What Kinds of Skin Rash Can Anti-HIV Medications Cause?
Anti-HIV medications can cause mild skin rashes as well as serious, even life-threatening rashes. The vast majority of skin rashes are mild to moderate. They usually appear within a few weeks of starting a new medication, and often go away with continued use of the medication. However, because some rashes can be serious, you should contact your doctor if you notice a skin rash. He or she will advise you about how best to manage the rash. Which anti-HIV medications cause skin rash? Skin rash may occur with medications from any of the three main HIV drug classes: NNRTIs, NRTIs, and PIs. NNRTIs cause the majority of skin rashes, with Viramune (nevirapine) causing the most severe rashes. If you and your doctor decide to use Viramune in your HIV treatment regimen, you will likely be instructed to take only one pill a day for the first 14 days, then to increase to two pills a day. This dosing schedule may decrease your risk of developing a severe skin rash. Women appear to be at higher risk