What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). The virus can be passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membranes. Infected pregnant women can also pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy, delivery or breast-feeding. Some people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.
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What is AIDS?
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that develops from infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). AIDS is characterized by a weakening of the immune system and a group of symptoms that includes certain infections and/or cancers.
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What is REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate)?
REYATAZ is an HIV medication called a protease inhibitor, that is taken once daily in combination with other HIV medicines.
In clinical studies, REYATAZ in combination therapy has been shown to help raise CD4+ cell count - a measurement of important immune system cells - and lower HIV viral load to undetectable.* REYATAZ also has a low chance of diarrhea (1-3% rate of moderate to severe diarrhea) as shown in clinical trials. Learn how REYATAZ can help fight HIV.
* "Undetectable" is defined as a viral load that is too low to be picked up by a particular test. Typically, it is a viral load of less than 400 or 50 copies/mL (depending on test used).
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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How does REYATAZ work?
REYATAZ helps prevent cells infected by HIV from producing more HIV. This reduces the amount of the virus in your body.
HIV is a virus that multiplies quickly. Untreated, it can produce billions of copies of itself every day. But HIV cannot multiply on its own. It uses the CD4+ cells of your immune system. Normally, CD4+ cells fight bacteria and viruses to keep you healthy. As HIV multiplies, it destroys CD4+ cells.
REYATAZ is in the category of HIV medicines known as Protease Inhibitors (PIs). PIs prevent HIV from copying itself effectively.
REYATAZ can help raise your CD4+ cells and lower your viral load to undetectable.* Learn more about how REYATAZ works.
* "Undetectable" is defined as a viral load that is too low to be picked up by a particular test. Typically, it is a viral load of less than 400 or 50 copies/mL (depending on test used).
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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Does REYATAZ cure HIV infection or AIDS?
No. No HIV medication, including REYATAZ, can cure HIV or AIDS. However, in combination therapy, REYATAZ can help manage the effects of HIV disease on your body. The medication can raise your CD4+ cell count and lower your viral load to undetectable.*
If you have HIV or AIDS, you should always remain under the care of a healthcare provider and have your CD4+ cell count and viral load measured regularly. Learn how REYATAZ can help fight HIV.
* "Undetectable" is defined as a viral load that is too low to be picked up by a particular test. Typically, it is a viral load of less than 400 or 50 copies/mL (depending on test used).
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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Does REYATAZ reduce the risk of passing HIV to others?
No. REYATAZ does not help prevent passing HIV to others.
To reduce the risks associated with sexual contact, you should get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Let your partner know your HIV and STD status. And, when you have sex, practice safe sex - including using condoms - to prevent infection.
To prevent the transmission of HIV through needles or blood, never share or reuse piercing, tattooing or injection needles. If you are an injection drug user, consider seeking treatment for substance use. Learn how REYATAZ can help fight HIV.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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Can I take REYATAZ if I’ve never taken an anti-HIV medication?
Yes. For HIV-positive adults beginning HIV drug therapy for the first time, your doctor may prescribe REYATAZ in combination with other HIV medications.
For HIV-positive adults who have never been on an HIV drug treatment, the recommended dose of REYATAZ is two (2) 200-mg capsules of REYATAZ taken once daily with food.
Ask your doctor if REYATAZ is right for you.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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Can I switch to REYATAZ if I’m currently on a different HIV medication?
Yes. If you are an HIV positive adult who is currently taking HIV medications, your doctor might put you on REYATAZ in combination with ritonavir.
The recommended dose of REYATAZ for patients previously on anti-HIV medication is one (1) 300-mg REYATAZ capsules plus one ritonavir capsule - with food.
Ask your doctor if REYATAZ is right for you.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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What does my doctor need to know before I begin taking REYATAZ?
If you are starting an HIV therapy regimen, your doctor will need to know if you are taking any other kinds of medicines or nutritional supplements (vitamins or herbal or natural remedies).
If you are going to change HIV medications, your healthcare provider will need to know if you are currently taking any other HIV medication - especially VIREAD® (tenofovir), SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) or VIDEX® (didanosine). This is important because these HIV medications can decrease REYATAZ levels in the bloodstream. Your healthcare provider will also need to know if you are taking any other kinds of medicines or nutritional supplements.
When you see your doctor, bring all of the medicines or vitamins you take or make a list of their names, how much you take and how often you take them. Your doctor will tell you if you need to change the doses of any of these medications. Learn more about what to ask your doctor.
