Vitekta

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Vitekta. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Vitekta with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Vitekta. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal pain
• back pain
• Diarrhea
• headache
• muscle and joint pain
• nausea
• tiredness
• trouble sleeping
• vomiting

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• signs of Depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
• signs of infection (e.g., Fever, chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers, cough)
• rash

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of a Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) (e.g., Hives; skin rash; itchy skin; trouble breathing; or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat)

85 mg
Each green, pentagon-shaped, film-coated tablet of dimensions 8.9 mm x 8.7 mm, debossed with "GSI" on one side and "85" on the other, contains elvitegravir 85 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and magnesium stearate; coating: indigo carmine (FD&C Blue No. 2) Aluminum Lake, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.

150 mg
Each green, triangle-shaped, film-coated tablet of dimensions 10.9 mm x 10.5 mm, debossed with "GSI" on one side and "150" on the other, contains elvitegravir 150 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and magnesium stearate; coating: indigo carmine (FD&C Blue No. 2) Aluminum Lake, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.

Do not take Vitekta if you are allergic to elvitegravir or any ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between elvitegravir and any of the following:

• antacids (e.g., aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide)
• atazanavir
• certain "azole" antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• Bosentan
• Carbamazepine
• Dabrafenib
• darunavir
• Deferasirox
• Dexamethasone
• Enzalutamide
• Eslicarbazepine
• estrogen birth control pills
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delaviridine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• lopinavir
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• Oxcarbazepine
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• primidone
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• St. John's wort
• siltuximab
• Tocilizumab
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Immune reconstitution syndrome: Vitekta may cause immune reconstitution syndrome, where signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections appear. These symptoms occur soon after starting anti-HIV medication and can vary. They are thought to occur as a result of the immune system improving and being able to fight infections that have been present without symptoms (such as pneumonia, herpes, or Tuberculosis). Report any new symptoms to your doctor immediately.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Vitekta to build up in the body, causing side effects. Elvitegravir should not be used in people with severe liver impairment. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Vitekta may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Vitekta, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Vitekta.

Resistance: The HIV virus appears to be able to change to make elvitegravir less effective, if this medication is not used appropriately. To maximize the effectiveness of elvitegravir, it must be taken as part of a group of HIV medications that also includes ritonavir.

Stopping the medication: If you stop taking Vitekta, your HIV infection could get worse. Take the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor, and do not stop taking the medication without checking with your doctor first.

Pregnancy: Vitekta should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Vitekta, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if elvitegravir passes into breast milk. Women who have HIV infection are cautioned against breast-feeding because of the risk of passing HIV to a baby who does not have the infection.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Vitekta have not been established for children.