Prezcobix

• Risk factors: Hepatitis B or C | History of liver problems | Taking with ritonavir (Norvir)

Rarely, some people had life-threatening liver problems when they took Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) during clinical studies. Keep in mind that they were also taking ritonavir (Norvir). To be safe, your provider will order blood tests to check your liver before you start Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) and also during treatment, especially the first few months of starting the medication. These blood tests help make sure Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) is safe for your liver.

Tell your provider right away if you have any signs and symptoms of liver damage, such as feeling sleepy, nausea, loss of appetite, upper right stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or dark urine.

• Risk factors: Sulfa allergies | Taking with ritonavir (Norvir)

Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) can sometimes cause rash. In studies, some people developed a rash within the first 4 weeks of treatment. If you have a mild or moderate rash, continue to take Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) and let your provider know. Oftentimes, the rash goes away on its own. If you have a severe rash or your rash gets worse, talk with your provider right away.

Though rare, Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) can also cause severe skin reactions. Stop taking the medication and get medical attention if you have a severe rash with fever, general discomfort, muscle or joint pain, mouth sores, blisters, or facial swelling.

People with allergies to sulfa medications might have similar reactions, including rash, with Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat). Be sure your provider and pharmacist know about any allergies, especially if they're severe.

Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) might affect your blood work that your provider uses to check your kidney function. Your provider will order blood work before and during treatment to check your kidneys. Based on your blood test results, your provider might examine your kidneys more closely to make sure they're working well.

• Risk factors: History of kidney problems | Taking other medications known to harm kidneys

Some people who took tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) with cobicistat (an ingredient in Prezcobix) reported having kidney problems. If your treatment plan includes taking Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) with an HIV medication that contains TDF, your provider will order urine tests to check your kidneys before you start treatment. Depending on your kidney function, your provider might choose different HIV medications for you or decide the combination is okay to take with routine monitoring.

If you're taking Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) with an HIV medication containing TDF, make sure to avoid using other medications that can harm the kidneys, like high doses of ibuprofen. Let your provider know right away if you have bone or muscle pain, pain in your arms or legs, and general weakness that don't go away. These might be signs of kidney problems.

Some people taking Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) or certain other HIV protease inhibitors had high blood sugar levels. Sometimes, this led to diabetes or worsened diabetes. If this happens, your provider might need to prescribe diabetes medications or adjust the dose of your diabetes medications (if you're already taking some) to make sure your blood sugar is under control. Tell your provider before you start Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) if you have a history of diabetes. Your provider might ask you to check your blood sugar at home to make sure this medication is safe for you.

Rarely, people taking HIV medications like Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) have noticed changes in body fat. These changes might look like fat buildup in the back of the neck, breast, and stomach area. Some people have also lost fat from the legs, arms, and face. It's not clear whether Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) causes these changes to body fat, why this happens, and whether it will affect your health in the future. Let your provider know if these changes occur while you're taking Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat).

Taking combination ARV therapy, such as Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) with other HIV medications, can cause changes to your immune system called immune reconstitution syndrome. This condition happens when your immune system becomes overactive after you start treatment. Your immune system begins to fight off different infections that it was too weak to fight off before you started treatment. In rare cases, your immune response might improve too much with treatment and start to attack normal cells in your body. This can lead to autoimmune conditions that can develop at any time (during the first few weeks of treatment or many months later). Tell your provider right away if you have any new symptoms, such as fever, pain, hair loss, bulging eyes, or sweating, after you start Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat).

Some people with a bleeding condition called hemophilia have had more bleeding after starting protease inhibitors, like Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat). About half the time, treatment with the HIV medication continued or was restarted after the bleeding stopped. It isn't clear whether Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) is related to having more bleeding. Tell your provider right away if you have pain and swelling in your joints or bruising on your skin. These can be signs of buildup of blood under the skin or in your joints.

Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) interacts with many medications. Some medications can cause the amount of Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) in your body to drop. This can make the HIV medication work less well to treat your infection. Examples of medications that you should avoid because of this risk include certain other HIV medications like efavirenz (Sustiva) and certain seizure medications like carbamazepine (Tegretol).

Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) can also raise the amount of other medications in your body when taken together. This raises your risk for side effects from those other medications. For example, taking Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) with alfuzosin (Uroxatral) can put you at risk for dangerously low blood pressure. Taking this HIV medication with some blood thinners, like Eliquis (apixaban) or Xarelto (rivaroxaban), can raise your risk for serious bleeds.

Because of the potential for serious interactions with Prezcobix (darunavir / cobicistat) and various medications, tell your provider and pharmacist about all the medications you take or plan to take. They can make sure your medications are safe to take together.