{"id":24095,"date":"2022-08-16T07:29:28","date_gmt":"2022-08-16T07:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/?p=24095"},"modified":"2022-08-17T08:11:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T08:11:20","slug":"symtuza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/symtuza\/","title":{"rendered":"Symtuza &#8211; Darunavir\/cobicistat\/emtricitabine\/tenofovir alafenamide uses, dose and side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>800 mg\/150 mg\/200 mg\/10 mg&nbsp;film-coated tablets<br>darunavir\/cobicistat\/emtricitabine\/tenofovir alafenamide<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Symtuza is and what it is used for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Symtuza is an antiretroviral medicine used to treat&nbsp;infection&nbsp;with the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;-1 ).&nbsp;It is used in adults and adolescents aged 12 years or older with a body weight of at least 40 kg.&nbsp;Symtuza contains four active substances:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>darunavir, an anti &#8211;&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;medicine called a&nbsp;protease inhibitor<\/li><li>cobicistat, a &#8216;booster&#8217; for darunavir<\/li><li>emtricitabine, an anti &#8211;&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;medicine called a&nbsp;nucleoside&nbsp;reverse transcriptase inhibitor.<\/li><li>tenofovir alafenamide, an anti &#8211;&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;medicine called a&nbsp;nucleotide&nbsp;reverse transcriptase inhibitor.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Symtuza reduces\u00a0HIV\u00a0-1 in your body and this strengthens your immune system (your body&#8217;s natural defenses) and reduces the risk of developing diseases associated with\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection, but Symtuza is not a\u00a0cure\u00a0for\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you need to know before you take Symtuza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do not take Symtuza:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>if you are\u00a0<strong>allergic<\/strong>\u00a0(hypersensitive) to darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, tenofovir alafenamide, or any of the other ingredients of Symtuza (listed in section 6).<\/li><li>if you have\u00a0severe liver problems.\u00a0Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about the severity of your liver disease.\u00a0Additional tests may need to be performed.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor about&nbsp;<strong>all<\/strong>&nbsp;the medicines you take, including medicines you take by mouth, inhale, inject or apply to your skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do not combine Symtuza with any of the following medicines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are taking any of these medicines, ask your doctor if you should switch to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Drug<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>The purpose of the medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Alfuzosin<\/em><\/td><td>to treat enlarged&nbsp;prostate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Amiodarone&nbsp;, dronedarone,&nbsp;ivabradine&nbsp;,&nbsp;quinidine&nbsp;or ranolazine<\/em><\/td><td>to treat certain heart conditions (e.g. abnormal heart rhythm)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Carbamazepine, phenobarbital and&nbsp;phenytoin<\/em><\/td><td>to prevent seizures<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Colchicine<\/em>&nbsp;(if you have kidney\/liver problems)<\/td><td>to treat&nbsp;gout<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>The combination drug lopinavir\/ritonavir<\/em><\/td><td>anti &#8211;&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;drugs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Rifampicin<\/em><\/td><td>to treat certain&nbsp;infections&nbsp;such as&nbsp;tuberculosis<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Pimozide<\/em>&nbsp;,&nbsp;<em>lurasidone, quetiapine<\/em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>sertindole<\/em><\/td><td>to treat psychiatric conditions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Ergot alkaloids<\/em>&nbsp;such as&nbsp;<em>ergotamine<\/em>&nbsp;,&nbsp;<em>dihydroergotamine<\/em>&nbsp;,&nbsp;<em>ergometrine<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>methylergonovine<\/em><\/td><td>to treat migraine headaches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>St. John&#8217;s wort&nbsp;(Hypericum perforatum)<\/em><\/td><td>a natural remedy used for depression<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Elbasvir\/grazoprevir<\/td><td>to treat infection\u00a0with hepatitis\u00a0C<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Lovastatin,&nbsp;<\/em><em>simvastatin<\/em><em>&nbsp;and lomitapide<\/em><em><\/em><\/td><td>to lower cholesterol levels<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Triazolam<\/em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>medazolam (<\/em>&nbsp;taken by mouth&nbsp;<em>)<\/em><\/td><td>to be able to sleep and\/or relieve anxiety<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Sildenafil<\/em><\/td><td>to treat a heart and lung disease called\u00a0pulmonary\u00a0arterial\u00a0hypertension.\u00a0Sildenafil has other uses.\u00a0See the section &#8220;Other medicines and Symtuza&#8221;.