Atazanavir

• Take Atazanavir exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Do not change your dose or stop taking Atazanavir unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Stay under the care of your healthcare provider during treatment with Atazanavir.
• Atazanavir must be used with other antiretroviral medicines.
• Take Atazanavir 1 time each day with food. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not open the capsules.
• If you miss a dose of Atazanavir, take it as soon as you remember. Then take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.
• If you take too much Atazanavir, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Contraindications:

Do not take Atazanavir capsule if:

• You are allergic to atazanavir or any of the ingredients in it.
• You are taking any of the following medicines. Atazanavir may cause serious life-threatening side effects or death when used with these medicines: cisapride, lovastatin, ergot medicines including:(ergotamine tartrate, dihydroergotamine mesylate, methylergonovine), lurasidone (if Atazanavir is administered with ritonavir), irinotecan, midazolam, pimozide, rifampin, sildenafil (when used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension), simvastatin, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), triazolam.

Interactions:

Tiapride, lovastatin, ergot medicines including:(ergotamine tartrate, dihydroergotamine mesylate, methylergonovine), lurasidone (if Atazanavir is administered with ritonavir), irinotecan, midazolam, pimozide, rifampin, sildenafil (when used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension), simvastatin, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), triazolam, warfarin,

amiodarone, contraceptives, digoxin, deferasirox, eplerenone, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, tolterodine, tizanidine, tacrolimus.

Pregnancy and Lactation:

Talk to your healthcare provider about taking Atazanavir during your pregnancy or if you are planning to become pregnant while you are taking Atazanavir.

Do not breastfeed if you are taking Atazanavir. You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing.

Warning and Precaution:

Before taking Atazanavir capsules, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have heart problems
• have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection.
• have diabetes
• have hemophilia
• have any other medical conditions
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Talk to your healthcare provider about forms of birth control that may be used during treatment with Atazanavir capsules. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as injections, vaginal rings or implants, contraceptive patch, and some birth control pills may not work during treatment with Atazanavir.

Adverse Reactions:

The most common side effects of Atazanavir include:

Nausea, dizziness, headache, muscle pain, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, depression, trouble sleeping, fever, numbness, tingling, or burning of hands or feet.

Uncommon

Abnormal dreams, chest pain, depression, disorientation, gallbladder disorders, gastritis, gynaecomastia, haematuria, memory loss, myopathy, proteinuria, syncop, urinary frequency increased.

Rare or very rare

Gait abnormal, oedema, palpitations, renal pain, vasodilation.

Atazanavir can cause serious side effects, including:

heart rhythm change, Skin rash, yellowing of skin or the white part of eyes, liver problems, kidney stones, gallbladder, diabetes (hyperglycemia), changes in immune system, changes in body fat, increased bleeding.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Storage:

Store below 30 and protect from light and moisture.