Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Your immune system may get stronger when you start taking HIV medicines. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in your health. Sometimes the immune system will start to fight infections that were hidden in your body, such as pneumonia, herpes, or tuberculosis. Autoimmune disorders such as Graves' disease, polymyositis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome may also occur.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy. If this happens, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy. You may also feel lightheaded when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, so stand up slowly.

Liver problems with allergic reactions may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have a skin rash with fever, dark-colored urine, pain in the upper right stomach area, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin.

Serious allergic and skin reactions (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)) may occur while using this medicine. These could be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, joint or muscle aches, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of getting infections or cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

This medicine will not keep you from giving HIV to your partner during sex. Make sure you understand and practice safe sex, even if your partner also has HIV, by using a latex condom or other barrier method. This medicine will also not keep you from giving HIV to other people if they are exposed to your blood. Do not re-use or share needles with anyone.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.