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Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Atazanavir Stada 200 mg hard capsules EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
Atazanavir Stada is an antiviral medicine (also known as an antiretroviral).It belongs to a group of medicines called protease inhibitors. These medicines control HIV infection by blocking an enzyme that the virus needs to multiply. It works by reducing the amount of HIV in your body and thereby strengthening your immune system. This reduces the risk of developing diseases associated with HIV infection.
Atazanavir capsules can be used by adults and children aged 6 years and older. Your doctor has prescribed atazanavir because you are infected with HIV, which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is usually used in combination with other anti-HIV medicines. Your doctor will decide which combination of these medicines is best for you to take with atazanavir.
DO NOT TAKE Atazanavir Stada
Do not take sildenafil with atazanavir when sildenafil is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. Sildenafil is also used to treat erectile dysfunction. Inform your doctor if you are using sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction.
Tell your doctor immediately if you are in any of these situations.
Warnings and precautions
Atazanavir is not a cure for HIV infection.You may still develop infections or other illnesses associated with HIV infection.
Some people will need special monitoring before or during treatment with atazanavir. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting atazanavir and make sure to inform your doctor:
Atazanavir may affect kidney function.
There have been reports of kidney stones in patients treated with atazanavir. If you experience signs or symptoms of kidney stones (side pain, blood in the urine, pain when urinating), please inform your doctor immediately.
In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS) and a history of opportunistic infections, signs and symptoms of inflammatory conditions may appear after starting anti-HIV treatment. These symptoms are thought to be due to an improvement in the body's immune response, allowing it to fight infections that were present but not causing any obvious symptoms. If you notice any symptoms of infection, please inform your doctor immediately. In addition to opportunistic infections, autoimmune disorders (diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy body tissue) may also appear after you start taking medicines to treat your HIV infection. Autoimmune disorders may appear many months after starting treatment. If you notice any symptoms of infection or other symptoms such as muscle weakness, weakness starting in the hands and feet and moving up towards the trunk of the body, palpitations, tremors, or hyperactivity, please inform your doctor immediately to receive the necessary treatment.
Some patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy may develop a bone disease called osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue caused by loss of blood supply to the bone). Among the many risk factors for developing this disease are the duration of combination antiretroviral therapy, the use of corticosteroids, alcohol consumption, severe immunodepression, and high body mass index. The symptoms of osteonecrosis are joint stiffness, pain, and discomfort (especially in the hip, knee, and shoulder) and difficulty moving. If you notice any of these symptoms, please inform your doctor.
Hyperbilirubinemia (elevated bilirubin levels in the blood) has occurred in patients receiving atazanavir. The signs may be a slightly yellowish discoloration of the skin or eyes. If you notice any of these symptoms, please inform your doctor.
Severe skin rash, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, has been observed in patients treated with atazanavir. Inform your doctor immediately if you develop a rash.
If you notice a change in your heart rhythm (changes in heart rate), please inform your doctor. Children taking atazanavir may need to have their heart monitored. Your child's doctor will decide this.
Children
Do not give this medicine to childrenunder 3 months of age and weighing less than 5 kg. The use of atazanavir has not been studied in children under 3 months of age and weighing less than 5 kg due to the risk of serious complications.
Other medicines and Atazanavir Stada
Do not take atazanavir with certain medicines.These are listed under the heading “Do not take Atazanavir Stada” at the beginning of Section 2.
There are other medicines that should not be taken with atazanavir. Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. It is especially important that you mention the use of the following:
Some medicines may interact with ritonavir, a medicine given with atazanavir. It is important that you inform your doctor if you are using an inhaled or nasal corticosteroid (given by nasal route), fluticasone or budesonide (given to treat allergic symptoms or asthma).
Taking Atazanavir Stada with food and drinks
It is important that you take atazanavir with food (a meal or snack) as this helps the absorption of the medicine.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Atazanavir, the active ingredient of atazanavir, is excreted in breast milk. Patients must not breastfeed while taking atazanavir.
It is not recommendedthat HIV-positive women breastfeed their babies because HIV infection can be transmitted to the baby through breast milk.
