Generic Name: atazanavir (a ta ZAN a vir)
Brand Names: Reyataz
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 purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about atazanavir?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to atazanavir.
There are many other drugs that should not be used together with atazanavir. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Before using atazanavir, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, hepatitis, kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), diabetes, a bleeding disorder, high cholesterol, a bleeding disorder, heart problems, or if you have ever used a protease inhibitor in the past.
Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing razors or toothbrushes. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atazanavir?
You should not use atazanavir if you are allergic to it. There are many other drugs that can cause serious or life-threatening medical problems if you take them together with atazanavir. The following drugs should not be used while you are taking atazanavir:
alfuzosin (Uroxatral);
cisapride (Propulsid);
ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine);
indinavir (Crixivan);
irinotecan (Camptosar);
lovastatin (Advicor, Altoprev, Mevacor) or simvastatin (Simcor, Zocor)
oral midazolam (Versed)
nevirapine (Viramune);
pimozide (Orap);
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
sildenafil (Revatio, for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension);
St. John's wort; or
triazolam (Halcion).
To make sure you can safely take atazanavir, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease, including hepatitis B or C;
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
diabetes;
a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
high cholesterol or triglycerides;
a heart rhythm disorder, a heart condition called "AV block"; or
if you have ever used a protease inhibitor in the past.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, but HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection. Atazanavir must be given together with ritonavir during pregnancy and for a short time after childbirth. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully. Atazanavir can make birth control pills, patches, injections, or vaginal rings less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking atazanavir. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 years old. Do not give atazanavir alone (without ritonavir) to a child younger than 13 years old, or to a child who weighs less than 88 pounds.
How should I take atazanavir?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Atazanavir is used together with another medicine called ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra) or tenofovir (Viread).
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 should be taken once daily with food. Swallow the capsule whole.
Use atazanavir regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
To be sure this medicine is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 6 hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose may cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
What should I avoid while taking atazanavir?
If you also take didanosine (Videx), take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take atazanavir. Avoid using antacids within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take atazanavir.
Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
Atazanavir side effects
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. Stop taking atazanavir and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
severe dizziness, fast or pounding heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out;
severe pain in your side or lower back, painful urination, blood in your urine;
easy bruising or bleeding, signs of a new infection such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss); or
severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Less serious side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
headache, dizziness, depressed mood, sleep problems (insomnia);
mild skin rash;
numbness, burning pain, or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;
muscle pain; 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. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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:
salmeterol (Advair, Serevent);
buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex, Suboxone);
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) or rifabutin (Mycobutin);
an antifungal such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), protriptyline (Vivactil), trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro), and others;
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
heart rhythm or blood pressure medication such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), quinidine (Quin-G), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;
cholesterol-lowering medicine such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and others;
drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf);
insulin or oral diabetes medication;
medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca), or vardenafil (Levitra);
other HIV/AIDS medicine such as efavirenz (Sustiva), saquinavir (Invirase), or tenofovir (Viread); or
stomach acid reducers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), esomeprazole (Nexium), famotidine (Pepcid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), ranitidine (Zantac), and others.
This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with atazanavir. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
More Reyataz resources
- Reyataz Side Effects (in more detail)
- Reyataz Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Reyataz Drug Interactions
- Reyataz Support Group
- 1 Review for Reyataz - Add your own review/rating
- Reyataz Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Reyataz Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Reyataz Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Reyataz MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Reyataz Consumer Overview
Compare Reyataz with other medications
- HIV Infection
- Nonoccupational Exposure
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about atazanavir.
See also: Reyataz side effects (in more detail)
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