Atazanavir: Benefits, Side Effects, and How to Use

• Drug Name: Atazanavir

• Latin Name: Atazanavir

• Brand Name: Reyataz

• Drug Class: Protease Inhibitors

• Drug Form: Capsule

• Prescription Status: Prescription required

• Control of HIV infection

• Reduce HIV-related complications

• Allergy to Atazanavir

• Concurrent use with certain medications

• If you have liver or kidney disease, you may need a dose adjustment or more careful monitoring.

• Patient’s age

• Type and severity of the condition being treated

• How you respond to the first dose of the medication

• Other medical conditions

• Take this medication as directed by your doctor, usually once daily with food, by mouth.

• The dosage is determined based on your medical status, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking.

• The dosage for children is also based on their weight. Be sure to inform your doctor and pharmacist of all products you are using (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal products). If Ritonavi is recommended with this medication, take both at the same time.

• Headache or nausea

• As your immune system strengthens, it may start fighting infections you had before, which could cause a return of symptoms. You may also experience symptoms if your immune system becomes overly active. This reaction can occur at any time (shortly after starting HIV treatment or months later). If you have serious symptoms, seek medical help immediately, including: unexplained weight loss, severe fatigue, muscle pain/weakness that does not go away, severe or persistent headaches, joint pain, numbness/tingling in hands/feet/arms/legs, changes in vision, symptoms of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, coughing, non-healing skin lesions), signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability, nervousness, heat intolerance, rapid/thumping/irregular heartbeat, bulging eyes, unusual growth in the neck/throat known as a goiter), symptoms of a specific nerve problem called Guillain-Barré syndrome (such as instability, loss of coordination, difficulty swallowing/talking/chewing, difficulty moving your eyes).

• If you have serious symptoms, immediately inform your doctor, including: increased thirst/urination, dizziness, light-headedness, signs of kidney problems (such as pain in the side/back/abdomen, pain during urination, blood in urine, changes in urine output), signs of liver problems (such as persistent nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing of the eyes/skin, dark urine).

• Changes in body fat may occur while taking this medication (like increased fat on the upper back and abdomen, decreased fat in arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor, along with the possible use of exercise to alleviate this side effect.

• If you have very serious symptoms, seek medical help immediately, including: symptoms of a heart attack (such as pain in the chest/jaw/left arm, shortness of breath, unusual sweating).

• Atazanavir can usually cause skin rashes that are generally not serious. However, you may not be able to distinguish it from rare rashes that can signal a severe reaction. If you develop a rash, seek medical help immediately.

• A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, if you notice any signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, difficulty breathing, seek medical help immediately.

Note: If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to inform your doctor.

• Specific medications used for chronic hepatitis C treatment (such as Elbasvir/Grazoprevir, Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir)

• A specific HIV combination drug (Elvitegravir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir)

• Indinavir

• Nevirapine

• Orlistat

• Apalutamide

• Bosentan

• Efavirenz

• Etravirine

• Lomatapide

• Rifamycins (like Rifampin, Rifapentine)

• Specific medications used for seizures (like Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Sant, and Primidone)

• Alpha-blockers (like Alfuzosin, Silodosin)

• Specific benzodiazepines (Midazolam, Triazolam)

• Ergot alkaloids (like Dihydroergotamine, Ergots)

• Irinotecan

• Lomitapide

• Pimozide

• Specific hypertension medications (such as Avanafil, Sildenafil)

• “Statin” cholesterol drugs (Lovastatin, Simvastatin)

• H2 blockers like Famotidine, proton pump inhibitors like Lansoprazole/Omeprazole

Note: To prevent these interactions, provide your doctor with a list of all medications you are taking.

•Allergies to other medications:Before taking Atazanavir, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or have other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients that could cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

•Use of Atazanavir in pregnancy:If you are pregnant, inform your doctor before using this medication. Treatment can reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your child. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

•Use of Atazanavir while breastfeeding:This drug passes into breast milk. Since breast milk may transmit HIV, consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

•Use of Atazanavir in elderly:Atazanavir is an important drug for controlling HIV virus, but its use in elderly patients requires more careful attention due to natural body changes that come with aging.

•Use of Atazanavir in children:Atazanavir should not be given to children under 3 months due to the risk of very serious side effects.

• The HIV virus needs an enzyme called protease to replicate and produce new copies of itself. This enzyme cuts viral proteins into smaller pieces so the virus can reach its complete form.

• Atazanavir works by binding to the virus protease, blocking its activity. As a result, the viral proteins are not cut correctly, and the virus cannot turn into its active form.

• By inhibiting protease, Atazanavir reduces the amount of HIV virus in the blood. This reduction in viral load allows the immune system to strengthen and fight the infection.

• Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.

• Always take Atazanavir exactly as prescribed by your doctor and pharmacist. Do not change the dose, timing, or duration of treatment unless instructed by your doctor.

• To enhance drug absorption, Atazanavir is usually taken with food.

• Stopping Atazanavir suddenly can lead to drug resistance and worsening of the disease.

• Atazanavir may interact with some other medications. Therefore, be sure to inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medication.

• Atazanavir may affect liver and kidney function. Therefore, regular blood tests to monitor the function of these organs are essential.

• Even after starting treatment, there is still a risk of transmitting HIV virus. Therefore, use protective methods such as condoms and avoid sharing needles.

The information you are reading is solely for informational purposes; self-treatment and prescribing medication based on this content is not appropriate. For medication use, always consult a specialist doctor.