This drug is used with other HIV medications to help
control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body
so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting
HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your
quality of life.
Darunavir belongs to a class of drugs known as protease
inhibitors. Darunavir must be given with certain other medications (such as
cobicistat, ritonavir) to increase ("boost") the levels of darunavir. This
helps darunavir work better.
Darunavir is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease
your risk of spreading HIV disease to others, continue to take all HIV
medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Use an effective barrier
method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during sexual activity
as directed by your doctor. Do not share personal items (such as
needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood
or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more
details.
This medication is not recommended for use in children
younger than 3 years due to the increased risk of serious side
effects.
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.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from
your pharmacist before you start taking darunavir and each time you get a
refill. If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully read
the Instructions for Use provided with the medication. If you have any
questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by
your doctor. Darunavir must be taken at the same time as certain other
medications, usually once or twice a day. (See also Uses section.) If you
have trouble swallowing the tablets, ask your doctor if you should use the
liquid form.
If you are using the liquid form of this medication,
shake the bottle well before each dose. Carefully measure the dose using a
special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you
may not get the correct dose.
The dosage is based on your age, lab tests, medical
condition, and response to treatment. Children's dosage is also based on
weight.
It is very important to keep taking this medication (and
other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your
doctor.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same
time(s) every day.
Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or
stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless
directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping or changing your dose without
approval from your doctor may cause the amount of virus to increase, make
the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side
effects.
Since darunavir is always taken with other HIV
medications, it may be difficult to tell whether darunavir is causing
certain side effects. However, darunavir is known to cause diarrhea,
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and headache. If any of these effects last
or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
As your immune system gets stronger, it can begin to
fight off infections you already had, possibly causing disease symptoms to
come back. You could also have symptoms if your immune system becomes
overactive. This reaction may happen at any time (soon after starting HIV
treatment or many months later). Get medical help right away if you have
any serious symptoms, including:
- unexplained weight loss
- severe tiredness
- muscle aches/weakness that doesn't go away
- headaches that are severe or don't go away
- joint pain
- numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs
- vision changes
- signs of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph
nodes, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores)
- signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability,
nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging
eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter)
- signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre
syndrome (such as unsteadiness, loss of coordination, trouble
swallowing/speaking/chewing, trouble moving your eyes)
This medication may rarely make your blood sugar rise,
which can cause or worsen diabetes. Tell your doctor right away if you have
symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. If you
already have diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly as directed and
share the results with your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your
diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- symptoms of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain,
shortness of breath, unusual sweating)
- easy bruising/bleeding
This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal)
liver problems. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of
liver damage, including:
- nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop
- severe stomach/abdominal pain
- dark urine
- yellowing eyes/skin
Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking this
medication (such as increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas,
decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of
these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with
your doctor, as well as the possible use of exercise to reduce this side
effect.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
Darunavir can commonly cause a rash that is usually not
serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash
that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Get medical help right away if
you develop any rash, especially with symptoms such as fever, tiredness,
muscle/joint pain, blisters, mouth sores, or red/swollen
eyes.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking darunavir, tell your doctor or pharmacist
if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product
may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or
other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- liver problems (such as hepatitis B or C)
- diabetes
- a certain bleeding problem (hemophilia)
- lipid problems (high cholesterol or triglycerides/fats)
- heart problems (coronary artery disease, heart attack)
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this
medication. Treatment can lower the risk of passing HIV infection to your
baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
This medication passes into breast milk. Because breast
milk may transmit HIV, consult your doctor before
breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some of the products that may interact with this drug
include:
- orlistat
- certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine,
phenytoin, primidone)
- barbiturates (such as phenobarbital, secobarbital)
- a certain combination HIV medication
(elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir)
Darunavir can slow down the removal of other drugs from
your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs
include certain alpha blockers (such as alfuzosin, tamsulosin), certain
benzodiazepines (midazolam, triazolam), bosutinib, dronedarone, ergot
alkaloids (such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine), certain drugs to treat
erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary hypertension (such as avanafil,
sildenafil), lomitapide, pimozide, ranolazine, rivaroxaban, salmeterol,
certain "statin" cholesterol drugs (such as lovastatin, simvastatin),
tolvaptan, among others.
Other medications can affect the removal of darunavir
from your body, which may affect how darunavir works. Examples include
apalutamide, garlic supplements, certain rifamycins (rifampin,
rifapentine), St. John's Wort, among others.
This medication may decrease the effectiveness of
hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause
pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use
reliable backup birth control methods while using this medication. Also
tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding,
because these may be signs that your birth control is not working
well.
Do not take this medication with other products that
contain darunavir.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as liver function, viral
load, T-cell counts, triglycerides/cholesterol, blood sugar) should be done
while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab
appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.
If you are taking this medication 2 times daily and you
miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is less than 6 hours
before the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the
regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.
If you are taking this medication once daily and you
miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is less than 12 hours
before the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the
regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep the liquid form of this medication in
the original container. Do not refrigerate or freeze the liquid form. Keep
all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.