Reyataz

1 What is Reyataz?

Brand: Reyataz

Generic: Atazanavir

Reyataz is an antiretroviral drug that is used to treat infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.

This medicine does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. It interferes with the reproduction of HIV to slow down the destruction of the immune system. This will help to reduce your risk to develop complications associated with HIV infection.

Even though you are taking Atazanavir, this will not keep you from transmitting HIV to other people. People who receive this medicine may continue to have other problems usually related to AIDS or HIV disease.

This product is available in capsule and powder form.

Have a question aboutHIV/AIDS Medicines?Ask a doctor now

2 What to Know Before Using

Before using Reyataz, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Reyataz or to any other medications. This medicine is not recommended in infants younger than 3 months of age.

Although this medicine has not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems, older patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution in patients receiving Reyataz.

There are no adequate studies whether atazanavir can pass through breast milk or if it could cause harmful effects to the infant. Discuss with your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby. Taking this medication with any of the following medicines is not recommended.

Your doctor may choose not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take:

  • Alfuzosin
  • Amifampridine
  • Bepridil
  • Carbamazepine
  • Cisapride
  • Colchicine
  • Conivaptan
  • Crizotinib
  • Dabrafenib
  • Dihydroergotamine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
  • Dronedarone
  • Eletriptan
  • Eliglustat
  • Enzalutamide
  • ErgoloidMesylates
  • Ergonovine
  • Ergotamine
  • Eszopiclone
  • Everolimus
  • Fentanyl
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluconazole
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Ibrutinib
  • Indinavir
  • Irinotecan
  • Irinotecan Liposome
  • Isavuconazonium Sulfate
  • Ivabradine
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lomitapide
  • Lovastatin
  • Lurasidone
  • Maraviroc
  • Mesoridazine
  • Methylergonovine
  • Methysergide
  • Midazolam
  • Mitotane
  • Naloxegol
  • Nelfinavir
  • Nevirapine
  • Pazopanib
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin
  • Pimozide
  • Piperaquine
  • Posaconazole
  • Primidone
  • Ranolazine
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Romidepsin
  • Sildenafil
  • Silodosin
  • Simvastatin
  • Sparfloxacin
  • St John's Wort
  • Suvorexant
  • Terfenadine
  • Thioridazine
  • Tolvaptan
  • Triazolam
  • Vemurafenib
  • Vinflunine
  • Vorapaxar
  • Ziprasidone

Taking this medicine with any of the following medications is usually not recommended, but with exception in some cases.

Your doctor may change the dose or the frequency of one or both of your medicines if both medicines are prescribed together:

  • Ado-TrastuzumabEmtansine
  • Amiodarone
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amlodipine
  • Amprenavir
  • Anagrelide
  • Apixaban
  • Aprepitant
  • Aripiprazole
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Artemether
  • Atorvastatin
  • Avanafil
  • Axitinib
  • Bedaquiline
  • Boceprevir
  • Bosentan
  • Bosutinib
  • BrentuximabVedotin
  • Brexpiprazole
  • Buprenorphine
  • Buserelin
  • Cabazitaxel
  • Cabozantinib
  • Ceritinib
  • Cilostazol
  • Cimetidine
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clomipramine
  • Clozapine
  • Cobimetinib
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Darunavir
  • Dasabuvir
  • Dasatinib
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Deslorelin
  • Dexlansoprazole
  • Diltiazem
  • Disopyramide
  • Docetaxel
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Erlotinib
  • Escitalopram
  • Esomeprazole
  • Etravirine
  • Famotidine
  • Felodipine
  • Fluoxetine
  • Fluticasone
  • Fluvastatin
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Garlic
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Histrelin
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Idelalisib
  • Ifosfamide
  • Iloperidone
  • Imipramine
  • Ivacaftor
  • Ixabepilone
  • Lacosamide
  • Lamotrigine
  • Lansoprazole
  • Lapatinib
  • Leuprolide
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Lidocaine
  • Lofepramine
  • Lumefantrine
  • Macitentan
  • Metronidazole
  • Minocycline
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nafarelin
  • Nicardipine
  • Nifedipine
  • Nilotinib
  • Nizatidine
  • Olaparib
  • Omeprazole
  • Ondansetron
  • Oxycodone
  • Palbociclib
  • Panobinostat
  • Pantoprazole
  • Paritaprevir
  • Pasireotide
  • Ponatinib
  • Pravastatin
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Rabeprazole
  • Ranitidine
  • Regorafenib
  • Repaglinide
  • Retapamulin
  • Rifabutin
  • Rosuvastatin
  • Ruxolitinib
  • Salmeterol
  • Saquinavir
  • Sevoflurane
  • Simeprevir
  • Sonidegib
  • Sunitinib
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tadalafil
  • Tamsulosin
  • Temsirolimus
  • TenofovirDisoproxilFumarate
  • Ticagrelor
  • Tipranavir
  • Toremifene
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Vandetanib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Verapamil
  • Vilanterol
  • Vilazodone
  • Vincristine
  • Vincristine Sulfate Liposome

Taking this medicine with any of the following medications may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you.

