Darunavir

Darunavir is used with ritonavir (Norvir) and other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in adults and children 6 years of age and older. Darunavir is in a class of medications called protease inhibitors. It works by slowing the spread of HIV in the body. Darunavir does not cure HIV infection and may not prevent you from developing HIV-related illnesses. Darunavir does not prevent you from spreading HIV to other people.

Darunavir comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with food and with ritonavir once or twice a day. Take darunavir at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take darunavir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not take darunavir without ritonavir. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink such as water or milk. Do not chew the tablets. Darunavir controls HIV but does not cure it. Continue to take darunavir even if you feel well. Do not stop taking darunavir without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking darunavir or skip doses, your condition may become more difficult to treat. When your supply of darunavir starts to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

<p></p> <p></p> <p>Darunavir may cause hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms of hyperglycemia:

<ul>
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extreme thirst</li>
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frequent urination</li>
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extreme hunger</li>
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weakness</li>
<li>
blurred vision</li></ul>If high blood sugar is not treated, a serious, life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could develop. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

<ul>
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dry mouth</li>
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nausea and vomiting</li>
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shortness of breath</li>
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breath that smells fruity</li>
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decreased consciousness</li></ul></p> <p>Darunavir may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
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headache</li>
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diarrhea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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constipation</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
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rash</li>
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peeling or blistering skin</li>
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mouth sores</li>
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muscle or joint aches</li>
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fever</li>
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swelling, tenderness, redness, or other signs of infection</li>
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nausea</li>
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extreme tiredness</li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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pain in the upper right part of the stomach</li>
<li>
yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
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pale or dark stools</li></ul>Darunavir may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking darunavir, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to darunavir, ritonavir, sulfa medications, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in darunavir tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients or if you are unsure if a medication you are allergic to is a sulfa medication. tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: alfuzosin (Uroxatral); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the U.S.); ergot-type medications such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Bellergal-S, Cafergot, Ergomar, Wigraine), and methylergonovine (Methergine); lovastatin (in Advicor, Altoprev, Mevacor); midazolam (Versed); pimozide (Orap); rifampin (Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater, Rifadin); sildenafil (Revatio); simvastatin (in Simcor, in Vytorin, Zocor); or triazolam (Halcion). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take darunavir. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and voriconazole (Vfend); beta blockers such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and timolol (Betimol, in Combigan, in Cosopt, Istalol, Timoptic); bosentan (Tracleer); buprenorphine (Buprenex, Butrans, in Suboxone, Subutex); calcium-channel blockers such as felodipine (in Lexxel, Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia); cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) such as atorvastatin (in Caduet, Lipitor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and rosuvastatin (Crestor); colchicine (Colcrys); desipramine (Norpramin); dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexpak); fluticasone (in Advair, Flonase, Flovent); other medications for HIV including indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), maraviroc (Selzentry), and saquinavir (Invirase); medications for irregular heartbeat including amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), bepridil (Vascor) (not available in the U.S.), digoxin (Lanoxin), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), and quinidine; certain medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Equetro, Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); certain medications that suppress the immune system such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf); methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); certain phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors) used for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra); rifabutin (Mycobutin); risperidone (Risperdal); salmeterol (in Advair, Serevent); certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft); tadalafil (Adcirca); thioridazine; and trazodone. Many other medications may also interact with darunavir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. if you are taking didanosine (Videx), take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take darunavir. tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort. You should not take St. John's wort during your treatment with darunavir. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes or high blood sugar; hemophilia (bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly); hepatitis (swelling of the liver caused by a virus), cirrhosis (a disease which causes scarring of liver tissue), or any other liver disease; or an infection that does not go away or that comes and goes such as cytomegalovirus (CMV; a viral infection that may cause symptoms in patients with weak immune systems), mycobacterium avium complex disease (MAC; a bacterial infection that may cause serious symptoms in people with AIDS), pneumonia, or tuberculosis (TB; a type of lung infection). you should know that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body such as your breasts, upper back, neck, chest, and stomach area. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face can also happen.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.