cobicistat and darunavir

What is the most important information I should know about cobicistat and darunavir?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

What is cobicistat and darunavir?

Cobicistat and darunavir is a combination medicine given with other medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in adults, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This medicine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Cobicistat and darunavir is for use in people who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kilograms).

Cobicistat and darunavir may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cobicistat and darunavir?

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with cobicistat and darunavir. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

• alfuzosin;
• cisapride;
• colchicine;
• elbasvir and grazoprevir (Zepatier);
• naloxegol;
• rifampin;
• sildenafil (Revatio, for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension);
• St. John's wort;
• heart medication --dronedarone, ivabradine, ranolazine;
• medicine to lower cholesterol --lomitapide, lovastatin, simvastatin;
• antipsychotic medicine-- lurasidone, pimozide;
• oral sedatives-- midazolam, triazolam;
• ergot medicines-- dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine; or
• seizure medicine-- carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);
• kidney disease;
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
• an allergy to sulfa drugs;
• diabetes; or
• if you also take tenofovir or ritonavir.

If you plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor for another antiviral medicine to use during pregnancy. Use all medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.

How should I take cobicistat and darunavir?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You will need frequent medical tests.

Use all HIV medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV should remain under the care of a doctor.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking cobicistat and darunavir?

Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What are the possible side effects of cobicistat and darunavir?

• high blood sugar --increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, headache, blurred vision; or
• liver problems --upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Cobicistat and darunavir affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of a new infection --fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;
• stomach pain, tiredness, itching, skin redness, yellowing of the skin or eyes;
• trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or
• swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;
• headache;
• rash; or
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect cobicistat and darunavir?

If you also take enteric-coated didanosine (Videx EC), take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take cobicistat and darunavir.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect cobicistat and darunavir. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about cobicistat and darunavir.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 9.01. Revision date: 5/2/2022.