ATAZANAVIR POWDER PACKET - ORAL

ATAZANAVIR POWDER PACKET - ORAL

PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: (A-ta-ZAN-a-vir)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Reyataz

GENERIC NAME(S): atazanavir sulfate

Uses

USES: This form of atazanavir is used with other HIV medications for infants and children to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in the body so your child's immune system can work better. This lowers the chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your child's quality of life. Atazanavir belongs to a class of drugs known as protease inhibitors. This form of atazanavir must be given with a certain other protease inhibitor (ritonavir) to increase ("boost") the levels of atazanavir. This helps atazanavir work better. Atazanavir is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease the risk of spreading HIV disease to others, your child should do all of the following: (1) continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by the doctor, and (2) do not share personal items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult the doctor or pharmacist for more details.


How to use ATAZANAVIR POWDER PACKET - ORAL

HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet and Instructions for Use if available from your pharmacist before you start giving atazanavir to your child and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask the doctor or pharmacist. This medication is taken by mouth. Give this medication to your child as directed by the doctor, usually once daily. Open the packet and mix its contents with food (such as applesauce, yogurt) as directed. If your child cannot eat solid food, this medication may be mixed with liquid (such as milk, infant formula, or water). If your child is younger than 6 months and cannot eat solid food or drink from a cup, mix this medication with infant formula as directed and give it to your child using an oral syringe. Do not use a baby bottle. Give the dose within 1 hour after mixing with food or liquid. Also, give your child's ritonavir dose right after this medication. Since this medication may cause kidney problems, give plenty of fluids during treatment to lower the risk. The dosage is based on your child's medical condition, weight, response to treatment, and other medications your child may be taking. Be sure to tell the doctor and pharmacist about all the products your child uses (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). If your child is taking antacids or buffered forms of drugs (such as didanosine solution, didanosine enteric-coated capsules), give atazanavir at least 2 hours before or 1 hour after these medications. For the best effect, take this medication at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day. It is very important to continue giving this medication (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Do not skip any doses. Do not give more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop giving it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by the doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.

Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS: Headache or nausea may occur. If either of these effects persists or worsens, tell the doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that the doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to your child is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. As your immune system gets stronger, it can begin to fight off infections you already had, possibly causing disease symptoms to come back. You could also have symptoms if your immune system becomes overactive. This reaction may happen at any time (soon after starting HIV treatment or many months later). Get medical help right away if you have any serious symptoms, including: unexplained weight loss, severe tiredness, muscle aches/weakness that doesn't go away, headaches that are severe or don't go away, joint pain, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs, vision changes, signs of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores), signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability, nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter), signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre syndrome (such as trouble breathing/swallowing/moving your eyes, drooping face, paralysis, trouble speaking). Tell the doctor right away if your child has any serious side effects, including: yellowing eyes/skin, increased thirst/urination, dizziness, lightheadedness, signs of kidney problems (such as pain in side/back/abdomen, painful urination, blood in the urine, change in the amount of urine). Get medical help right away if your child has any very serious side effects, including: signs of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating). Changes in body fat may occur while your child is taking this medication (such as increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with the doctor, as well as the possible use of exercise to reduce this side effect. Atazanavir can commonly cause a rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Therefore, get medical help right away if your child develops any rash. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact the doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking atazanavir, tell the doctor or pharmacist if your child is allergic to it; or if your child has any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell the doctor or pharmacist your child's medical history, especially of: liver problems (including hepatitis B or C infections), kidney problems (including kidney stones), heart problems (such as heart rhythm problems, irregular heartbeat, coronary artery disease, heart attack), a certain bleeding problem (hemophilia). Atazanavir may increase the level of cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood. HIV infection can also cause this effect. This could increase your child's risk for heart problems such as a heart attack. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with the doctor and ways to lower the risk of heart disease. Tell the doctor if your child has heart problems or other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol/triglyceride levels. This medication may contain aspartame. If your child has phenylketonuria (PKU) or any other condition that requires your child to limit/avoid aspartame (or phenylalanine) in the diet, ask the doctor or pharmacist about using this medication safely. Before having surgery, tell the doctor or dentist about all the products your child uses (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Atazanavir should not be given to children younger than 3 months because of the risk of very serious side effects. This form of atazanavir is not usually used by adults. Therefore, it is unlikely to be used during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Consult the doctor if you have any questions about this medication.