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Avanafil<\/em><\/td><td>to treat erectile dysfunction<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Tiggers<\/em><\/td><td>to prevent platelets from clumping together when treating patients who have had a heart attack<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Naloxegol<\/em><\/td><td>to treat constipation caused&nbsp;by&nbsp;opioids<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Dapoxetine<\/em><\/td><td>to treat premature ejaculation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>Domperidone<\/em><\/td><td>to treat nausea and vomiting<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warnings and precautions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking Symtuza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can still transmit&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;while taking this medicine, although the risk is reduced with effective&nbsp;antiretroviral&nbsp;therapy.&nbsp;Discuss with the doctor what precautions you must take to avoid infecting others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People taking Symtuza can still develop\u00a0an infection\u00a0or\u00a0other diseases associated with\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection.\u00a0You must have regular contact with a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People taking Symtuza may develop a rash.&nbsp;In rare cases, the rash can be severe or potentially life-threatening.&nbsp;Contact your doctor if you develop a rash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although kidney problems have not been observed with Symtuza, there is a possibility that you may experience kidney problems when taking Symtuza for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk to your doctor before taking Symtuza.&nbsp;Tell your doctor immediately if any of the following apply to you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>if you have had\u00a0an impaired liver function, including\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0B or C infection.\u00a0The doctor assesses the severity of your liver disease before deciding whether you can take Symtuza.<\/li><li>if you have\u00a0a hepatitis\u00a0B\u00a0infection,\u00a0your liver problems may get worse when you stop taking Symtuza.\u00a0It is important not to stop taking Symtuza without first talking to your doctor.<\/li><li>if you have kidney disease\u00a0or if tests have shown that you have\u00a0problems with the kidneys, before or during treatment.\u00a0Before starting treatment and during treatment with Symtuza, doctors may order blood tests to check how your kidneys are working.\u00a0Your doctor will consider whether Symtuza is suitable for you<\/li><li>if you have\u00a0diabetes.\u00a0Symtuza can raise blood sugar levels.<\/li><li>if you notice any\u00a0symptoms of\u00a0infection\u00a0(eg swollen\u00a0lymph nodes\u00a0or fever).\u00a0In some patients with advanced\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection\u00a0who have previously had unusual\u00a0infections\u00a0due to a weakened immune system (\u00a0opportunistic infection\u00a0), signs and symptoms of\u00a0inflammation\u00a0from the previous\u00a0infection\u00a0may appear shortly after starting\u00a0HIV\u00a0treatment.\u00a0It is believed that these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body&#8217;s\u00a0immune response, which enables the body to fight\u00a0infection that may have existed without giving clear symptoms.<\/li><li>if you notice any symptoms of muscle weakness, a weakness that starts in the hands or feet and moves to the trunk, palpitations, tremors, or hyperactivity, tell your doctor right away.\u00a0In addition to opportunistic\u00a0infections,\u00a0autoimmune diseases\u00a0(when the immune system attacks healthy body tissue) can also occur because your immune system improves after you start taking drugs to treat\u00a0your\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection.\u00a0Autoimmune disorders may appear many months after treatment has begun.<\/li><li>if you have\u00a0hemophilia.\u00a0Symtuza may increase the risk of bleeding.<\/li><li>if you are\u00a0allergic to\u00a0sulphonamides\u00a0(used for example to treat certain\u00a0infections\u00a0).<\/li><li>if you get\u00a0problems in muscles and bones.\u00a0Some patients taking anti &#8211;\u00a0HIV\u00a0medicines can develop a bone disease called\u00a0osteonecrosis\u00a0(bone tissue damage due to the reduced blood supply to the bone tissue).\u00a0This may be more likely with long-term treatment against\u00a0HIV, serious damage to the immune system, obesity, or the use of alcohol or medicines called\u00a0corticosteroids.\u00a0Signs of\u00a0osteonecrosis\u00a0are stiff and aching joints (especially in the hip, knee, and shoulder) and difficulty moving.\u00a0If you notice any of these symptoms, tell your doctor.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Older<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symtuza has only been used in a limited number of patients who are 65 years of age or older.&nbsp;If you belong to this age group, discuss with your doctor whether you can use Symtuza.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Children and young people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Symtuza should not be used in children younger than 12 years of age, or who weigh less than 40 kg<\/strong>, as it has not been studied in children under 12 years of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other medicines and Symtuza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are certain medicines that\u00a0<strong>you must not combine<\/strong>\u00a0with Symtuza.\u00a0These are listed above under the heading\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Do not combine Symtuza with any of the following medicines&#8221;<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symtuza must not be used with another antiviral medicine that contains a booster or another antiviral medicine that requires boosting.\u00a0In some cases, the\u00a0dose\u00a0of one of the other medicines may need to be changed.