Has your doctor prescribed this medicine for you or someone close to you for HIV? If so, this article will help you to clear up any questions, doubts, and perhaps fears you may have about this medicine. It is very important to take the right treatment when living with HIV. So let's talk about this pill made by combining two drugs called Atazanavir and Cobicistat.
What kind of medicine is this?
Simply put, this is an antiretroviral drug that fights the HIV virus. The specialty of this is that it contains two types of drugs in one pill.
1. Atazanavir: This is the main drug that controls the multiplication of the HIV virus in the body.
2. Cobicistat: This works like a 'booster'. That is, it helps the drug Atazanavir stay in our body for longer and in higher concentrations. This increases the effectiveness of the main drug.
This pill is usually used in combination with other medications for HIV treatment. It is commonly sold under the brand name EVOTAZ .
It is very important to note that this medicine cannot completely cure HIV. But it can help you live a healthy life by controlling the amount of virus in your body. Also, when taken correctly, it can significantly reduce, if not completely eliminate, the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to others.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking medicine
Your doctor will need to have a complete understanding of your health before prescribing this medication. Therefore, if you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor about them.
- If you have diabetes .
- If you have a blood clotting disorder like hemophilia .
- If you have kidney disease or liver disease .
- If you have heart rhythm irregularities or other heart diseases.
- If you have allergies to Atazanavir, Cobicistat, or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
Based on this information, your doctor will decide whether this medication is right for you or not, and whether the dosage needs to be changed.
How exactly do I use this medicine?
To get the most out of a medicine, you need to use it properly.
- Swallow this pill whole with a glass of water .
- Be sure to take it with a meal . Do not take it on an empty stomach. The medicine is better absorbed by the body when taken with food.
- Try to take your medicine at the right time every day. Make this a habit.
- Even if you feel better, do not stop taking the medication for any reason without your doctor's advice.
- Do not skip medication. If you do, the HIV virus may become resistant to this medication. Then this treatment may fail.
If you give this medicine to children...
This medicine can sometimes be prescribed to children, but it requires special precautions. Therefore, if you are giving this medicine to your child, talk to your pediatrician about it carefully.
What if you take too much medicine? (Overdose)
If you think you have taken too much medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital .
What to do if you miss a dose of medicine?
It's possible to forget to take a dose of medicine. If that happens, don't worry.
- If it is more than 12 hours until your next dose when you remember to take the pill, take it as soon as you remember.
- But if it's less than 12 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the scheduled time.
- Never take two doses at once just to make up for a forgotten dose. (Do not take double doses)
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
This is a very important part. Atazanavir; Cobicistat can interact with many other medications. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins, herbal products, and over-the-counter medicines) .
The table below lists some medications that may interact with this medicine.
| Drug category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Do not take this medicine with any other medicine. | |
| Some cholesterol-lowering medications | Lovastatin, Simvastatin |
| Some medications for headaches (Ergot type) | Dihydroergotamine, Ergotamine |
| Other HIV/AIDS medications | Indinavir, Nevirapine |
| Some medications given for fits | Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin |
| St. John's wort, an herb | (Some people take this for depression) |
| Various other medications | Alfuzosin, Ranolazine, Lurasidone, Pimozide, Sildenafil (for pulmonary hypertension), Triazolam, Midazolam (oral tablets) |
| Use only under doctor's advice as it may interact with this medication. | |
| Antibiotics, antifungals | Clarithromycin, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole |
| Medications for heart disease and high blood pressure | Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Digoxin, Verapamil |
| Blood thinners | Warfarin, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban |
| Medicines for gastritis of the stomach | Antacids, such as Omeprazole, Famotidine |
| Birth control pills and hormones | (These may have reduced performance) |
| Types of steroids | Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Fluticasone (inhalers) |
This list is not complete, so it is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
What side effects might I experience?
Like any medicine, this can cause side effects in some people, but not everyone gets them.
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Serious skin allergies | Fever is accompanied by red or purple skin rashes, blisters, peeling skin, sores inside the mouth, and swollen lymph nodes in the face, lips, neck, or armpits. |
| Yellowing of the eyes or skin , dark-colored urine | These could be symptoms of a liver problem. |
| Irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint | It could be a sign of a heart problem. |
| Symptoms of high blood sugar levels | Increased thirst, hunger, frequent urination, extreme fatigue, blurred vision. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Diarrhea | Headache |
| Muscle pain | Difficulty falling asleep |
| Depressed mood | Changes in the way body fat is deposited (e.g., increased fat around the stomach, back, and neck, thinning of the limbs) |
Take-Home Message
- Be sure to take this medicine with a meal .
- Do not skip medication for any reason. Take it at the same time every day.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking (including vitamins and Ayurvedic medicines).
- If you experience symptoms of a serious allergy, such as skin rash and blisters along with fever, seek medical advice immediately.
- If you are a woman using birth control pills , talk to your doctor about using an additional form of birth control (e.g. condoms).
- Keep this medicine in a safe place at room temperature, out of the reach of children.
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