Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Prezista

Generic Name: darunavir (Pronunciation: da ROON a veer)

• What is darunavir (Prezista)?
• What are the possible side effects of darunavir (Prezista)?
• What is the most important information I should know about darunavir (Prezista)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking darunavir (Prezista)?
• How should I take darunavir (Prezista)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Prezista)?
• What happens if I overdose (Prezista)?
• What should I avoid while taking darunavir (Prezista)?
• What other drugs will affect darunavir (Prezista)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is darunavir (Prezista)?

Darunavir is an antiviral medication in a group of HIV medicines called protease (PRO-tee-ayz) inhibitors. Darunavir prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.

Darunavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Darunavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Darunavir may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of darunavir (Prezista)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using darunavir and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
• signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding;
• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
• nausea, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);

Less serious side effects may include:

• diarrhea, mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
• headache;
• mild skin 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 is the most important information I should know about darunavir (Prezista)?

Do not take darunavir with alfuzosin (Uroxatral), cisapride (Propulsid), pimozide (Orap), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor), simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin), oral midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), St. John's wort, or an ergot medicine such as Ergomar, Ergotrate, Cafergot, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, Methergine, and others.

These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking darunavir.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing 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.

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