Drug
Atazanavir
Pronounced
"A-ta-ZAN-a-vir"
Uses
This form of atazanavir is used with other HIV medications for infants and children to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in the body so your child's immune system can work better. This lowers the chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your child's quality of life.
Atazanavir belongs to a class of drugs known as protease inhibitors. This form of atazanavir must be given with a certain other protease inhibitor (ritonavir) to increase ("boost") the levels of atazanavir. This helps atazanavir work better.
Atazanavir is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease the risk of spreading HIV disease to others, your child should continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Do not share your child's personal items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes) that may have contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult the doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Other Uses
This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
This product may also be used to lessen the risk of HIV infection after contact with the virus (for example, due to a needle stick). Ask your doctor for more details.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Patient Information Leaflet and Instructions for Use if available from your pharmacist before you start giving atazanavir to your child and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask the doctor or pharmacist.
This medication is taken by mouth. Give this medication to your child as directed by the doctor, usually once daily. Open the packet and mix its contents with food (such as applesauce, yogurt) as directed. If your child cannot eat solid food, this medication may be mixed with liquid (such as milk, infant formula, or water). If your child is younger than 6 months and cannot eat solid food or drink from a cup, mix this medication with infant formula as directed and give it to your child using an oral syringe. Do not use a baby bottle. Give the dose within 1 hour after mixing with food or liquid. Also, give your child's ritonavir dose right after this medication.
Since this medication may cause kidney problems, give plenty of fluids during treatment to lower the risk.
The dosage is based on your child's medical condition, weight, response to treatment, and other medications your child may be taking. Be sure to tell the doctor and pharmacist about all the products your child uses (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
If your child is taking antacids or buffered forms of drugs (such as buffered aspirin), give atazanavir at least 2 hours before or 1 hour after these medications.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.
It is very important to continue giving this medication (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Do not skip any doses. Do not give more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop giving it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by the doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.