of serum transaminases to greater than five times the upper limit of the normal range

Discontinue SUSTIVA if elevation of serum transaminases is accompanied by clinical signs or symptoms of hepatitis or hepatic decompensation.

6 Adverse Reactions

(addition underlined)

The most significant adverse reactions observed in patients treated with SUSTIVA are:

  • psychiatric symptoms

  • nervous system symptoms

  • rash

  • hepatotoxicity

7 Drug Interactions

7.4 Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions

(extensive additions to Table 5, please refer to label)

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

(additions underlined)

Hepatotoxicity

Inform patients to watch for early warning signs of liver inflammation or failure, such as fatigue, weakness, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting, as well as later signs such as jaundice, confusion, abdominal swelling, and discolored feces, and to consult their health care professional without delay if such symptoms occur.

Patient Information

(additions underlined)

Who should not take SUSTIVA?

Do not take SUSTIVA if you are allergic to efavirenz or any of the ingredients in SUSTIVA. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in SUSTIVA.

Do not take SUSTIVA if you are currently taking elbasvir and grazoprevir (ZEPATIER ®).

What are the possible side effects of SUSTIVA? SUSTIVA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • feel sad or hopeless

  • feel anxious or restless

  • thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself or others

  • are not able to tell the difference between what is true or real and what is false or unreal

  • do not trust other people

  • hear or see things that are not real

  • are not able to move or speak normally

     

01/30/2017 (SUPPL-54)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.5 Psychiatric Symptoms

Additions underlined:

… There have also been occasional postmarketing reports of death by suicide, delusions, psychosis-like behavior and catatonia, although a causal relationship to the use of SUSTIVA cannot be determined from these reports …

6 Adverse Reactions

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of SUSTIVA ...

Psychiatric: addition of catatonia

7 Drug Interactions

7.4 Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions

Table 5: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions: Alteration in Dose or Regimen May Be Recommended Based on Drug Interaction Studies or Predicted Interaction

Extensive changes; please refer to label.

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

Psychiatric Symptoms

Additions underlined:

Patients should be informed that serious psychiatric symptoms including severe depression, suicide attempts, aggressive behavior, delusions, paranoia, psychosis-like symptoms and catatonia have been reported in patients receiving SUSTIVA …

PATIENT INFORMATION

What are the possible side effects of SUSTIVA? SUSTIVA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Serious mental health problems can happen in people who take SUSTIVA.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

Addition of the following:

  • are not able to move or speak normally

10/12/2016 (SUPPL-53)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

7 Drug Interactions

7.4 Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions(revision underlined)

Table 5:      Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions: Alteration in Dose or Regimen May Be Recommended Based on Drug Interaction Studies or Predicted Interaction (revised and reinserted, please refer to label)

                     

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

Patient Information

 

What are the possible side effects of SUSTIVA? SUSTIVA may cause serious side effects, including: (additions underlined)

 

·       Serious mental health problems can happen in people who take SUSTIVA.

o   have   thoughts     of   hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself or others

o   are not able to tell the difference between what is true or real and what is false or unreal

 

·       Nervous system symptoms

o   drowsiness

o   unusual dreams

 

·       Skin rash

      any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor right away:

o   peeling skin

o   mouth sores

o   red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye” (conjunctivitis)

08/31/2016 (SUPPL-51)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

QTc Prolongation

  • QTc prolongation has been observed with the use of efavirenz. Consider alternatives to SUSTIVA when coadministered with a drug with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes or when administered to patients at higher risk of Torsade de Pointes.

7 Drug Interactions

Cannabinoid Test Interaction

  • Efavirenz does not bind to cannabinoid receptors. False-positive urine cannabinoid test results have been reported with some screening assays in uninfected and HIV-infected subjects receiving efavirenz. Confirmation of positive screening tests for cannabinoids by a more specific method is recommended.

Drugs Without Clinically Significant Interactions with SUSTIVA (section previously under Other Drugs)

  • No dosage adjustment is recommended when SUSTIVA is given with the following: aluminum/magnesium hydroxide antacids, azithromycin, cetirizine, famotidine, fluconazole, lorazepam, nelfinavir, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (abacavir, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, zidovudine), paroxetine, and raltegravir.

Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions

  • Drug interactions with SUSTIVA are summarized in Table 5. For pharmacokinetics data, Tables 7 and 8. This table includes potentially significant interactions, but is not all inclusive.

  • Table 5: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions: Alteration in Dose or Regimen May Be Recommended Based on Drug Interaction Studies or Predicted Interaction

    • Extensively updated; please refer to label.

Potential for Other Drugs to Affect SUSTIVA

  • Drugs that induce CYP3A activity (eg, phenobarbital, rifampin, rifabutin) would be expected to increase the clearance of efavirenz resulting in lowered plasma concentrations.

Potential for SUSTIVA to Affect other Drugs

  • Efavirenz has been shown in vivo to induce CYP3A and CYP2B6. Other compounds that are substrates of CYP3A or CYP2B6 may have decreased plasma concentrations when coadministered with SUSTIVA.

QT Prolonging Drugs (addition)

  • There is limited information available on the potential for a pharmacodynamic interaction between SUSTIVA and drugs that prolong the QTc interval. QTc prolongation has been observed with the use of efavirenz. Consider alternatives to SUSTIVA when coadministered with a drug with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes.

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PI - Who should not take SUSTIVA?

Before taking SUSTIVA, tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions and in particular, if you:

  • have a heart condition (addition)

03/30/2016 (SUPPL-49)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

7 Drug Interactions

  • Table 5: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions: Alteration in Dose or Regimen May Be Recommended Based on Drug Interaction Studies or Predicted Interaction
  • Atovaquone/proguanil: Concomitant administration is not recommended.