Interactions

DRUG INTERACTIONS: See also How to Use section. Drug interactions may change how medications work or increase the risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products your child uses (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with the doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without the doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain medications used to treat chronic hepatitis C (such as boceprevir, simeprevir, elbasvir/grazoprevir), a certain combination HIV medication (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir), indinavir, nevirapine, orlistat, saquinavir. Atazanavir can slow down the removal of other medications from your child's body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include certain alpha blockers (such as alfuzosin, silodosin), certain benzodiazepines (midazolam, triazolam), dronedarone, ergot alkaloids (such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine), irinotecan, lurasidone, pimozide, a certain drug to treat erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary hypertension (sildenafil), certain "statin" cholesterol drugs (lovastatin, simvastatin), salmeterol, among others. Other medications can affect the removal of atazanavir from your child's body, which may affect how atazanavir works. Examples include bosentan, efavirenz, etravirine, certain rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifapentine), certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), St. John's wort, among others. Prescription and nonprescription drugs to treat heartburn, indigestion, or ulcers (including H2 blockers such as famotidine, proton pump inhibitors such as lansoprazole/omeprazole) reduce stomach acid and decrease the absorption of atazanavir. This may prevent atazanavir from working well. Ask the doctor or pharmacist how to use these medications safely. If you are breast-feeding your child, ask the doctor if any medications that you are using may pass into the breast milk and interact with this medication.

Overdose

OVERDOSE: If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness, lightheadedness.

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Faq for ATAZANAVIR POWDER PACKET - ORAL

Atazanavir powder packet is an oral medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as protease inhibitors. It is used in combination with other medications to treat HIV infection.

Atazanavir works by blocking the activity of an enzyme called protease, which HIV needs to multiply. By inhibiting this enzyme, Atazanavir helps to lower the amount of HIV in the body and increases the number of CD4 cells, which are important for a healthy immune system.

The recommended dosage of Atazanavir powder packet for adults is usually 300 mg once daily, taken with food. It is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions regarding the dosage and duration of treatment.

Common side effects of Atazanavir may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, tiredness, and rash. Serious but rare side effects may include liver problems, bleeding, allergic reactions, and changes in fat distribution. It is important to seek medical attention if you experience any severe or bothersome side effects.

Yes, Atazanavir powder packet can interact with other medications, including antacids, acid-reducing agents, certain antibiotics, antifungal medications, and certain drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction. It is crucial to inform your healthcare provider about all the medications you are taking to avoid potential drug interactions.

Atazanavir powder packet should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. It is important to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider. It is also important to note that HIV can be transmitted to the baby during childbirth, so appropriate measures are usually taken to minimize the risk.

Atazanavir powder packet should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep it out of reach of children and do not use it after the expiration date mentioned on the packaging.

Common side effects of Atazanavir powder packet may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, rash, jaundice, and changes in body fat distribution. It is important to inform your doctor about any side effects experienced.

Atazanavir can interact with many other medications, including antacids, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and certain antibiotics. Always inform your doctor about any other medications or supplements you are taking before starting Atazanavir to avoid potential drug interactions.

Atazanavir may be used during pregnancy if the potential benefits outweigh the risks. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Atazanavir can also be present in breast milk, so it should be used with caution during breastfeeding.

Atazanavir starts working immediately to reduce the amount of HIV virus in the body. However, it may take several weeks or months to see the full benefits of the medication.

Alcohol should be avoided while taking Atazanavir, as it may increase the risk of liver problems and can also reduce the effectiveness of the medication.

If you miss a dose of Atazanavir, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is close to the time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to make up for a missed one.



Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.