Atazanavir Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Do not run out of this medicine.

• If you have diabetes, this medicine may sometimes raise blood sugars. Talk with healthcare provider about how to adjust for this.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have a slow heartbeat and do not have a pacemaker, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Do not take antacids or didanosine within 2 hours of this medicine.

• Do not take St John's wort with this medicine. It may make this medicine less effective.

• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

• To protect against sexually-transmitted diseases, use a latex condom.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy in HIV disease.

• Do not use a hormone-related form of birth control.

• Breast-feeding is not recommended in HIV disease in the U.S.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• High cholesterol level.

• High triglyceride level.

• Headache.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Change in body fat distribution.

• Feeling tired or weak.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Severe diarrhea.

• Yellow skin or eyes.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Back pain, belly pain, or blood in the urine. May be signs of a kidney stone.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.