doravirine at a glance
Medicine class
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)
Main role
Treatment of HIV-1 alongside other antiretrovirals
Food
May be taken with or without food
Administration
Swallow the film-coated tablet whole
Resistance
Not licensed where past or current NNRTI resistance is present
What is doravirine used for?
Doravirine is licensed with other antiretrovirals to treat HIV-1 without past or present evidence of NNRTI-class resistance.
Adults with HIV-1.
Adolescents aged 12 years and over who weigh at least 35 kg and have HIV-1.
How does doravirine work?
Doravirine binds to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and disrupts the process HIV uses to copy its genetic material, reducing viral replication when combined with other antiretrovirals.
doravirine preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 100 mg
How to take doravirine
Take doravirine as prescribed by the HIV team and as part of the complete antiretroviral combination. It may be taken with or without food.
Swallow the tablet whole; do not crush or chew it.
Keep the bottle tightly closed to protect the tablets from moisture.
Leave the desiccant inside the bottle.
doravirine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Dizziness or sleepiness
- Abnormal dreams or difficulty sleeping
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Wind or abdominal pain
- Rash
- Tiredness
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe or rapidly worsening rash, blistering, peeling skin or mucosal sores
- New suicidal thoughts, severe confusion or hallucinations
- Inflammatory symptoms after treatment begins that may reflect immune reactivation
doravirine in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are limited, and the UK product information advises avoiding doravirine as a precaution where possible. Anyone pregnant or planning pregnancy should seek prompt advice from their HIV and maternity specialists. Do not stop antiretroviral treatment without specialist review.
doravirine while breastfeeding
It is not known whether doravirine enters human milk. In the UK, formula feeding is the safest way to remove postnatal HIV-transmission risk. A virally suppressed person wishing to breastfeed should discuss this early with the specialist perinatal HIV team because close maternal and infant monitoring is required.
doravirine interactions
Doravirine is mainly metabolised through CYP3A. Check all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products with the HIV team or pharmacist.
Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital or phenytoin
These strong CYP3A inducers can markedly reduce doravirine exposure and are contraindicated.
Rifampicin or rifapentine
These can markedly reduce doravirine exposure and are contraindicated.
St John’s wort
This can reduce doravirine exposure and must not be used with it.
Common questions about doravirine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Does doravirine cure HIV?
No. It helps suppress HIV-1 and protect immune function, but does not remove HIV from the body.
Can doravirine be taken with food?
Yes. The tablet may be taken with or without food.
Can the tablet be crushed or chewed?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.