Atazanavir

Description

Atazanavir is an antiviral medicine which is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This medicine is not a cure for HIV. It only prevents the virus from multiplying in your body. Monitoring of liver function and blood glucose levels is necessary while receiving this medicine.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Atazanavir

  • Skin Rash
  • Sweating
  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Runny Nose

Uses of Atazanavir

What is it prescribed for?

  • HIV infection
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The time required for this medicine to show its effect is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The time until which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendency has been reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is recommended for use in breastfeeding women only in life-threatening conditions. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to atazanavir.

Severe Hepatic impairment

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of severe hepatic impairment due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.

Drug interaction

Atazanavir is not recommended for use in patients receiving medicines highly dependent on CYP3A or UGT1A1 for their clearance due to the increased risk of serious and life-threatening reactions.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is recommended for use in breastfeeding women only in life-threatening conditions. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.
General warnings

Immune reconstitution syndrome

This medicine should be used with caution due to an increase in the risk of immune reconstitution syndrome. Report any unusual symptoms to the doctor immediately. Appropriate corrective measures and dose adjustments may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Nephrolithiasis

This medicine should be used with caution due to an increase in the risk of nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). Report any unusual symptoms to the doctor immediately. You may require a dose adjustment and close monitoring of kidney function to use this medicine safely. Replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Elevated bilirubin

This medicine should be used with caution due to an increase in the risk of elevated bilirubin levels. You may require a dose adjustment and close monitoring of bilirubin levels to use this medicine safely. Replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Fat redistribution

Atazanavir may cause fat gain or fat loss from the body. This may result in peripheral wasting, facial wasting, breast enlargement, and Cushingoid appearance. Close monitoring of body weight and body fat distribution is necessary while receiving this medicine. Any changes in the body should be informed to the doctor on priority.

Missed Dose

If a dose of Atazanavir is missed, take it as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Cisapride

Loperamide

Midazolam

Cyclosporine

Lovastatin

Atorvastatin

Disease interactions

Heart Block

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a history of heart diseases and active heart diseases. Close monitoring of heart function is advised during treatment with this medicine. Dose adjustments may be required based on the clinical condition.

Hepatotoxicity

Atazanavir should be used with extreme caution in patients with liver diseases. Liver function should be assessed before initiating the treatment. The dose should be adjusted based on the severity of the liver disease.

Hemophilia

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of bleeding disorders due to the increased risk of excessive bleeding. Close monitoring of INR or prothrombin time is necessary for such patients. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative should be done under your doctor's supervision.

Hyperglycemia

This medicine should be used with caution due to the increased risk of elevated blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels should be monitored closely during treatment with this medicine. Patients with diabetes should be carefully monitored for symptoms such as increased frequency of urination, excessive thirst, etc. If necessary, the dose of the antidiabetic agents should be adjusted based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Atazanavir exactly as instructed by the doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller quantities than recommended. Ensure that proper hygiene measures are adopted. Complete the course of treatment to prevent the spread of the infection. Close monitoring of liver function and blood glucose levels is necessary while receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous

To be taken with food

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Does not cause sleepiness

How it works
It works by stopping the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying. This helps in reducing the chances of development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other HIV-related illnesses.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Protease inhibitors

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 21 August 2017]. Available from:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/14145

Atazanavir - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 21 August 2017]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01072

Atazanavir: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 21 August 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603019.html

DailyMed - REYATAZ- atazanavir capsule, gelatin coated REYATAZ- atazanavir powder [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 21 August 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=165cff62-b284-4a27-a65d-9ec8a5bfcdd8

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 21 August 2017]. Available from:

https://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database

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Information on this page was last updated on 4 Sep 2017

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.