Atazanavir and cobicistat

Generic name: Atazanavir And Cobicistat
Brand names: Evotaz
Dosage form: oral tablet (300 mg-150 mg)
Drug class: Antiviral combinations

Usage of Atazanavir and cobicistat

Atazanavir and cobicistat is a combination medicine given together with other antiviral medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in adults. HIV is the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). atazanavir and cobicistat is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Atazanavir and cobicistat is for use in adults and children who weigh at least 77 pounds (35 kilograms).

Atazanavir and cobicistat may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Atazanavir and cobicistat side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Atazanavir and cobicistat may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • severe dizziness, irregular heartbeats;
  • high blood sugar--increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor;
  • liver or gallbladder problems--upper stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
  • a severe skin reaction--fever, flu-like symptoms, mouth sores, muscle or joint pain, swelling in your face, burning eyes, skin pain, blistering, warmth or redness under your skin; or
  • signs of a kidney stone--pain in your side or lower back, painful or difficult urination, blood in your urine.

    • You may need to stop taking this medicine permanently if you have a severe skin reaction.

    Atazanavir and cobicistat affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have:

  • signs of a new infection--fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;
  • trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or
  • swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

    • Common side effects of atazanavir and cobicistat may include:

  • rash;
  • jaundice; or
  • changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

    • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Atazanavir and cobicistat

    You should not take atazanavir and cobicistat if you are allergic to it.

    Many drugs can interact and cause dangerous effects. Some drugs should not be used together with atazanavir and cobicistat. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

  • alfuzosin;
  • cisapride;
  • colchicine;
  • drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (birth control pills);
  • irinotecan;
  • oral midazolam, triazolam;
  • pimozide;
  • rifampin;
  • sildenafil (Revatio, for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension);
  • St. John's wort;
  • antipsychotic medicine--lurasidone, pimozide;
  • cholesterol lowering medicine--lomitapide, lovastatin, simvastatin;
  • ergot medicine--dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine;
  • heart medication--dronedarone, ranolazine;
  • hepatitis C antivirals--elbasvir and grazoprevir, glecaprevir and pibrentasvir;
  • other HIV medicines--indinavir, nevirapine; or
  • seizure medicine--carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin.

    • Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • heart disease;
  • liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);
  • a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
  • diabetes; or
  • kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis).

    • Do not use if you are pregnant. Atazanavir and cobicistat may not work as well if you take it during pregnancy. You may also develop a serious condition called lactic acidosis if you take atazanavir and cobicistat with certain other HIV medicines during pregnancy. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. You may need to use a different antiviral medicine.

    Use your medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.

    Atazanavir and cobicistat can make hormonal birth control less effective, including birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings. To prevent pregnancy while using atazanavir and cobicistat, use a barrier form of birth control: condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge.

    Women with HIV or AIDS should not breastfeed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

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    How to use Atazanavir and cobicistat

    Usual Adult Dose for HIV Infection:

    1 tablet orally once a day with foodComments:-For therapy-naive and therapy-experienced patients-The number of baseline primary protease inhibitor resistance substitutions should guide use in therapy-experienced patients.-Use of this drug during pregnancy results in considerably lower exposures of cobicistat (and thus lower exposures of atazanavir) during the second and third trimesters. This drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy and should not be started in pregnant patients; an alternative regimen is recommended for patients who become pregnant during therapy with this drug.Use: In combination with other antiretroviral agents, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection

    Usual Pediatric Dose for HIV Infection:

    At least 35 kg: 1 tablet orally once a day with foodComments:-For therapy-naive and therapy-experienced patients-The number of baseline primary protease inhibitor resistance substitutions should guide use in therapy-experienced patients.-Use of this drug during pregnancy results in considerably lower exposures of cobicistat (and thus lower exposures of atazanavir) during the second and third trimesters. This drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy and should not be started in pregnant patients; an alternative regimen is recommended for patients who become pregnant during therapy with this drug.Use: In combination with other antiretroviral agents, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection

    Warnings

    Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact with atazanavir and cobicistat, and some drugs should not be used together.

    What other drugs will affect Atazanavir and cobicistat

    Some medicines can make atazanavir and cobicistat much less effective when taken at the same time. If you take any of the following medicines, take them separately from your dose of atazanavir and cobicistat:

  • Antacids: Take atazanavir and cobicistat at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take the antacid.
  • Enteric-coated didanosine: Take your atazanavir and cobicistat dose with food 2 hours before or 1 hour after you take didanosine.
  • Medicine to reduce stomach acid (such as cimetidine, ranitidine, Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac): Either take the medicines at the same time, or take atazanavir and cobicistat least 10 hours after taking the stomach medicine.
  • A proton pump inhibitor (such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, or Protonix): take your atazanavir and cobicistat dose at least 12 hours after taking the other medicine.

    • Many other drugs can affect atazanavir and cobicistat, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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