\u00a0Therefore, always tell your doctor if you are taking another anti &#8211;\u00a0HIV\u00a0medicine and carefully follow the doctor&#8217;s instructions about which medicines can be combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also not take Symtuza with medicines containing tenofovir disoproxil (as fumarate,\u00a0phosphate,\u00a0or succinate), <a href=\"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/triumeq\/\">lamivudine<\/a>, or adefovir dipivoxil, or medicines that require boosting with ritonavir or cobicistat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The effects of Symtuza may be reduced if you are taking any of the following medicines.&nbsp;Talk to your doctor if you are taking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/tracleer\/\">bosentan<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(to treat high&nbsp;blood pressure&nbsp;in the blood vessels of the lungs)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/toflacort\/\">dexamethasone<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(cortisone medicine that is injected)<\/li><li><em>rifapentine, rifabutin<\/em>&nbsp;(to treat bacterial infections)<\/li><li><em>oxcarbazepine<\/em>&nbsp;(to prevent seizures)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The effects of other medicines may be affected if you take Symtuza<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>and your doctor may want to do some additional blood tests.&nbsp;Tell your doctor if you are taking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>amlodipine,\u00a0diltiazem<\/em>,\u00a0disopyramide, felodipine,\u00a0flecainide, mexiletine, nicardipine, nifedipine,\u00a0propafenone,\u00a0lidocaine, verapamil\u00a0(for heart disease), as the treatment effect or\u00a0side effects\u00a0of these medicines, may be increased.<\/li><li>bosentan\u00a0(to treat high\u00a0blood pressure\u00a0in the blood vessels of the lungs)<\/li><li>apixaban, dabigatran etexilate, edoxaban, rivaroxaban,\u00a0warfarin, and clopidogrel\u00a0(to reduce blood clotting) as the treatment effect or\u00a0side effects\u00a0may change.<\/li><li>clonazepam\u00a0\u00a0(to prevent seizures).<\/li><li>estrogen-based hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.\u00a0Symtuza can reduce their effect.\u00a0When used as a contraceptive, non-hormonal contraceptive methods are recommended.<\/li><li>ethinylestradiol\/drospirenone\u00a0.\u00a0Symtuza may increase the risk of elevated potassium levels caused by drospirenone.<\/li><li>corticosteroids\u00a0include betamethasone, budesonide,\u00a0fluticasone,\u00a0mometasone, prednisone, and triamcinolone.\u00a0These medicines are used to treat\u00a0allergies,\u00a0asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases,\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the skin, eyes, joints, and muscles as well as other inflammatory conditions.\u00a0These drugs are usually taken by mouth, inhaled, injected, or applied to the skin.\u00a0If alternative drugs cannot be used, these drugs should only be used after medical evaluation and under close supervision by your doctor about\u00a0the side effects\u00a0of\u00a0corticosteroids.<\/li><li>buprenorphine\/naloxone,\u00a0methadone\u00a0(medicine to treat opioid addiction)<\/li><li>salmeterol\u00a0(medicine to treat\u00a0asthma\u00a0)<\/li><li>artemether\/lumefantrine\u00a0(a combination drug against\u00a0malaria\u00a0)<\/li><li>dasatinib, irinotecan, nilotinib, vinblastine, vincristine\u00a0(medicines to treat cancer)<\/li><li>sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil\u00a0(for erectile dysfunction or to treat a heart and lung disease called\u00a0pulmonary\u00a0arterial\u00a0hypertension\u00a0).<\/li><li>glecaprevir\/pibrentasvir\u00a0(to treat\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C virus infection)<\/li><li>fentanyl<em>, oxycodone, <a href=\"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/tramadol-retard-krka\/\">tramadol<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(to treat pain)<\/li><li><em>fesoterodine, solifenacin<\/em>\u00a0(to treat urinary tract problems).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your doctor may want to do some additional blood tests and the&nbsp;dose&nbsp;of other medicines may need to be changed because their or Symtuza&#8217;s treatment effect or&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;may be affected when they are combined.&nbsp;Tell your doctor if you are taking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>dabigatran etexilate, edoxaban,\u00a0warfarin<\/em>\u00a0(to reduce blood clotting)<\/li><li><em>alfentanil<\/em>\u00a0(strong and short-acting injectable painkiller used in surgery)<\/li><li><em>carvedilol,\u00a0metoprolol<\/em>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/timosan\/\">timolol<\/a>\u00a0(for heart disease)<\/li><li>digoxin\u00a0(to treat certain heart conditions)<\/li><li>clarithromycin\u00a0(\u00a0antibiotic\u00a0)<\/li><li>clotrimazole,\u00a0fluconazole\u00a0, isavuconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole\u00a0(for treating fungal infections).\u00a0Voriconazole\u00a0should only be taken after a medical assessment.<\/li><li>atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin\u00a0(to lower cholesterol levels).\u00a0The risk of muscle damage may increase.\u00a0The doctor will evaluate which cholesterol-lowering treatment best suits your specific situation.<\/li><li>rifabutin\u00a0(for bacterial infections)<\/li><li>tadalafil, sildenafil, vardenafil\u00a0(for erectile dysfunction or high\u00a0blood pressure\u00a0in the blood vessels in the lungs)<\/li><li>amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline,\u00a0paroxetine,\u00a0sertraline, trazodone\u00a0(to treat depression and anxiety)<\/li><li>perphenazine,\u00a0risperidone, thioridazine\u00a0(psychiatric drugs)<\/li><li>ciclosporin, everolimus, tacrolimus, and sirolimus\u00a0(to suppress the immune system) as the treatment effect or\u00a0side effects\u00a0of these medicines may increase.