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Are there any medications I should not take with REYATAZ?
Do not take REYATAZ if you take the following medicines (not all brands may be listed). Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take. REYATAZ may cause serious, life-threatening side effects or death when used with these medicines.
- Ergot medicines: dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine and methylergonovine such as CAFERGOT®, MIGRANAL®, D.H.E. 45®, ergotrate maleate, METHERGINE®, and others used to treat migraine headaches.
- HALCION® (triazolam, used for insomnia).
- VERSED® (midazolam, used for sedation).
- ORAP® (pimozide, used for Tourette's disorder).
- PROPULSID® (cisapride, used for certain stomach problems).
Do not take the following medicines with REYATAZ because of possible serious side effects:
- CAMPTOSAR® (irinotecan, used for cancer).
- CRIXIVAN® (indinavir), used for HIV infection. Both REYATAZ and CRIXIVAN sometimes cause increased levels of bilirubin in the blood.
- Cholesterol-lowering medicines MEVACOR® (lovastatin) or ZOCOR® (simvastatin).
Do not take the following medicines with REYATAZ because they may lower the amount of REYATAZ in your blood. This may lead to an increased HIV viral load. Resistance to REYATAZ or cross-resistance to other HIV medicines may develop.
- Rifampin (also know as RIMACTANE®, RIFADIN®, RIFATER®, or RIFAMATE®, used for tuberculosis).
- St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), an herbal product sold as a dietary supplement, or products containing St. John's wort.
Do not take the following medicine if you are taking REYATAZ and NORVIR® together.
The following medicines may require your healthcare provider to monitor your therapy more closely:
- CIALIS® (tadalafil), LEVITRA® (vardenafil) or VIAGRA® (sildenafil). REYATAZ may increase the chances of serious side effects that can happen with CIALIS, LEVITRA or VIAGRA. Do not use CIALIS, LEVITRA or VIAGRA while taking REYATAZ unless your healthcare provider tells you it is okay.
- LIPITOR® (atorvastatin) or CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin). There is an increased chance of serious side effects if you take REYATAZ with these cholesterol-lowering medicines.
- Medicines for abnormal heart rhythm: CORDARONE® (amiodarone), lidocaine, quinidine (also known as CARDIOQUIN®, QUINIDEX®, and others).
- VASCOR® (bepridil, used for chest pain).
- COUMADIN® (warfarin).
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as ELAVIL® (amitriptyline), NORPRAMIN® (desipramine), SINEQUAN® (doxepin), SURMONTIL® (trimipramine), TOFRANIL® (imipramine), or VIVACTIL® (protriptyline).
- Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection: SANDIMMUNE® or NEORAL® (cyclosporin), RAPAMUNE® (sirolimus), or PROGRAF® (tacrolimus).
- The antidepressant trazodone (DESYREL® and others).
- Fluticasone propionate (ADVAIR®, FLONASE®, FLOVENT®), given by nose or inhaled to treat allergic symptoms or asthma. Your doctor may choose not to keep you on fluticasone, especially if you are also taking NORVIR®.
The following medicines may require a change in dose or dose schedule of either REYATAZ or the other medicine:
- FORTOVASE®, INVIRASE® (saquinavir).
- NORVIR® (ritonavir).
- SUSTIVA® (efavirenz).
- Antacids or buffered medicines.
- VIDEX® (didanosine).
- VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).
- MYCOBUTIN® (rifabutin).
- Calcium channel blockers such as CARDIZEM® or TIAZAC® (diltiazem), COVERA-HS® or ISOPTIN SR® (verapamil) and others.
- BIAXIN® (clarithromycin).
- Medicines for indigestion, heartburn or ulcers such as AXID® (nizatidine), PEPCID AC®(famotidine), TAGAMET® (cimetidine) or ZANTAC® (ranitidine), ACIPHEX® (rabeprazole), NEXIUM® (esomeprazole), PREVACID® (lansoprazole), PRILOSEC® (omeprazole), or PROTONIX® (pantoprazole).
If you are taking any of the above or you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription medications, vitamins or herbal supplements or health preparations, you should let your healthcare provider know.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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How do I take REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate)?
Depending on if you are taking HIV medications for the first time or are already taking other HIV medications, the dose of REYATAZ in HIV combination therapy you take will be different.
For adults who have never taken HIV medicines before, the usual dose is 400 mg (two 200-mg capsules) taken once-a-day with food.
