Cobicistat oral tablets

What is this medicine?

COBICISTAT (koe BIS i stat) is a medication booster. It is used with other medications to treat HIV. This medicine is not a cure for HIV. This medicine can help lower, but not fully prevent, the risk of spreading HIV to others.

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. 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 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 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

• breathing difficulties

• dark urine

• general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms

• light-colored stools

• trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine

• 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):

• diarrhea

• headache

• nausea, vomiting, unusual stomach upset or pain

• pain in lower back or side

• tiredness

• trouble sleeping

What may interact with this medicine?

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

• alfuzosin

• carbamazapine

• cisapride

• dronedarone

• fosphenytoin

• irinotecan

• lurasidone

• medicines for cholesterol like lovastatin, simvastatin

• medicines for headaches like dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine

• midazolam

• naloxegol

• other antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS like cobicistat; elvitegravir; emtricitabine; tenofovir, etravirine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir; ritonavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir

• phenobarbital

• phenytoin

• pimozide

• ranolazine

• rifampin

• sildenafil

• St. John's wort

• triazolam

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• bosentan

• certain antibiotics like clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin, rifabutin

• certain medications for anxiety or sleep like buspirone, diazepam

• certain medicines for blood pressure and heart disease like amlodipine, carvedilol, diltiazem, felodipine, metoprolol, nifedipine, timolol, verapamil

• certain medicines for cancer like dasatinib, nilotinib, vinblastine, vincristine

• certain medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychiatric disturbances

• certain medicines for erectile dysfunction like avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil

• certain medicines for fungal infection like itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole

• certain medicines for hepatitis infection like boceprevir, simeprevir

• certain medicines for seizures like clonazepam, oxcarbazepine

• certain medicines for stomach problems like antacids, H2-blockers, proton pump inhibitors

• certain medicines that treat or prevent blood clots like apixaban, betrixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, warfarin

• colchicine

• cyclosporine

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

• medicines for cholesterol like atorvastatin, rosuvastatin

• medicines for irregular heart beat like amiodarone, digoxin, disopyramide, flecainide, mexiletine, propafenone, quinidine

• narcotic medicines for pain like buprenorphine, buprenorphine; naloxone, fentanyl, methadone, tramadol

• other antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS like efavirenz, elvitegravir, maraviroc

• phenothiazines like perphenazine, thioridazine

• risperidone

• salmeterol

• sirolimus

• steroid medicines like betamethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, methylprednisolone, mometasone, triamcinolone

• tacrolimus

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If your next dose is to be taken in less than 12 hours, then do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). 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:

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• an unusual or allergic reaction to cobicistat, 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.