Your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines if both medicines are prescribed together:

  • Cobicistat
  • Dapsone
  • Desogestrel
  • Didanosine
  • Dienogest
  • Drospirenone
  • Efavirenz
  • Estradiol Cypionate
  • Estradiol Valerate
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • EthynodiolDiacetate
  • Etonogestrel
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Lopinavir
  • Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
  • Mestranol
  • Methadone
  • Norelgestromin
  • Norethindrone
  • Norgestimate
  • Norgestrel
  • Telaprevir
  • Trazodone

Some medical conditions can interact with this medication.

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

3 Proper Usage

To use Reyataz properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. The dose of Reyataz varies for different patients. Take this medication as directed by your physician. This medicine may be taken in combination with other medicines.

This medication is taken with food. You should swallow the capsule whole. If you are taking antacids or didanosine, you should take atazanavir 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking these medicines.

Recommended dosage of Reyataz tablets for patients who already had HIV treatment:

  • Adults — 300 milligrams with 100 mg of ritonavir once a day.
  • Children 6 to 17 years of age — 150 to 300 mg with 100 mg of ritonavir once a day. However, the dose is usually based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • Children 3 months to less than 6 years of age — Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • Children younger than 3 months of age — This medicine is not recommended for this age group.

Recommended dosage of Reyataz tablets for patients who had HIV infection but never had HIV treatment:

  • Adults — 300 milligrams with 100 mg of ritonavir once a day. The dose is usually 400 mg once a day for patients who are unable to tolerate ritonavir.
  • Children 6 to 17 years of age — 150 to 300 mg with 100 mg of ritonavir once a day. If a child at least 13 years of age and 40 kilograms is unable to tolerate ritonavir, the dose is usually 400 mg once a day. However, the dose is usually based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • Children 3 months to less than 6 years of age — Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • Children younger than 3 months of age — This medicine is not recommended for this age group.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is near for your next dose, skip the missed dose and start again to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Store the medication in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep out of reach of children. Do not keep expired medications.

4 Precautions to Take

Before using Reyataz, there are some precautions you must take. Your doctor will be checking you regularly for the effectiveness of the medication. Blood tests may be ordered as well for undesirable effects.

Check with your doctor immediately or seek help immediately if:

  • If you or your child has symptoms of a serious liver problem such as pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin.
  • If you or your child has blood in urine, nausea and vomiting, pain in the groin or genitals, or sharp back pain just below the ribs since this medication may increase your risk of having kidney stones.
  • If you notice changes in your blood sugar or urine test since this medication can affect your blood sugar levels.
  • If you noticed changes in your health.
  • If you or your child get dizzy or lightheaded since this medication may cause heart rhythm problems.
  • If you or your child have to blister, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chills, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, cough, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, skin rash, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, or unusual tiredness or weakness since serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine.
  • If you or your child notices changes in your body shape since this medication may cause you to have excess body fat.

Additional contraceptives are required because birth control pills may not work well while you are under atazanavir treatment.

Atazanavir will not keep you from transmitting HIV to other people during sex. It is recommended to understand and practice safe sex. It is also necessary to avoid reusing or sharing needles with other people.

Talk to your doctor if you are planning to take any other medication.

Do not use Reyataz if you are using the following medication:

  • Alfuzosin
  • Cisapride
  • Indinavir
  • Irinotecan
  • Lovastatin
  • Nevirapine
  • Oral midazolam
  • Pimozide
  • Rifampin
  • Salmeterol
  • Sildenafil
  • Simvastatin
  • Triazolam
  • Ergot medicines

5 Potential Side Effects

Make sure you meet with your doctor in using Reyataz to avoid unwanted potential side effects.

If any of the following side effects occur, check with your doctor as soon as possible:

  • Abdominal or stomach discomfort, fullness, or pain
  • Bloating
  • Blood in the urine
  • Blurred vision
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Chills
  • Clay-colored stools
  • Constipation
  • Dark colored urine
  • Decreased appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Dry mouth
  • Fainting
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Fast, shallow breathing
  • Fever
  • Flushed, dry skin
  • Fruit-like breath odor
  • Gaseous abdominal or stomach pain
  • General feeling of discomfort
  • Headache
  • Hives, itching, or skin rash
  • Increased hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination
  • Indigestion
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Loss of appetite
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Muscle pain or cramping
  • Nausea
  • Pain in the groin or genitals
  • Pain in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
  • Recurrent fever
  • Severe nausea or vomiting
  • Sharp back pain just below the ribs
  • Sleepiness
  • Slow or irregular heartbeat
  • Stomachache
  • Sweating
  • Swelling
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Trouble with breathing
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unpleasant breath odor
  • Unusual tiredness or weakness
  • Vomiting
  • Vomiting of blood
  • Yellow eyes or skin

Less serious side effects:

  • Back pain
  • A cough increased
  • Discouragement
  • Extra body fat
  • Feeling sad or empty
  • Irritability
  • Loss of interest or pleasure
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
  • Difficulty with moving
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Pain
  • Pain in the joints
  • Sleeplessness
  • Unable to sleep
  • Unsteadiness or awkwardness
  • Weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
  • Hair loss or thinning of the hair
  • Rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin

Not all side effects are listed above. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Top