Rash is a common side effect among all the NNRTIs (as well as Ziagen, an NRTI). With respect to Sustiva, approximately 26 percent of HIV-positive people who took the drug in clinical trials experienced a rash during the first few weeks of therapy. Fortunately, a Sustiva-induced rash usually goes away without any change in treatment.
These rashes are often pink or red in color. They may be itchy or painful, flat or raised, and often dry and scaly. Some people may see a rash develop on a specific part of their body, such as the top of their arms, while others may experience a rash that appears to spread and cover a much larger area (i.e., face, chest, and arms).
Severe, life-threatening rash occurred in less than 0.1 percent of people taking Sustiva in clinical trials.