If you are being treated for HIV infection, your doctor has prescribed various medications. Sometimes, another medication is used to increase the effectiveness of a main medication, that is, to 'boost' it. That is what we are talking about today, a 'medication booster'. The name of this medication is Cobicistat. Let's talk about everything about this simply and politely.
What kind of medicine is Cobicistat?
Simply put, Cobicistat is a drug that increases the effectiveness of other HIV medications, increasing their power. Think of your main HIV medication as a superhero. Cobicistat is like the sidekick that helps that superhero, increasing his power.
This medicine does not fight the HIV virus on its own. However, it helps the other HIV medicines (antiretroviral drugs) you take to stay in your body for a longer time and in higher concentrations. This greatly increases the effectiveness of the main medicine.
Very important: This medicine does not completely cure HIV infection. Also, taking this medicine does not completely eliminate the risk of transmitting HIV to another person. Therefore, it is very important to follow safe methods.
Things to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before your doctor prescribes this medicine, he or she will need to have a complete understanding of your health condition. Therefore, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following:
- If you have any kidney disease.
- If you have any liver disease.
- If you have allergies to cobicistat or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant or expecting a baby soon.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
How should I use the medicine?
Using this medicine correctly is essential for effective treatment.
- Swallow this pill with a glass of water.
- Very important: This medicine should be taken with a meal . Do not take on an empty stomach.
- Make it a habit to take your medicine at the same time every day. This will help keep the levels of the medicine in your body consistent.
- Take only the dose prescribed by your doctor, and only as often as prescribed.
- Do not stop taking the medicine or skip doses without your doctor's advice for any reason. Continue taking the medicine even if you feel better. If you skip doses, the HIV virus can become resistant to these medicines. This is a very dangerous situation.
Should this medicine be given to children?
This medicine is sometimes prescribed for children, but it requires special precautions. Therefore, if you are giving this medicine to your child, talk to your pediatrician about it.
Overdose
If you accidentally take more medicine than you should, that is, if you overdose, do not panic. Go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Never share this medicine with anyone else.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
If you remember to take a dose and it is more than 12 hours until your next scheduled dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is less than 12 hours until your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose. Skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once.
Very important! Other drugs that may interact with Cobicistat (Drug Interactions)
This is the most important part you need to know about this medicine. Cobicistat can interact with many other medicines. This can make some medicines less effective, and some medicines can be toxic to the body. Therefore, it is essential to tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbal remedies, and herbal products .
Look carefully at the two tables below.
| Warning! Never take this medicine with Cobicistat. | |
|---|---|
| Type of medicine | Examples (English Names) |
| For various diseases | alfuzosin, cisapride, dronedarone, irinotecan, lurasidone, naloxegol, pimozide, ranolazine, sildenafil, triazolam |
| For cholesterol | lovastatin, simvastatin |
| Headache (Migraine) | dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine |
| For sleep or surgery | midazolam (oral) |
| Other HIV/AIDS medications | etravirine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir; ritonavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir |
| Seizures | carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital, phenytoin |
| Tuberculosis | rifampin |
| Herbal products | St. John's wort |
| If you are taking this medication, be sure to talk to your doctor. | |
|---|---|
| Drug category | Examples (English Names) |
| Antibiotics, antifungals | clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole |
| Blood pressure and heart disease | amlodipine, carvedilol, diltiazem, metoprolol, verapamil, amiodarone, digoxin |
| Leukemia/cancer | dasatinib, nilotinib, vinblastine, vincristine |
| Mental illness, depression | buspirone, diazepam, risperidone, thioridazine |
| To prevent blood clots | warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran |
| Cholesterol | atorvastatin, rosuvastatin |
| Birth control pills and hormones | estrogens, progestins, birth control pills |
| Steroids - inhalers or pills | budesonide, fluticasone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone |
| Painkillers | fentanyl, methadone, tramadol |
*This list is not complete. There may be other medications that can interact. So always tell your doctor about everything you are taking.*
Things to keep in mind when taking medication
- Regular medical check-ups: Be sure to go to your doctor's appointments. You may need to have blood tests to check your kidney and liver function while taking this medicine.
- HIV Transmission: As we mentioned earlier, HIV can still be transmitted to another person through sex or blood, even if you are taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent this.
- Birth control: This is very important if you are a woman using birth control pills. Taking cobicistat may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Therefore, be sure to use another form of barrier contraception, such as condoms, during this time. Talk to your doctor about this and make sure.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medicine, Cobicistat can cause side effects in some people. Some of these are serious, while others are mild.
| Type of side effect | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Symptoms that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Liver problems | Yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, and feeling lethargic. |
| Kidney problems | Difficulty urinating or a change in the amount of urine that comes out. |
| Other serious symptoms | Difficulty breathing, feverish feeling, unusual tiredness. |
| Symptoms that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Digestive system problems | Nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhea. |
| Other | Headache, insomnia, fatigue, back or neck pain. |
How should you store your medicine?
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Store at room temperature (between 15-30 Celsius).
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Cobicistat is an adjunct drug that 'boosts' the action of other HIV medications, not a drug that works on its own.
- Always take this medicine with a meal. Never skip a meal.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
- If you are taking birth control pills, use an additional method, such as a condom, to prevent pregnancy.
- If you experience any serious side effects such as yellowing of the skin, dark urine, or difficulty breathing, tell your doctor immediately.
- This medicine is for you only. Never share it with others.
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