▁to ▁treat ▁and ▁prevent ▁H IV / A ID S , ▁specifically ▁H IV - 1 . ▁It ▁is ▁generally ▁recommended ▁for ▁use ▁with ▁other ▁ant ire t ro vir al ▁medic ation . ▁It ▁may ▁be ▁used ▁to ▁prevent ▁mother ▁to ▁child ▁spread ▁during ▁birth ▁but ▁is ▁not ▁recommended ▁following ▁other ▁expos ures . ▁It ▁is ▁taken ▁by ▁mouth . ▁ ▁Common ▁side ▁effects ▁include ▁r ash , ▁head ache , ▁n ause a , ▁feeling ▁tired , ▁and ▁li ver ▁problems . ▁The ▁li ver ▁problems ▁and ▁skin ▁r ash ▁may ▁be ▁severe ▁and ▁should ▁be ▁checked ▁for ▁during ▁the ▁first ▁few ▁months ▁of ▁treatment . ▁It ▁appears ▁to ▁be ▁safe ▁for ▁use ▁during ▁pre gn ancy . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁non - n uc le os ide ▁reverse ▁trans cript ase ▁in hib itor ▁( NN RT I ) ▁and ▁works ▁by ▁blocking ▁the ▁function ▁of ▁reverse ▁trans cript ase . ▁ ▁Ne vi rap ine ▁was ▁approved ▁for ▁medical ▁use ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁It ▁is ▁on ▁the ▁World ▁Health ▁Organ ization ' s ▁List ▁of ▁Ess ential ▁Medic ines , ▁the ▁saf est ▁and ▁most ▁effective ▁medic ines ▁needed ▁in ▁a ▁health ▁system . ▁It ▁is ▁available ▁as ▁a ▁generic ▁medic ation . ▁The ▁wh oles ale ▁cost ▁in ▁the ▁developing ▁world ▁is ▁US $ 2 . 1 6 ▁to ▁$ 1 6 . 6 2 ▁per ▁month ▁as ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 4 . ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0