Atazanavir for HIV

About atazanavir

Atazanavir is an antiretroviral medicine. It is prescribed for عدوى فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية (HIV). 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.

من الضروري تناول الأدوية المضادة للفيروسات القهقرية تمامًا كما هو موصوف للحفاظ على النجاح والمساعدة في منع الفيروس من تطوير مقاومة للأدوية. عادةً ما يتم تناول هذه الأدوية مدى الحياة.

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:

• إذا كنتِ حاملاً، تحاولين الإنجاب أو تقومين بالرضاعة الطبيعية.

• إذا كنت مصابًا بمرض السكري (داء السكري).

• إذا كنت تعاني من التهاب الكبد (يسمى التهاب الكبد الفيروسي)، أو أي مشكلة أخرى في الكبد.

• إذا كان لديك أي مشاكل في طريقة عمل الكلى لديك.

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

• إذا كنت تعاني من الهيموفيليا أو البورفيريا، وهما اضطرابات دم وراثية نادرة.

• إذا كنت تتناول أي أدوية أخرى. يشمل ذلك أي أدوية يمكن شراؤها بدون وصفة طبية، بالإضافة إلى الأدوية العشبية والمكملات الغذائية.

• إذا كنت قد تعرضت في أي وقت مضى لرد فعل تحسسي تجاه دواء.
  

• 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.

• حافظ على مواعيدك المنتظمة مع طبيبك حتى يمكن متابعة تقدمك. ستحتاج إلى إجراء فحوصات دم منتظمة للتحقق من مدى فعالية أدويتك.

• 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.

• اتبع بعناية أي نصيحة يقدمها لك طبيبك بشأن إجراء تغييرات في نمط الحياة لتقليل أي خطر على قلبك والأوعية الدموية. يمكن أن تشمل هذه التغييرات الإقلاع عن التدخين، وتناول الطعام الصحي، وممارسة التمارين الرياضية بانتظام.

• بعض الأشخاص الذين يتناولون الأدوية المضادة للفيروسات القهقرية يطورون تغييرات في طريقة توزيع الدهون في الجسم. يمكن أن يؤدي ذلك إلى تغييرات في صورة الجسم. سيناقش طبيبك إمكانية حدوث ذلك معك.

• على الرغم من أن العلاج بالأدوية المضادة للفيروسات القهقرية قد يقلل من خطر نقل فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية للآخرين من خلال الاتصال الجنسي، إلا أنه لا يوقفه تمامًا. من المهم أن تستخدم الواقيات الذكرية.

• It is not uncommon for people with HIV to feel low or even depressed, especially soon after the diagnosis has been made and treatment has been started. If you have any feelings of depression, or any distressing thoughts about harming yourself then you should speak with your doctor على الفور.

• بعض الأشخاص الذين تناولوا الأدوية المضادة للفيروسات القهقرية (خاصة لفترة طويلة) قد أصيبوا بحالة تسمى نخر العظام. هذه حالة مرضية تصيب العظام حيث تموت الأنسجة العظمية بسبب انخفاض تدفق الدم إليها. يؤدي ذلك إلى آلام في المفاصل وتيبس، ويمكن أن يسبب صعوبات في الحركة. إذا لاحظت أيًا من هذه الأعراض، تحدث مع طبيبك.

• 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.

• إذا كنت ستخضع لعملية جراحية أو علاج أسنان، أخبر الشخص الذي يقوم بالعلاج بالأدوية التي تتناولها.

• 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.

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.

• احفظ جميع الأدوية بعيدًا عن متناول ورؤية الأطفال.

• احفظه في مكان بارد وجاف، بعيدًا عن الحرارة المباشرة والضوء.