Coordinating in the clinic
Q.49 In countries that recommend Option A (daily NVP (nevirapine) to infants), how much NVP should be given as the infant gets older?
The doses of NVP that should be given to infants who are breastfeeding need to increase as they get older and gain weight. The following table from the WHO guidelines on Antiretroviral drugs for treating pregnant women and preventing HIV infections in infants: Recommendations for a public health approach, 2010 version, provides the relevant information.
Extended simplified infant NVP dosing recommendations*
| Infant age | NVP daily dosing |
| Birth** to 6 weeks | |
| Birth** to 6 weeks 2000-2499 g | 10 mg once daily |
| Birth weight >2500 g | 15 mg once daily |
| 6 weeks to 6 months | 20 mg once daily |
| 6 months to 9 months | 30 mg once daily |
| 9 months to end of BF | 40 mg once daily |
* Based on the dosing required to sustain exposure in the infants of >100 ng/ml with the least dose change
** Low-birth-weight infants should receive mg/kg dosing, suggested starting dose is 2 mg/kg once daily. Therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended.