- if you are allergic to darunavir, cobicistat or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- if you have severe liver problems. Ask your doctor if you are unsure about the severity of your liver disease. Some additional tests might be necessary.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take including medicines taken orally, inhaled, injected or applied to the skin.
If you are taking any of these, ask your doctor about switching to another medicine.
Medicine Purpose of the medicine
Alfuzosin to treat enlarged prostate
Amiodarone, bepridil, dronedarone, ivabradine, quinidine, ranolazine to treat certain heart disorders e.g. abnormal heart beat
Carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin to prevent seizures
Astemizole or terfenadine to treat allergy symptoms
Colchicine (if you have kidney/liver problems) to treat gout or familial Mediterranean fever
The combination product lopinavir/ritonavir anti-HIV medicine
Rifampicin to treat some infections such as tuberculosis
Lurasidone, pimozide, quetiapine or sertindole to treat psychiatric conditions
Ergot alkaloids like ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergometrine and methylergonovine to treat migraine headaches
Cisapride to treat some stomach conditions
St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) a herbal product used for depression
Elbasvir/grazoprevir to treat hepatitis C infection
Lovastatin, simvastatin, and lomitapide to lower cholesterol levels
Triazolam or oral (taken by mouth) midazolam to help you sleep and/or relieve anxiety
Sildenafil to treat a heart and lung disorder called pulmonary arterial hypertension. There are other uses for sildenafil. Please see section ‘Other medicines and REZOLSTA’.
Avanafil to treat erectile dysfunction
Ticagrelor to help stop the clumping of platelets in the treatment of patients with a history of a heart attack
Naloxegol to treat opioid induced constipation
Dapoxetine to treat premature ejaculation
Domperidone to treat nausea and vomiting
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking REZOLSTA.
People taking REZOLSTA may still develop infections or other illnesses associated with HIV infection. You must keep in regular contact with your doctor.
People taking REZOLSTA may develop a skin rash. Infrequently a rash may become severe or potentially life-threatening. Please contact your doctor whenever you develop a rash.
In patients taking REZOLSTA and raltegravir (for HIV infection), rashes (generally mild or moderate) may occur more frequently than in patients taking either medicine separately.
REZOLSTA has only been used in limited numbers of patients 65 years or older. If you belong to this age group, please discuss with your doctor if you can use REZOLSTA.
Make sure that you check the following points and tell your doctor if any of these apply to you.
- Tell your doctor if you have had problems with your liver before, including hepatitis B or C infection. Your doctor may evaluate how severe your liver disease is before deciding if you can take REZOLSTA.
- Tell your doctor if you have had problems with your kidneys. Your doctor will carefully consider whether to treat you with REZOLSTA.
- Tell your doctor if you have diabetes. REZOLSTA might increase sugar levels in the blood.
- Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any symptoms of infection (for example enlarged lymph nodes and fever). In some patients with advanced HIV infection and a history of unusual infections due to a weakened immune system (opportunistic infection), signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections may occur soon after HIV treatment is started. It is believed that these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body’s immune response, enabling the body to fight infections that may have been present with no obvious symptoms.
- In addition to the opportunistic infections, autoimmune disorders (a condition that occurs when the immune system attacks healthy body tissue) may also occur after you start taking medicines for the treatment of your HIV infection. Autoimmune disorders may occur many months after the start of treatment. If you notice any symptoms of infection or other symptoms such as muscle weakness, weakness beginning in the hands and feet and moving up towards the trunk of the body, palpitations, tremor or hyperactivity, please inform your doctor immediately so you can be given the necessary treatment.
- Tell your doctor if you have haemophilia. REZOLSTA might increase the risk of bleeding.
- Tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulphonamides (e.g. used to treat certain infections).
- Tell your doctor if you notice any musculoskeletal problems. Some patients taking combination antiretroviral therapy may develop a bone disease called osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue caused by loss of blood supply to the bone). This may be more likely with long-term HIV treatment, more severe damage to the immune system, overweight, or the use of alcohol or other medicines called corticosteroids. Signs of osteonecrosis are joint stiffness, aches and pains (especially of the hip, knee and shoulder) and difficulty in movement. If you notice any of these symptoms please inform your doctor.
REZOLSTA 800 mg/150 mg (darunavir/cobicistat) is not for use in children weighing less than 40 kilograms.
