FaLessa Kit and Rilpivirine Hydrochloride

• Generic Name: ethinyl estradiol / folic acid / levonorgestrel
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: FaLessa Kit

Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) and also cause changes in your cervical and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus. Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that helps prevent a rare birth defect that could occur in a baby if you get pregnant while taking birth control pills or shortly after stopping them.

FaLessa Kit is a combination drug used to prevent pregnancy.

FaLessa Kit may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

• Generic Name: rilpivirine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Edurant

Treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents ≥12 years of age with baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA levels ≤100,000 copies/mL; used in conjunction with other antiretrovirals.

Single-entity rilpivirine used in conjunction with 2 HIV NRTIs in certain antiretroviral-naive adults and adolescents ≥12 years of age. Also commercially available in fixed combinations containing emtricitabine and a tenofovir prodrug (either tenofovir alafenamide or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [tenofovir DF]); these fixed combinations used in certain patient groups to decrease pill burden and improve compliance.

For initial treatment in antiretroviral-naive adults, experts state that rilpivirine in conjunction with tenofovir alafenamide and emtricitabine or rilpivirine in conjunction with tenofovir DF and emtricitabine (or lamivudine) are alternative NNRTI-based regimens, but use only in patients with baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <100,000 copies/mL and baseline CD4+ T-cell count >200 cells/mm3.

For initial treatment in HIV-infected pediatric patients, experts state that rilpivirine and 2 NRTIs is an alternative HIV NNRTI-based regimen in antiretroviral-naive adolescents ≥12 years of age weighing ≥35 kg, but use only in those with baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <100,000 copies/mL.

Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir alafenamide fixed combination (Odefsey) can be used alone as a complete treatment regimen in antiretroviral-naive adults and adolescents ≥12 years of age weighing ≥35 kg with baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA levels ≤100,000 copies/mL; also can be used to replace a stable antiretroviral regimen in antiretroviral-experienced patients who are virologically suppressed (i.e., plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <50 copies/mL) on their current regimen for ≥6 months, have no history of treatment failure, and are infected with HIV-1 with no known substitutions associated with resistance to the components of the fixed combination.

Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir DF fixed combination (Complera) can be used alone as a complete treatment regimen in antiretroviral-naive adults and adolescents ≥12 years of age weighing ≥35 kg with baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA levels ≤100,000 copies/mL; also can be used to replace a stable antiretroviral regimen in antiretroviral-experienced patients who are virologically suppressed (i.e., plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <50 copies/mL) on their current regimen for ≥6 months, are currently receiving only their first or second antiretroviral regimen, have no history of treatment failure, and have no current evidence or history of resistance to the components of the fixed combination.

Consider that patients with baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA levels >100,000 copies/mL have had higher rates of virologic failure while receiving a rilpivirine regimen than those with lower baseline HIV-1 RNA levels. Also consider that patients with baseline CD4+ T-cell counts <200 cells/mm3 (regardless of HIV-1 RNA levels) have had higher rates of virologic failure while receiving a rilpivirine regimen than those with higher baseline CD4+ T-cell count.

Patients experiencing virologic failure while receiving a rilpivirine regimen have had higher rates of overall treatment resistance and NNRTI-class cross-resistance than those receiving an efavirenz regimen. In addition, resistance to lamivudine and emtricitabine) developed more frequently in patients receiving rilpivirine and these NRTIs than in patients receiving an efavirenz and these NRTIs.

Postexposure prophylaxis of HIV infection following occupational exposure (PEP) in health-care personnel and others exposed via percutaneous injury (e.g., needlestick, cut with sharp object) or mucous membrane or nonintact skin (e.g., chapped, abraded, dermatitis) contact with blood, tissue, or other body fluids that might contain HIV. Used in conjunction with other antiretrovirals.

USPHS recommends 3-drug regimen of raltegravir in conjunction with emtricitabine and tenofovir DF as the preferred regimen for PEP following occupational exposures to HIV. Rilpivirine and 2 NRTIs is one of several alternative regimens. Preferred dual NRTI option for use in PEP regimens is emtricitabine and tenofovir DF (may be given as emtricitabine/tenofovir DF; Truvada); alternative dual NRTIs are tenofovir DF and lamivudine, lamivudine and zidovudine (may be given as lamivudine/zidovudine; Combivir), or zidovudine and emtricitabine.

Management of occupational exposures to HIV is complex and evolving; consult infectious disease specialist, clinician with expertise in administration of antiretroviral agents, and/or National Clinicians’ Postexposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline at 888-448-4911) whenever possible. Do not delay initiation of PEP while waiting for expert consultation.

Postexposure prophylaxis of HIV infection following nonoccupational exposure (nPEP) in individuals exposed to blood, genital secretions, or other potentially infectious body fluids that might contain HIV when the exposure represents a substantial risk for HIV transmission. Used in conjunction with other antiretrovirals.

When nPEP indicated in adults and adolescents ≥13 years of age with normal renal function, CDC states preferred regimen is either raltegravir or dolutegravir used in conjunction with emtricitabine and tenofovir DF (given as emtricitabine/tenofovir DF; Truvada); recommended alternative is ritonavir-boosted darunavir used in conjunction with emtricitabine/tenofovir DF (Truvada). Rilpivirine and 2 NRTIs (may be given as emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir DF; Complera) is one of several other alternative regimens for nPEP.

Consult infectious disease specialist, clinician with expertise in administration of antiretroviral agents, and/or the National Clinicians’ Postexposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline at 888-448-4911) if nPEP indicated in certain exposed individuals (e.g., pregnant women, children, those with medical conditions such as renal impairment) or if considering a regimen not included in CDC guidelines, source virus is known or likely to be resistant to antiretrovirals, or healthcare provider is inexperienced in prescribing antiretrovirals. Do not delay initiation of nPEP while waiting for expert consultation.