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Symtuza

  • Generic Name: darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir  alafenamide tablets
  • Brand Name: Symtuza

side effects drug center symtuza (darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir  alafenamide tablets) drug - patient side effects and images

 

PROFESSIONAL

CONSUMER

SIDE EFFECTS

Symtuza Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Symtuza

Generic Name: cobicistat, darunavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir

What is cobicistat, darunavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir (Symtuza) (Symtuza)?

Cobicistat, darunavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir (Symtuza) is a combination antiviral medicine used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that can cause the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Symtuza is for use in adults and children weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kilograms). This medicine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Symtuza is sometimes used in people who have never been treated with other HIV medications.

Symtuza is also used to replace other HIV medications in adults with suppressed viral loads. Your doctor will determine which medication is best for you.

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

What are the possible side effects of Symtuza (Symtuza)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • increased thirst, increased urination;
  • little or no urination;
  • lactic acidosis--unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, irregular heart rate, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired; or
  • liver problems--swelling around your midsection, right-sided upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Symtuza affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have:

Common side effects may include:

  • nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, gas;
  • headache, feeling tired; or
  • rash.

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 this medicine (Symtuza)?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Call your doctor at once if you have signs of a serious side effect--upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, dark urine, clay-colored stools, yellowing of your skin or eyes, fever, tiredness, eye redness, muscle or joint pain, skin sores, or a skin rash with blistering.

If you've ever had hepatitis B, it may become active or get worse after you stop using this medicine. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.

Symtuza Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Symtuza (Symtuza)?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to cobicistat, darunavir, emtricitabine, or tenofovir.

Many drugs can interact and cause dangerous effects. Some drugs should not be used together with Symtuza. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

  • alfuzosin;
  • cisapride;
  • colchicine (in people with liver or kidney disease);
  • elbasvir and grazoprevir;
  • lovastatin or simvastatin;
  • pimozide, lurasidone;
  • rifampin;
  • sildenafil (Revatio, for pulmonary arterial hypertension);
  • St. John's wort;
  • triazolam or oral midazolam;
  • heart medication--dronedarone, ivabradine, ranolazine;
  • ergot medicines--dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine; or
  • seizure medicine--carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Symtuza may not work as well if you take it during pregnancy. Do not start taking this medicine if you are pregnant, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

If you plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor for another antiviral medicine to use during pregnancy. Use all medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.

If you do not plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor about using a non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy. Symtuza can increase certain side effects when taken with hormonal birth control (pills, injections, implants, skin patches, vaginal rings).

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breastfeed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I take Symtuza (Symtuza)?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Always take this medicine with food.

If you cannot swallow a tablet whole, you may break the tablet in half. Take both halves right away.

Use all HIV medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV should remain under the care of a doctor.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep the tablets in their original container, along with the packet or canister of moisture-absorbing preservative.

If you've ever had hepatitis B, this virus may become active or get worse in the months after you stop using Symtuza. You may need frequent liver function tests while using this medicine and for several months after your last dose.

Symtuza Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Symtuza)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

What happens if I overdose (Symtuza)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Symtuza (Symtuza)?

Using this medicine will not prevent your disease from spreading. Do not have unprotected sex or share 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.

What other drugs will affect Symtuza (Symtuza)?

Other drugs may affect Symtuza, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information (Symtuza)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about cobicistat, darunavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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