Atazanavir Oral

In Depth

Generic Name: ATAZANAVIR - ORAL
Pronounced: (ah-tah-ZAN-ah-veer)

Atazanavir Oral Interactions

See also How to Use section.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur:

"ergot-type" drugs (e.g., ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methylergonovine)
etravirine
triazolam
midazolam
pimozide
cisapride
rifamycins (e.g., rifampin, rifabutin)
bepridil
indinavir
irinotecan
certain "statin" drugs for cholesterol (lovastatin, simvastatin)
St. John's wort
ranolazine

If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting atazanavir.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of:

calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil)
beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol)
atorvastatin
digoxin
warfarin
drugs for irregular heartbeat (e.g., antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone, lidocaine, quinidine)
medicines for depression (tricyclics such as amitriptyline)
drugs to treat impotence (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil)
immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus)
temsirolimus
certain chemotherapy drugs (dasatinib, lapatinib, sunitinib)
clarithromycin
ritonavir
rosuvastatin
trazodone
fluticasone (inhaled through the mouth or nose)

Tenofovir can decrease the effectiveness of atazanavir (by decreased blood levels) when the two drugs are given in combination. This can result in a worsening of your condition. According to the manufacturer, adding ritonavir to the combination of atazanavir and tenofovir may be a treatment option. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Check the labels on all the medicines you use for heartburn, indigestion, or ulcers (including prescription or nonprescription antacids, proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, H2 blockers such as ranitidine). These medications may prevent your HIV drugs from working. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using those products safely.

This medication may decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control pills. You may need to use an additional form of reliable birth control while using this medication. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.