If you are breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding, you must consultyour doctor as soon as possible.
Driving and using machines
If you feel dizzy or drowsy, do not drive or use machines, and contact your doctor immediately.
Atazanavir Stada contains lactose.
This medicine contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Follow exactly the instructions for administration of this medicine given by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again. This way, you can be sure that the treatment is fully effective and reduces the risk of the virus developing resistance to the treatment.
The recommended dose of atazanavir capsules for adults is 300 mg together with 100 mg of ritonavir once daily and with food,in combination with other anti-HIV medicines. Your doctor may adjust the dose of atazanavir according to your anti-HIV treatment.
For children (aged 6 to 18 years), the doctor will decide the correct dose based on the child's weight.The dose of atazanavir capsules for children is calculated by body weight and taken once daily with food and 100 mg of ritonavir as shown below:
Body Weight (kg) | Dose of atazanavir once daily (mg) | Dose of ritonavir* once daily (mg) |
15 to less than 35 | 200 | 100 |
35 or more | 300 | 100 |
Other forms of atazanavir may be available for use in children aged 3 months or older and weighing 5 kg or more. It is recommended to switch from other forms of administration to capsules as soon as patients are able to swallow the capsules properly.
When switching between other pharmaceutical forms and capsules, it may be necessary to adjust the dose. Your doctor will decide the correct dose based on your child's weight.
There are no dose recommendations for atazanavir in pediatric patients under 3 months of age.
Take Atazanavir Stada capsules with food(a meal or snack). Swallow the capsules whole. Do not open the capsules.
If you take more Atazanavir Stada than you should
If you or your child take too much atazanavir, the skin and/or eyes may turn yellow (jaundice) and irregular heartbeats (prolonged QTc) may occur.
If you have accidentally taken more atazanavir capsules than your doctor prescribed, contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital for consultation or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone 91.562.04.20, indicating the medicine and the amount ingested.
If you forget to take Atazanavir Stada
If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as possible with some food and then take the next scheduled dose at the usual time. If it is almost time for the next dose, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
If you stop taking Atazanavir Stada
Do not stop taking atazanavir before consulting your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them. During the treatment of HIV infection, it is not always easy to identify the adverse effects caused by atazanavir, by any other medicine you are taking, or by the HIV infection itself. Inform your doctor of any change you notice in your state of health.
During HIV treatment, there may be an increase in weight and glucose and lipid levels in the blood. This may be partly related to the recovery of health and lifestyle, and in the case of increased blood lipids, it is sometimes due to the same HIV medications. Your doctor will analyze these changes.
Immediately inform your doctor if you experience any of the following serious adverse effects:
Other adverse effects reported in patients treated with atazanavir are the following:
Frequent (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Infrequent (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Reporting Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect that is not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Medicines Monitoring System Website: www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the outer packaging, bottle, or blister pack after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not store above 30°C.
For bottles:
Use within 4 months after the first opening.
Medicines should not be disposed of through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE Point in the pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Atazanavir Stada
Appearance of the Product and Package Contents
Atazanavir Stada 200 mg hard capsules are opaque, blue, size 0, and printed with white ink, with "200 mg" on the cap.
Atazanavir Stada 200 mg is available in:
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder
Laboratorio STADA, S.L.
Frederic Mompou 5
08960 Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)
Spain
Manufacturer
Remedica Ltd
Aharnon Street, Limassol Industrial Estate
3056 Limassol
Cyprus
or
STADA Arzneimittel AG
Stadastrasse 2 – 18
61118 Bad Vilbel
Germany
This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Germany: Atazanavir AL 200 mg Hartkapseln
Denmark: Atazanavir STADA
Spain: Atazanavir STADA 200 mg hard capsules EFG
Finland: Atazanavir STADA 200 mg kovat kapselit
Netherlands: Atazanavir STADA 200 mg harde capsules
Iceland: Atazanavir STADA 200 mg hörð hylki
Italy: Atazanavir EG
Sweden: Atazanavir STADA 200 mg kapsel, hård
Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet:February 2024
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) (http://www.aemps.gob.es/).
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