A drug for AIDS patients that needs to be taken only once-a-day met approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
      Efavirenz, marketed as Sustiva, is manufactured by DuPont Pharmaceuticals. It is not part of a new class of drugs; it's advance is that unlike many AIDS medications, it needs to be taken only once a day. Sustiva still needs to be taken as part of the AIDS cocktail, which means either with protease inhibitors or older AIDS medications, the FDA says.
      But Sustiva, which has shown to be as effective as protease inhibitors, could be a lifesaver for HIV and AIDS patients who can not tolerate the protease inhibitors. It will also cut down the number of pills patients with AIDS and HIV need to take. Currently, AIDS cocktails consist of anywhere between 20 to 40 pills on a specific daily schedule — some pills have to be timed with meals and some without. Sustiva can be taken with or without food, but the label suggests patients avoid high-fat meals.
      The FDA has approved Sustiva for both children and adults, giving child patients more treatment options. The drug's main side effects include dizziness, insomnia, abnormal dreams, difficulty concentrating and drowsiness. It may also cause some birth defects, the federal agency warned.
      "This action significantly boosts the arsenal available in the fight against HIV and AIDS,"