A newer HIV NNRTI
Doravirine
A newer HIV NNRTI used, as part of combination therapy, that is generally well tolerated.
What is Doravirine?
Doravirine is a newer HIV medicine in the NNRTI group. It is taken once a day, on its own or as part of a single combination tablet, and is generally well tolerated. It has fewer drug interactions than some older NNRTIs and can be taken with or without food and without needing an acidic stomach. It can occasionally affect mood or sleep. It is part of combination therapy, controlling HIV but not curing it, so it must be taken consistently.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Doravirine — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Doravirine is a newer HIV medicine belonging to a group called NNRTIs (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors). It is taken once a day, either on its own alongside other HIV medicines or as part of a single combination tablet that brings several HIV medicines together. It is popular because it is generally well tolerated, can be taken with or without food, and has fewer interactions than some older NNRTIs. It is taken by mouth and is prescribed and supervised by a specialist HIV team. It is part of combination therapy and controls HIV but does not cure it.
How it works
HIV uses an enzyme called reverse transcriptase to copy its genetic material so it can multiply. Doravirine attaches to this enzyme and stops it working, so the virus cannot make new copies and the amount of HIV in the body falls. It is taken alongside other HIV medicines so the virus is attacked in more than one way at once, which helps keep it suppressed and makes resistance less likely. Unlike some other NNRTIs, it does not need food or an acidic stomach to be absorbed, which makes it simpler to take.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A newer HIV medicine used in the UK as part of combination therapy, taken once a day.
Practical use
How to take Doravirine
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Take it by mouth once a day, with or without food, at about the same time each day.
- Take it consistently and do not skip doses, as missed doses can let the virus become resistant.
- Tell your team about any change in mood or sleep, such as low mood or unusual dreams.
- Avoid medicines and herbal products, such as St John's wort, that strongly lower its levels.
- Give your team a list of your other medicines, even though it has relatively few interactions.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Doravirine
Advantages
- Generally well tolerated and simple to take, once a day with or without food.
- Has fewer drug interactions than some older NNRTIs.
- Available on its own or as part of a single combination tablet.
Disadvantages
- Can occasionally affect mood or sleep, like other medicines in its group.
- A few medicines that strongly lower its levels must be avoided.
- Controls HIV but does not cure it, so must be taken consistently for life.
Practical use
Good to know
The appeal of doravirine is that it is straightforward to take: once a day, with or without food, and without the acid-stomach restrictions that affect some other NNRTIs. It is generally well tolerated, with headache, nausea and tiredness among the more common effects. Like other medicines in its group it can occasionally affect mood or sleep, such as causing low mood or unusual dreams, so report any change in how you feel. It has fewer drug interactions than older NNRTIs, but a few medicines, such as some epilepsy and tuberculosis treatments and the herbal product St John's wort, can lower its levels and should be avoided, so keep an up-to-date medicines list. As with all HIV treatment, it works as part of combination therapy and must be taken consistently to keep the virus suppressed.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to doravirine should not take it.
- It should not be combined with certain medicines, such as some epilepsy and tuberculosis treatments, that strongly lower its levels.
- It is used under specialist supervision, with attention to other medicines.
Monitoring
- Checking the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) and the immune cell count (CD4) to see how well it is working.
- Watching for mood or sleep changes, especially early in treatment.
- Reviewing liver blood tests over time.
Side effects
- Headache, nausea or tiredness.
- Occasionally, low mood, unusual dreams or difficulty sleeping.
- Changes in liver blood tests.
- Less commonly, dizziness or rash, which should be reviewed.
Key interactions
- Some epilepsy and tuberculosis medicines, and the herbal product St John's wort, can lower its levels and should be avoided.
- It has fewer interactions than older NNRTIs, but a full medicines list is still helpful.
- Tell your team before starting anything new so it can be checked.
Available as: Tablets taken by mouth, on their own or as a single combination tablet.
Answers
Doravirine: frequently asked questions
What is doravirine used for?
It is a newer HIV NNRTI used, as part of combination therapy, to suppress HIV, taken once a day on its own or as a combination tablet.
Do I need to take it with food?
No. Doravirine can be taken with or without food and does not need an acidic stomach, which makes it simpler to take than some other NNRTIs.
Can it affect my mood?
It can occasionally affect mood or sleep, such as causing low mood or unusual dreams, so report any change in how you feel to your team.
Does it have many drug interactions?
It has fewer interactions than some older NNRTIs, but a few medicines, such as certain epilepsy and tuberculosis treatments and St John's wort, must be avoided.
Does it cure HIV?
No. Doravirine controls HIV as part of combination therapy but does not cure it, so it must be taken consistently and continued long term.
The wider class
About HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)
Doravirine belongs to the hiv non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (nnrti) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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