REZOLSTA is also available as a 675 mg/150 mg scored tablet for children 6 years and older weighing at least 25 kg and less than 40 kg (see separate Package Leaflet for REZOLSTA 675 mg/150 mg film-coated tablets).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines.
There are some medicines that you must not combine with REZOLSTA. These are mentioned above under the heading ‘Do not combine REZOLSTA with any of the following medicines:’
REZOLSTA must not be used with another antiviral medicine that contains a booster or another antiviral that requires boosting. In some cases dosage of other medicines might need to be changed. Therefore, always tell your doctor if you take other anti-HIV medicines and follow your doctor’s instruction carefully on which medicines can be combined.
The effects of REZOLSTA might be reduced if you take any of the following products. Tell your doctor if you take:
- Bosentan (to treat heart disease)
- Dexamethasone (injectable) (corticosteroid)
- Efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine (to treat HIV infection)
- Rifapentine, rifabutin (to treat bacterial infections).
The effects of other medicines might be influenced if you take REZOLSTA and your doctor might want to do some additional blood tests. Tell your doctor if you take:
- Amlodipine, carvedilol, diltiazem, disopyramide, felodipine, flecainide, lidocaine, metoprolol, mexiletine, nicardipine, nifedipine, propafenone, timolol, verapamil (for heart disease) as the therapeutic effect or side effects of these medicines may be increased.
- Apixaban, dabigatran etexilate, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, warfarin, clopidogrel (to reduce clotting of the blood) as their therapeutic effect or side effects may be altered.
- Clonazepam (to prevent seizures).
- Oestrogen-based hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. REZOLSTA might reduce its effectiveness. When used for birth control, alternative methods of non-hormonal contraception are recommended.
- Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone. REZOLSTA might increase the risk for elevated potassium levels by drospirenone.
- Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin (to lower cholesterol levels). The risk of muscle damage might be increased. Your doctor will evaluate which cholesterol lowering regimen is best for your specific situation.
- Ciclosporin, everolimus, tacrolimus, sirolimus (for dampening down your immune system) as the therapeutic effect or side effects of these medicines might be increased.
- Corticosteroids including betamethasone, budesonide, fluticasone, mometasone, prednisone, triamcinolone. These medicines are used to treat allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases, inflammatory conditions of the skin, eyes, joints and muscles and other inflammatory conditions. These medicines are generally taken orally, inhaled, injected or applied to the skin. If alternatives cannot be used, its use should only take place after medical evaluation and under close monitoring by your doctor for corticosteroid side effects.
- Buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone (medicines to treat opioid dependence)
- Salmeterol (medicine to treat asthma)
- Artemether/lumefantrine (a combination medicine to treat malaria)
- Dasatinib, irinotecan, nilotinib, vinblastine, vincristine (medicines to treat cancer)
- Perphenazine, risperidone, thioridazine (psychiatric medicines)
- Clorazepate, diazepam, estazolam, flurazepam (medicines to treat sleeping disorders or anxiety)
- Sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil (for erectile dysfunction or to treat a heart and lung disorder called pulmonary arterial hypertension)
- Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (to treat hepatitis C infection)
- Fesoterodine, solifenacin (to treat urologic disorders).
Your doctor might want to do some additional blood tests and the dosage of other medicines might need to be changed since either their own or REZOLSTA’s therapeutic effect or side effects may be influenced when combined.
Tell your doctor if you take:
- Dabigatran etexilate, edoxaban, warfarin (to reduce clotting of the blood)
- Alfentanil (injectable, strong and short-acting, painkiller that is used for surgical procedures)
- Digoxin (to treat certain heart disorders)
- Clarithromycin (antibiotic)
- Clotrimazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, isavuconazole, posaconazole (against fungal infections). Voriconazole should only be taken after medical evaluation.
- Rifabutin (against bacterial infections)
- Tadalafil, sildenafil, vardenafil (for erectile dysfunction or high blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation)
- Amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone (to treat depression and anxiety)
- Maraviroc (to treat HIV infection)
- Colchicine (to treat gout or familial Mediterranean fever). If you have renal and/or hepatic impairment see section ‘Do not combine REZOLSTA with any of the following medicines’.