For adults who have taken HIV medicines in the past, the usual dose is 300 mg (one 300-mg capsule or two 150-mg capsules) plus 100 mg of NORVIR® (ritonavir).
REYATAZ should be taken with food, preferably with a meal or a snack, to help it work better. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not open the capsules.
If you miss a dose of REYATAZ, take it as soon as possible and then take your next scheduled dose at its regular time. If, however, it is within 6 hours of your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not double the next dose. It is important that you do not miss any doses of REYATAZ or your other anti-HIV medicines.
If you take more than the prescribed dose of REYATAZ, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ?
The following side effects have been reported with REYATAZ:
- Heart Rhythm change. Call your healthcare provider if you get dizzy or lightheaded. These could be symptoms of a heart problem.
- Mild Rash (redness and itching) without other symptoms sometimes occurs in patients taking REYATAZ, most often in the first few weeks after the medicine is started, and usually goes away within two weeks with no change in treatment.
- Severe Rash has occurred in a small number of patients taking REYATAZ. This type of rash is associated with other symptoms which could be serious and potentially cause death.If you develop a rash with any of the following symptoms, stop using REYATAZ and call your healthcare provider right away:
- –Shortness of breath
- –General ill-feeling or "flu-like" symptoms
- –Fever
- –Muscle or joint aches
- –Conjunctivitis (red or inflamed eyes, like "pink-eye")
- –Blisters
- –Mouth sores
- –Swelling of your face
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes. These effects may be due to increases in bilirubin levels in the blood. Call your healthcare provider if your skin or the white part of your eyes turn yellow. Although these effects may not be damaging to your liver, skin or eyes, it is important to tell your healthcare provider promptly if they occur.
- If you have liver disease, including hepatitis B or C, your liver disease may get worse when you take anti-HIV medicines like REYATAZ.
- Kidney stones have been reported in patients taking REYATAZ. If you develop signs or symptoms of kidney stones (pain in your side, blood in your urine, pain when you urinate), tell your healthcare provider promptly.
- Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) sometimes happen in patients taking protease inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ. Some patients had diabetes before taking protease inhibitors while others did not. Some patients may need changes in their diabetes medicines.
- Changes in body fat. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck, breast, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.
- Some patients with hemophilia have increased bleeding problems with protease inhibitors like REYATAZ.
Other common side effects of REYATAZ, include nausea; headache, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea,* depression, fever, dizziness, trouble sleeping, numbness, tingling or burning of the hands or feet, and muscle pain. If you experience any of these, talk to your healthcare provider.
Gallbladder disorders (which include gallstones and gallbladder inflammation) have been reported in patients taking Reyataz.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take.
There are certain medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you should not take with REYATAZ. Check with your healthcare provider.
If you experience any side effects while on REYATAZ, talk to your healthcare provider right away but do not stop taking your HIV medication without first talking to your healthcare provider. Learn more about REYATAZ side effects and drug interactions.
*REYATAZ in combination therapy had a 1-3% rate of moderate-to-severe diarrhea.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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Can I take REYATAZ if I am pregnant?
It is not known if REYATAZ can harm your unborn baby. Pregnant women have experienced serious side effects when taking REYATAZ with other HIV medicines called nucleoside analogues. You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if REYATAZ is right for you. If you use REYATAZ while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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Can I take REYATAZ if I’m breast-feeding?
You should not breast-feed if you are HIV-positive because of the chance of passing HIV to your baby. Also, it is not known if REYATAZ can pass into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby. If you are a woman who has or will have a baby, talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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What if I forget to take a dose of REYATAZ?
If you miss a dose of REYATAZ, take it as soon as possible and then take your next scheduled dose at its regular time. If, however, it is within 6 hours of your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not double the next dose. It is important that you do not miss any doses of REYATAZ or your other anti-HIV medicines.
If you take more than the prescribed dose of REYATAZ, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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Can HIV become resistant to REYATAZ?
Over time, HIV can become resistant to HIV drugs. When patients develop resistance to a drug in a certain class (for example, REYATAZ, which is a protease inhibitor [PI]), they often become resistant to many or all of the drugs in that class. Learn more about how REYATAZ works.
Click here for Important Safety Information about REYATAZ.
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* "Undetectable" is defined as a viral load that is too low to be picked up by a particular test. Typically, it is a viral load of less than 400 or 50 copies/mL (depending on test used).