Are you using Sustiva® (efavirenz) or Viramune® (nevirapine)?
(If not, skip to the next question.) If you are considering a treatment interruption and are taking either of these drugs, it is best to plan ahead. This is because these drugs stay in the blood much longer than protease inhibitors (PIs) or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). For example, if someone stops their Sustiva and two nucleoside analogues on the same day, the Sustiva will linger in the body longer than the either of the nucleoside analogues. This would be like taking only the Sustiva without the addition of other anti-HIV treatments, which can cause the virus to become resistant to the Sustiva. As a result, people who are taking a break from their Sustiva- or Viramune-based combination should consider stopping the Sustiva or Viramune at least a few days or a week (up to three weeks) before stopping the other anti-HIV drugs they are taking. Unfortunately, research hasn’t yet determined the best time to stop either of these drugs if a treatment interruption is n