- Bosentan (to treat high blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation)
- Buspirone, clorazepate, diazepam, estazolam, flurazepam, zolpidem, midazolam when used as injection (medicines to treat trouble with sleeping and/or anxiety)
- Metformin (to treat type 2 diabetes)
- Fentanyl, oxycodone, tramadol (to treat pain).
This is not a complete list of medicines. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you are taking.
Tell your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Pregnant women should not take REZOLSTA.
Because of the potential for side effects in breast-fed infants, women should not breast-feed if they are receiving REZOLSTA.
Breast-feeding is not recommended in women living with HIV because HIV infection can be passed on to the baby in breast milk. If you are breast-feeding, or thinking about breast-feeding, you should discuss it with your doctor as soon as possible.
Do not operate machines or drive if you feel dizzy after taking REZOLSTA.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
You must take REZOLSTA every day and always with food. REZOLSTA cannot work properly without food. You must eat a meal or a snack within 30 minutes prior to taking your REZOLSTA. The type of food is not important.
- Swallow the tablet whole with a drink such as water or milk. If you have difficulty swallowing REZOLSTA, tell your doctor. The tablet may be split using a tablet-cutter. After splitting the tablet, the entire dose (both halves) should then be taken right away with a drink such as water or milk.
- Take your other HIV medicines used in combination with REZOLSTA as recommended by your doctor.
The plastic bottle comes with a child resistant cap and must be opened as follows:
- Push the plastic screw cap down while turning it counter clockwise.
- Remove the unscrewed cap.
Contact your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately.
If you notice within 12 hours, you must take the tablet immediately. Always take with food. If you notice after 12 hours, then skip the intake and take the next doses as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you vomit within 4 hours of taking the medicine, another dose of REZOLSTA should be taken with food as soon as possible. If you vomit more than 4 hours after taking the medicine, then you do not need to take another dose of REZOLSTA until the next regularly scheduled time.
Contact your doctor if you are uncertain about what to do if you miss a dose or vomit.
After therapy has started, it must not be stopped without instruction of the doctor.
Anti-HIV medicines may make you feel better. Even when you feel better, do not stop taking REZOLSTA. Talk to your doctor first.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
During HIV therapy there may be an increase in weight and in levels of blood lipids and glucose. This is partly linked to restored health and life style, and in the case of blood lipids sometimes to the HIV medicines themselves. Your doctor will test for these changes.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Liver problems that may occasionally be severe have been reported. Your doctor should do blood tests before you start REZOLSTA. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your doctor should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems. Talk to your doctor about the signs and symptoms of liver problems. These may include yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, dark (tea coloured) urine, pale coloured stools (bowel movements), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain, aching, or pain and discomfort on your right side below your ribs.
A common side effect of REZOLSTA is skin rash (more often when used in combination with raltegravir), itching. The rash is usually mild to moderate. A skin rash might also be a symptom of a rare severe situation. It is, therefore, important to talk to your doctor if you develop a rash. Your doctor will advise you how to deal with your symptoms or whether REZOLSTA must be stopped.
Other severe side effects, seen up to 1 patient in 10, were diabetes. Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) has been reported in up to 1 patient in 100.
Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- headache
- diarrhoea, nausea.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- allergic reactions such as itching
- decreased appetite
- abnormal dreams
- vomiting, pain or swelling of the belly, indigestion, flatulence
- muscle pain
- tiredness
- abnormal blood test results such as some tests for your liver or kidney. Your doctor will explain these to you.
- weakness.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- symptoms of infection or of autoimmune disorders (immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome)
- osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue caused by loss of blood supply to the bone)
- enlargement of breasts
- abnormal blood test results such as some tests for your pancreas, high level of sugar, abnormal levels of ‘lipids’ (fats). Your doctor will explain these to you.
- allergic reactions such as nettle rash (urticaria), severe swelling of the skin and other tissues (most often the lips or the eyes)
- severe rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals.
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- a reaction called DRESS [severe rash, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, swelling of the face or lymph glands, increase of eosinophils (type of white blood cells), effects on liver, kidney or lung].
- darunavir crystals in the kidney causing kidney disease.
Side effects with unknown frequency: a rash may become severe or potentially life-threatening:
- rash with blisters and peeling skin over much of the body
- red rash covered with small pus-filled bumps that can spread over the body, sometimes with a fever.
Some side effects are typical for HIV medicines in the same family as REZOLSTA. These are:
- muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. On rare occasions, these muscle disorders have been serious.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.