Atazanavir : Before Using

Atazanavir - Systemic

Brand Names

Reyataz Atazanavir *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For atazanavir, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to atazanavir. Also tell your family doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as "foods, preservatives, or dyes ".

Pregnancy care

Atazanavir did not cause birth defects in animal studies. However, in animal studies, atazanavir has been found to cause reduced weight and delayed growth in the infants. Atazanavir has not been studied in pregnant women.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether atazanavir passes into breast milk. However, breast-feeding is usually not recommended in AIDS diseaseds because of the risk of passing the AIDS virus on to the infant.

Use for Children

Studies on this drug have been done only in adult diseaseds and there is limited recommendations comparing the use of atazanavir in child with use in other age groups. Atazanavir must not be aplaying to children under the age of 3 months.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people. There is no special info comparing use of atazanavir in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription - over-the-counter "OTC " drug. When you are taking atazanavir, it is especially important that your family doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

Amiodarone - Cordarone
Atorvastatin - Lipitor
Clarithromycin - Biaxin
Diltiazem - Cardizem
Felodipine - Plendil
Lidocaine - Xylocaine
Nicardipine - Cardene
Nifedipine - Adalat, Procardia
Oral contraceptives - “birth control pills” containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone - Brevicon, Loestrin, Modicon, Ortho-Novum
Quinidine - Cardioquin, Quinidex Extentabs
Rifabutin - Mycobutin
Saquinavir - Fortovase, Invirase
Sildenafil - Viagra
Tricyclic antidepressants - drug for depression
Verapamil - Calan, Isoptin
Warfarin - Coumadin Use of atazanavir with these medication may increase the amount of these medication in your body and increase your risk of getting side effects from these medication.

Antiacids
Buffered medication Atazanavir must be taken two hours before or one hour after taking these medication.

Bepridil - Vascor
Cisapride - Propulsid
Dihydroergotamine - D.H.E. 45 injection, Migranal nasal spray
Ergonovine - Ergotrate injection
Ergotamine containing products - Bellergal, Bellaspas, Cafergot, Wigraine
Indinavir - Crixivan
Irinotecan - Camptosar
Lovastatin - Mevacor
Methylergonovine - Methergine
Midazolam - Versed
Pimozide - Orap
Proton pump inhibitors - esomeprazole " Nexium ", lansoprazole " Prevacid ", omeprazole " Prilosec ", pantoprazole " Protonix ", rabeprazole " Aciphex "
Rifampin - Rifadin
Simvastatin - Zocor
St. John's wort - Hypericum perforatum
Triazolam - Halcion These medication must not be taken with atazanavir because they increase your risk of getting serious side effects.

Didanosine - Videx Atazanavir must be taken at various time than didanosine so that both will be absorbed from the stomach.

Efavirenz - Sustiva Use of this drug with atazanavir may decrease the amount of atazanavir in the body and make your HIV worse.
H₂ -Receptor antagonists - cimetidine " Tagamet ", famotidine " Pepcid ", nizatidine " Axid ", ranitidine " Zantac "

Ritonavir - Norvir Use of this drug with atazanavir may increase the amount of atazanavir in the body and increase your risk of getting side effects from atazanavir.

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of atazanavir. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes
Hyperglycemia Atazanavir may increase or decrease the amount of sugar in your blood, dose adjustments of insulin or other medication for diabetes may be needed. Talk to your family doctor about this.

Heart conduction problems, preexisting Atazanavir may change the way your heart beats and increase your risk of getting side effects.

Hemophilia, type A and B Use of atazanavir may increase your risk of having serious bleeding problems.

Hepatitis,
Transaminase, elevated Use of atazanavir may make these problems worse.

Liver disease May increase your risk of getting side effects.