Evotaz

What is Evotaz?

Evotaz is a combination of cobicistat and atazanavir. Aatazanavir, a protease-inhibitor antiviral medicine, prevents the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying within your body. Cobicistat inhibits enzymes that are responsible for breaking down antiviral medications in the liver. Cobicistat reduces the action of enzymes in your liver that break down certain antiviral medications.Evotaz is a prescription drug that is given along with other antiviral medications to adults who have HIV. HIV is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Unfortunately, no medication exists that will cure HIV or AIDS.Evotaz can be used by adults and children weighing at least 77 pounds.

Side effects of Evotaz

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat, contact emergency medical assistance.

If you experience:

• Severe dizziness, irregular heartbeats;
• High blood sugar: increased thirst, increased urination, and a fruity breath smell;
• Liver and gallbladder problems: upper stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, itching, dark urine or clay-colored stool, jaundice
• A severe skin reaction: fever, flu-like symptoms, mouth sores or swelling, pain in the muscles or joints, burning eyes, pain on your skin, blistering or warmth under your skin, or
• Signs of a kidney stone: pain in the side of lower back, difficult or painful urination, and blood in the urine.

If you experience a severe reaction to this medication, it may be necessary to discontinue taking the medicine.Evotaz can affect your immune system and cause side effects. These may occur even weeks or months after taking this medication. You should tell your doctor if:

• Signs that a new infection is present: fever, sweats at night, swollen lymph glands, colds, sores, coughing, wheezing, diarrhea, and loss of weight.
• If you have difficulty speaking or swallowing, have problems with balance, eye movements, or weakness, or feel prickly, then it could be a sign of a problem.
• Impotence, menstrual changes, swelling of the neck or throat (enlarged thyroid)

Common Evotaz side effects may include:

• Rash;
• Jaundice;
• Changes in the shape or location (especially of your arms, legs, and breasts), as well as changes in the amount of body fat.

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.

Warnings

Evotaz can cause serious drug interactions when used with certain medications. Inform your healthcare providers of all the medicines you are currently using and any new medications you may be taking.Evotaz is not recommended during pregnancy. When pregnant women take Evotaz along with other HIV medications, they can develop a serious condition known as lactic acidosis.

Before you take this drug

If you have an allergy to cobicistat or atazanavir, then Evotaz is not for you.Several drugs can cause harmful interactions. Evotaz should not be taken with certain drugs. If you are also taking

• Alfuzosin;
• Cisapride;
• Colchicine;
• Birth-control pills;
• Irinotecan;
• Oral midazolam, triazolam;
• Pimozide;
• Rifampin;
• Sildenafil is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.
• John's wort;
• Antipsychotic medicine: lurasidone, pimozide;
• Cholesterol-lowering medicine: lomitapide, lovastatin, and simvastatin;
• Ergot medicine: dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, and methylergonovine;
• Heart medication: dronedarone, ranolazine;
• Hepatitis c antivirals: elbasvir, grazoprevir, glecaprevir, and pibrentasvir
• Other hiv medicines are indinavir and ne
• Seizure medicine: carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Evotaz will be safe for you:

• Heart disease
• Liver disease (particularly hepatitis B and C);
• A bleeding or blood-clotting disorder, such as hemophilia.
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease (or dialysis)

Evotaz might not work as effectively if taken during pregnancy. If you combine Evotaz and certain HIV medications during pregnancy, you may develop a serious condition known as lactic acidosis. Inform your doctor immediately if you are pregnant. A different antiviral medication may be needed.To control your infection, take your medication as directed. HIV can be transmitted to your child if you do not control the virus during pregnancy. You may have your name listed in a registry that tracks the effects of antiviral medicines on the baby.Atazanavir, cobicistat, and other hormonal birth controls, such as birth control pills and injections, can be less effective. This includes skin patches, vaginal rings, and implants. To avoid pregnancy, you should use a barrier birth control method such as a condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap.Breastfeeding is not recommended for women with HIV/AIDS. Even if the baby was born HIV-free, the virus can be transmitted to the infant through your breast milk.

How to take Evotaz?

Evotaz should be taken exactly as prescribed by your physician.Be sure to follow all instructions on your prescription label.Evotaz should be taken in conjunction with other antiviral medicines and not alone. Evotaz should not be taken with certain antiviral medications. Do not forget to follow your doctor's instructions for dosage and medication.Take this medication with food.Medical tests will be required frequently.Read all the instructions and follow them exactly. You should not stop taking medication or change the dose without consulting your doctor. All HIV-positive people should be under the care and supervision of a physician.Keep the bottle tightly shut when not in use.When not in use, keep the bottle tightly shut.

Details on dosage

Adult dose for HIV infection:

Take 1 tablet with food orally, once per day.
Comments:
For therapy-naive patients and for therapy-experienced ones
The number of substitutions in the primary protease-inhibitor resistance should be used to guide treatment for patients who have received therapy.
Use during pregnancy of this drug results in significantly lower cobicistat exposure (and therefore lower atazanavir exposure) during the second trimester. This drug should not be used during pregnancy. Patients who become pregnant while taking this drug are advised to switch to an alternative treatment.
Use: As a combination with other antiretroviral drugs for HIV-1 infection.

The usual pediatric dose for HIV infection is:

If you weigh at least 35 kg, take 1 tablet once daily with food.
Comments:
For therapy-experienced and therapy-naive patients
The number of substitutions in the primary protease-inhibitor resistance should be used to guide treatment for patients who have received therapy.
Use during pregnancy of this drug results in significantly lower cobicistat exposure (and therefore lower atazanavir exposure) during the second trimester. This drug should not be used during pregnancy. Patients who become pregnant while taking this drug are advised to switch to an alternative treatment.
Use: As a combination with other antiretroviral drugs for HIV-1 infection.

What happens if I miss the dose?

If you are almost due for your next dose, skip the missed one. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.Refill your prescription before you run completely out. If you miss doses, your virus may become resistant to the medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.

What should be avoided?

This medicine might not stop your illness from spreading. Share razors and toothbrushes. Speak to your doctor about the best ways to prevent HIV from being transmitted during sex. Even healthy people should never share syringes for drugs or medicines.

Interaction with other drug

Evotaz can be less effective if taken with certain medicines. Take Evotaz separately from any of the following medications:

• Antacids: Take Evotaz 2 hours prior to or 2 hours following the antacid.
• Do not take Evotaz with food for 2 hours or more before taking didanosine.
• Take Evotaz at least 10 hours after you take stomach medicine (such as Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac).
• If you are taking a proton pump inhibitor (such as omeprazole or esomeprazole), such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, or Protonix, take Evotaz for at least 12 hours following the other medication.

Atazanavir or cobicistat can interact with many other drugs. Some drugs should never be taken together. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you have stopped using. Included are prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions.