Atazanavir oral powder

What is this medicine?

ATAZANAVIR (at a za NA veer) is an antiretroviral medicine. It is used with other medicines to treat HIV. This medicine is not a cure for HIV. This medicine can lower, but not fully prevent, the risk of spreading HIV to others.

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Mix powder in soft food (applesauce or yogurt) or liquid (water or milk). Take mixture within 1 hour of preparing. If mixed with water, take this medicine with food. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. For your anti-HIV therapy to work as well as possible, take each dose exactly as prescribed. Do not skip doses or stop your medicine even if you feel better. Skipping doses may make the HIV virus resistant to this medicine and other medicines. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 3 months for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• blood in the urine

• feeling faint or lightheaded, falls

• irregular heart rate

• pain in the lower back or side

• pain when urinating

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• signs and symptoms of infection like fever or chills; cough; or sore throat

• signs and symptoms of kidney injury like trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine

• signs and symptoms of liver injury like dark yellow or brown urine; general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms; light-colored stools; loss of appetite; nausea or vomiting; right upper belly pain; unusually weak or tired; yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• depressed mood

• diarrhea

• dizziness

• headache

• muscle pain

• tingling or burning in your hands, feet or around the mouth

• trouble sleeping

• weight gain around waist, back, or thinning of face, arms, legs

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• alfuzosin

• belinostat

• cisapride

• elbasvir; grazoprevir

• etravirine

• indinavir

• irinotecan

• lomitapide

• lovastatin

• medicines for headaches like dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine

• midazolam

• naloxegol

• nevirapine

• pimozide

• red yeast rice

• rifampin

• rifapentine

• sildenafil (when given as Revatio for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension)

• simvastatin

• St. John's wort

• triazolam

• zalcitabine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• antacids or buffered medications

• buprenorphine

• certain medicines for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heart beat

• certain medicines for cholesterol like atorvastatin or rosuvastatin

• certain medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances like lurasidone and quetiapine

• certain medicines for erectile dysfunction

• certain medicines for fungal infections like ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole

• certain medicines for seizures like carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin

• certain medicines for stomach problems like cimetidine, famotidine, omeprazole, lansoprazole

• clarithromycin

• cyclosporine

• female hormones, like estrogens and progestins and birth control pills

• fluticasone

• other medicines for HIV

• rifabutin

• salmeterol

• sirolimus

• tacrolimus

• warfarin

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Keep this medicine in the original container until ready to use. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• diabetes

• hemophilia

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• irregular heartbeat

• phenylketonuria (PKU)

• an unusual or allergic reaction to atazanavir, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular check ups. Discuss any new symptoms with your doctor. You will need to have important blood work done while on this medicine.

HIV is spread to others through sexual or blood contact. Talk to your doctor about how to stop the spread of HIV.

Birth control pills may not work properly while you are taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor about using an extra method of birth control. Women who can still have children must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, like a condom or diaphragm.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check with your doctor or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.

This product may contain aspartame, which is a source of phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), you may need to contact your health care provider for advice.

This medicine may affect how well your kidneys work. Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine to stay hydrated.