Pharmacokinetics of nevirapine in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infected pregnant women and their neonates

The safety, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of intrapartum and early newborn nevirapine were evaluated in 17 human tmmunodeficiency virus type 1- infected women in labor and their newborns. No adverse effects of nevirapine were noted in any study mothers or infants. Following maternal dosing with 200 mg during labor, concentrations exceeding 100 ng/mL (10 times the in vitro IC₅₀) were achieved in the newborns. Nevirapine elimination was prolonged in both mothers and infants, with median half-lives ranging from 36.8 to 65.7 h. Administration of 200 mg orally to the mothers in labor and of a single 2-mg/kg oral dose to the infants at 48-72 h after birth maintained serum concentrations in the infants > 100 ng/mL through 7 days of life.