This product 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. This product is a combination of two different drugs:
darunavir and cobicistat. Darunavir belongs to a class of drugs known as
protease inhibitors. Cobicistat is used to increase ("boost") the levels of
darunavir.
Darunavir/cobicistat 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.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from
your pharmacist before you start taking darunavir/cobicistat and each time
you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by
your doctor, usually once daily.
It is very important to keep taking this medication (and
other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip
any doses.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time
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. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to
increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen
side effects.
Diarrhea may occur. If this lasts or gets 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.
Darunavir/cobicistat may rarely cause serious (possibly
fatal) liver disease. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms
of liver damage, including:
- nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop
- loss of appetite
- stomach/abdominal pain
- yellowing eyes/skin
- dark urine
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
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.
This medication 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.
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
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/cobicistat, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to either of the medications; 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 disease (including hepatitis B, C)
- kidney disease
- a certain bleeding problem (hemophilia)
- diabetes
- heart problems (coronary artery disease, heart attack)
- lipid problems (high cholesterol or triglycerides/fats)
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
This medication is not recommended for use during
pregnancy. It may not work well in a pregnant woman. If you become pregnant
or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor may
change your HIV medications.
Darunavir passes into breast milk. It is unknown if
cobicistat 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 products that may interact with this drug
include:
- elvitegravir
- orlistat
- ritonavir
This medication can slow down the removal of other
medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of
affected drugs include certain alpha blockers (such as alfuzosin,
tamsulosin), certain benzodiazepines (such as midazolam, triazolam),
dronedarone, ergot alkaloids (such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine),
lomitapide, quinidine, pimozide, ranolazine, rivaroxaban, salmeterol,
certain drugs to treat erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary hypertension
(such as avanafil, sildenafil), certain "statin" cholesterol drugs
(lovastatin, simvastatin), among others.
Other medications can affect the removal of this
medication from your body, which may affect how this medication works.
Examples include apalutamide, certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as
carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), garlic supplements,
certain HIV NNRTI drugs (such as efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine),
certain rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifapentine), mitotane, 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 or cobicistat.
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/kidney function,
viral load, T-cell counts, triglycerides/cholesterol, blood sugar) should
be done before you start taking this medication and while you are taking
it. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more
details.
If 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 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.