Atazanavir für HIV

About atazanavir

Atazanavir is an antiretroviral medicine. It is prescribed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It slows the progress of HIV infection, but it is not a cure. HIV destroys cells in the body, called CD4 T cells. These cells are a type of white blood cell and are important because they are involved in protecting your body from infection. If left untreated, the HIV infection weakens your immune system so that your body cannot defend itself against bacteria, viruses and other germs. Atazanavir slows down the progress of HIV infection by reducing the amount of virus in your body. It does this by stopping the production of a protein that the virus needs to copy (replicate) itself.

Atazanavir will be prescribed for you by a doctor who is a specialist. It belongs to a group of antiretroviral medicines known as protease inhibitors (PIs). It is given alongside a number of other antiretroviral medicines, as part of a combination therapy. Taking three or more antiretroviral medicines at the same time is more effective than taking one alone. Taking a combination of different medicines also reduces the risk that the virus will become resistant to any individual medicine. One brand of atazanavir called Evotaz® also contains a medicine called cobicistat. Cobicistat boosts the effect of atazanavir. Not all of the information in this document may apply to the combination brand - please refer to the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack.

It is vital to take your antiretroviral medicines exactly as prescribed to maintain success and to help to prevent the virus from becoming resistant to the medicines. These medicines are usually taken for life.

Before taking atazanavir

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking atazanavir it is important that your doctor knows:

• Wenn Sie schwanger sind, ein Kind erwarten oder stillen.

• Wenn Sie Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) haben.

• Wenn Sie eine Leberentzündung (Hepatitis genannt) oder ein anderes Leberproblem haben.

• Wenn Sie Probleme mit der Funktionsweise Ihrer Nieren haben.

• If you have been told you have a heart rhythm disorder.

• Wenn Sie entweder an Hämophilie oder Porphyrie leiden, beides seltene vererbbare Blutkrankheiten.

• Wenn Sie andere Arzneimittel einnehmen. Dazu gehören alle Arzneimittel, die ohne Rezept erhältlich sind, sowie pflanzliche und ergänzende Arzneimittel.

• Wenn Sie schon einmal eine allergische Reaktion auf ein Arzneimittel hatten.
  

How to take atazanavir

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about atazanavir, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take atazanavir exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take one dose each day. There are several strengths of atazanavir capsule available - your doctor will tell you which is right for you (or your child). It is important that you take atazanavir with food, as this will help your body to absorb the medicine. Swallow the capsule whole with a drink of water. You will also be asked to take a booster medicine (such as ritonavir or cobicistat) at the same time as you take atazanavir.

• Try to take atazanavir at the same time of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take it regularly.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it (with something to eat) as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the next day then leave out the forgotten dose and take your dose that it is due on that day. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

Das Beste aus Ihrer Behandlung herausholen

• Halten Sie Ihre regelmäßigen Termine bei Ihrem Arzt ein, damit Ihre Fortschritte überwacht werden können. Sie müssen regelmäßig Blutuntersuchungen durchführen lassen, um zu überprüfen, wie gut Ihre Medikamente wirken.

• It is important that you continue to take atazanavir and your other antiretroviral treatment regularly. This will help to prevent the HIV from becoming resistant to the medicines you are taking. Even if you miss only a small number of doses, the virus can become resistant to treatment.

• If you develop any infection soon after you start this treatment, let your doctor know. As a result of taking atazanavir, your immune system may start fighting an infection which was present before you started the treatment, but which you may not have been aware of.

• Befolgen Sie sorgfältig alle Ratschläge Ihres Arztes, Ihre Lebensweise zu ändern, um das Risiko von Schäden an Ihrem Herz und Ihren Blutgefäßen zu verringern. Dazu kann gehören, mit dem Rauchen aufzuhören, sich gesund zu ernähren und regelmäßig Sport zu treiben.

• Bei manchen Menschen, die antiretrovirale Arzneimittel einnehmen, verändert sich die Verteilung des Körperfetts im Körper. Dies kann zu einer Veränderung des Körperbildes führen. Ihr Arzt wird mit Ihnen über die Möglichkeit einer solchen Veränderung sprechen.

• Die Behandlung mit antiretroviralen Medikamenten kann zwar das Risiko einer HIV-Übertragung durch sexuelle Kontakte verringern, aber nicht verhindern. Es ist wichtig, dass Sie Kondome benutzen.

• Es ist nicht ungewöhnlich, dass sich Menschen mit HIV niedergeschlagen oder sogar depressiv fühlen, vor allem kurz nachdem die Diagnose gestellt und die Behandlung begonnen wurde. Wenn Sie sich deprimiert fühlen oder beunruhigende Gedanken haben, sich selbst zu schaden, sollten Sie sofort mit Ihrem Arzt sprechen.

• Einige Menschen, die antiretrovirale Arzneimittel (insbesondere über einen langen Zeitraum) eingenommen haben, haben eine sogenannte Osteonekrose entwickelt. Dabei handelt es sich um eine Knochenkrankheit, bei der das Knochengewebe abstirbt, weil es nicht mehr ausreichend durchblutet wird. Dies führt zu Gelenkschmerzen und Steifheit und kann zu Bewegungseinschränkungen führen. Wenn Sie eines dieser Symptome bemerken, sollten Sie mit Ihrem Arzt sprechen.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with atazanavir and your other medicines. This is because some medicines and herbal remedies interfere with atazanavir and stop it from working properly. In particular, do not take indigestion remedies during the two hours before and the two hours after you take your doses, and do not take St John's wort.

• If you have diabetes you may need to check your blood sugar (glucose) more frequently as this medicine can affect the levels of sugar in your blood. Your doctor will advise you about this.

• Wenn Sie sich einer Operation oder einer zahnärztlichen Behandlung unterziehen müssen, teilen Sie der behandelnden Person mit, welche Arzneimittel Sie einnehmen.

• Treatment for HIV is usually lifelong. Continue to take atazanavir regularly for as long as your doctor tells you to, even if you feel well. This is to keep your immune system healthy.

Can atazanavir cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with atazanavir. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Some people taking atazanavir have developed kidney stones - let your doctor know as soon as possible if you feel pain in your side or when you pass urine, or if you notice any blood in your urine.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further information.

How to store atazanavir

• Bewahren Sie alle Arzneimittel außerhalb der Reichweite und Sichtweite von Kindern auf.

• An einem kühlen, trockenen Ort aufbewahren, vor direkter Hitze und Licht schützen.

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