• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is atazanavir?
Atazanavir is an antiviral medication in a group of HIV medicines called protease (PRO-tee-ayz) inhibitors. Atazanavir prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body. Atazanavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Atazanavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS. Atazanavir may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of atazanavir?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• increased urination or extreme thirst;

• severe pain in your side or lower back, painful urination, blood in your urine;

• feeling like you might pass out;

• easy bruising or bleeding;

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

• signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms; or

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;

• numbness or tingling, especially around your mouth;

• joint pain;

• headache, mood changes; or

• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take atazanavir?
Take atazanavir exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Atazanavir must be taken with food. Swallow the capsule whole. It is important to use atazanavir regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

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What is the most important information I should know about atazanavir?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to atazanavir. Do not take atazanavir together with cisapride (Propulsid), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine), indinavir (Crixivan), irinotecan (Camptosar), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), simvastatin (Zocor), pimozide (Orap), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), or St. John's wort. There are many other medicines that can interact with atazanavir. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect atazanavir?
Atazanavir should not be taken together with ritonavir (Norvir) if you are also using a steroid medicine called fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent). Ask your doctor about taking a different HIV medication, or using another treatment for your allergic condition. Many drugs can interact with atazanavir. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using: digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), rifabutin (Mycobutin);

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Atazanavir has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. At maternal doses producing the systemic drug exposure levels equal to (in rabbits) or two times (in rats) those at the human clinical dose (400 mg once daily), atazanavir did not produce teratogenic results. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Hyperbilirubinemia has been reported frequently during atazanavir therapy and it is not known whether maternal use would lead to neonatal kernicterus. Hyperlactatemia and lactic acidosis syndrome (in some cases fatal) have been reported in patients, including pregnant women, taking atazanavir in combination with nucleoside analogs. Additional monitoring and therapeutic alternatives should be considered during the prepartum period. Atazanavir should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. To monitor fetal outcomes of pregnant women exposed to atazanavir, an antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry as been established. Healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by calling 1-800-258-4263.

There are no data on the excretion of atazanavir into human milk. HIV-infected mothers should not breast-feed their infants due to the risk of transmission of HIV via breast milk.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to atazanavir or any ingredient in the formulation.
• Concomitant use with drugs highly dependent on CYP3A for metabolism and for which elevated plasma concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events (e.g., cisapride, ergot alkaloids, midazolam, pimozide, triazolam). (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atazanavir?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to atazanavir. Do not take atazanavir together with any of the following medicines: cisapride (Propulsid); ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine); indinavir (Crixivan) irinotecan (Camptosar); lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor) or simvastatin (Zocor) midazolam (Versed) pimozide (Orap); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you have been diagnosed with a disease for which an antibiotic is needed, you must complete the prescribed course of treatment. Even if you start to feel better, do not skip any doses and remember to take the medication until it is all gone.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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