In 2013, Atazanavir was approved for medical use. This antiretroviral was approved in the United States. It has been marked as an essential medication by the World Health Organization. It is one of the safest and most effective medicines for the health system.
Reyataz is the brand name of Atazanavir, which is basically an antiretroviral medication indicated for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. The use of Atazanavir is generally recommended for use with other antiretrovirals.
Atazanavir sulfate is quite reputed from other Protease Inhibitors and in that it has very less effects on lipid profile and seems less responsible in order to cause lipodystrophy. There could be a few cross-resistant with the other Protease Inhibitors. When enhanced with the ritonavir it appears quite similar in potency to lopinavir for use in salvage therapy in people with a degree of drug resistance, although enhancing with ritonavir reduces the metabolic advantages of atazanavir.
This protease inhibitor (PI) which works by blocking HIV protease and appears to be safe to use during pregnancy.
The efficacy of atazanavir evaluated in the numbers of clinical trials in antiretroviral therapy-naive and also antiretroviral experienced adults.
The World Health Organization “ART (antiretroviral therapy) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Adults as well as Adolescents” Guidelines (WHO, 2006b) recommend a ritonavir-boosted Protease Inhibitors as the core of a second-line regimen. As Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) is available as a fixed-dose combination it is a preferred choice, however the WHO Guidelines recommend that if LPV/r is not an option, Atazanavir Ritonavir can be selected as a suitable replacement.
Side Effects of Atazanavir Sulfate:
Patients with Atazanavir may experience some common side effects include:
Rash
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Muscle pain
- Jaundice
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Abdominal Pain
- Depression and Fever
- Peripheral Neurologic Symptoms
- Bilirubin levels in the Blood
Dosage regimen:
For patients who have been treated with therapy, the recommended dose is Atazanavir 300 mg with ritonavir 100mg, should be taken once daily with food. The dose remains the same if combined with an H2-receptor antagonist. If combined with H2-receptor antagonist and tenofovir, the recommended dose is atazanavir 400mg with 100 mg ritonavir.
Patients with the treatment experienced should avoid the proton pump inhibitors while receiving atazanavir. This combination is not recommended.
For ART-naive patients the dose should be recommended as Atazanavir 300mg with ritonavir 100mg should be taken once daily with meal if combined with either efavirenz, tenofovir a H2-receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor. If it is administered alone, the recommended dose should be as Atazanavir 400mg taken once daily with food.
Treatment duration: Treatment duration should be continued or until the treatment has to be changed because of side effects, contraindications or the development of viral resistance.
Formulations: This antiretroviral is available for oral administration in various formulations, which are as mentioned: Atazanavir 150 mg capsule, Atazanavir 200 mg capsule, Atazanavir 300 mg capsule.
Reyataz Capsules basically contains atazanavir sulfate as an active pharmaceutical ingredient and the inactive ingredients are as follows:
- Crospovidone
- Lactose Monohydrate
- And, Magnesium Stearate
Contraindications: Patients with known hypersensitivity to any of Reyataz's ingredients including atazanavir sulfate, must avoid the consumption. It is contraindicated to such patients.
Reyataz is also contraindicated with some other medications that are highly dependent on Cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A, also known as CYP3A, for the clearance as well as for which the elevated plasma concentrations are associated with hazardous and life-threatening events.