<\/li><li>colchicine\u00a0(medicine for\u00a0gout\u00a0).\u00a0If you have kidney or liver problems, see section\u00a0&#8220;Do not combine Symtuza with any of the following medicines&#8221;.<\/li><li><em>buspirone, clorazepate,\u00a0diazepam\u00a0, estazolam, flurazepam, zolpidem, midazolam<\/em>\u00a0by\u00a0injection\u00a0(medicines to treat sleep problems or anxiety)<\/li><li><em>metformin<\/em>\u00a0(to treat type 2\u00a0diabetes\u00a0)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is&nbsp;<strong>not<\/strong>&nbsp;a complete list of medicines.&nbsp;Inform the healthcare professional about&nbsp;<strong><em>all<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;medicines you are taking.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pregnancy and breastfeeding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor immediately if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.\u00a0Pregnant or nursing mothers should not take Symtuza.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is recommended that women with\u00a0HIV\u00a0do not breastfeed their babies because there is a risk that the baby will become infected with\u00a0HIV\u00a0through breast milk and that the medicine may affect the baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Driving ability and use of machinery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Symtuza can cause dizziness.&nbsp;Do not drive or use machines if you feel dizzy after taking Symtuza.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symtuza contains sodium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg)&nbsp;of sodium&nbsp;per tablet, i.e. it is almost &#8216;sodium-free&#8217;.<br><a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to take Symtuza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Always take this medicine as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.&nbsp;Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The recommended&nbsp;dosage&nbsp;for adults and adolescents aged 12 years or older and weighing at least 40 kg is<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;1 tablet once daily with food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You must take Symtuza every day and always\u00a0<strong>with food<\/strong>.\u00a0You must eat a meal or a snack for at least 30 minutes before taking Symtuza.\u00a0The type of food is not important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The tablet should not be crushed but swallowed whole.\u00a0The tablet can be taken with a drink, e.g.\u00a0water or milk, or other nutritional drink.\u00a0Take Symtuza at about the same time each day.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Open the childproof cover<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fass.se\/LIF\/product?userType=2&amp;nplId=20160915000046#\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/td><td>The plastic jar has a child-proof lid and must be opened as follows: Press down on the plastic cap while turning it counterclockwise. Remove the cover.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you have taken too much Symtuza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Immediately contact a doctor or the nearest emergency department for advice.&nbsp;Bring the tablet container with you, so you can show what you have taken.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you forget to take Symtuza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You mustn&#8217;t miss a\u00a0dose\u00a0of Symtuza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you miss a dose:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>If you notice this within 12 hours<\/strong>\u00a0of the time you usually take Symtuza, take the tablet immediately, with food.\u00a0Take the next\u00a0dose\u00a0at the same time as usual.<\/li><li><strong>If you notice this at 12 hours or later<\/strong>\u00a0after the time you usually take Symtuza, skip the missed\u00a0dose,\u00a0and take the next\u00a0dose\u00a0with food at the same time as usual.\u00a0Do not take a double\u00a0dose\u00a0to make up for a missed\u00a0dose.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you vomit within 1 hour of taking the medicine, take another&nbsp;dose&nbsp;of Symtuza with food as soon as possible.&nbsp;If you vomit more than 1 hour after taking the medicine, you do not need to take another&nbsp;dose&nbsp;of Symtuza until the next scheduled time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact a doctor if you are unsure what to do if you miss a&nbsp;dose&nbsp;or vomit.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do not stop taking Symtuza without first talking to your doctor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Anti &#8211;&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;medicines can make you feel better.&nbsp;Even if you feel better, do not stop taking Symtuza.&nbsp;Talk to your doctor first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you run out of Symtuza tablets,<\/strong>&nbsp;get more from your doctor or pharmacist.&nbsp;This is very important because the viral load can start to increase if you stop taking the drug, even if only for a short time.&nbsp;It can then become more difficult to treat the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you have both\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection\u00a0and\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0B<\/strong>,\u00a0it is very important not to stop taking Symtuza without first talking to your doctor.\u00a0You may need blood tests for several months after treatment with Symtuza has ended.\u00a0In some patients with advanced liver disease or\u00a0cirrhosis, discontinuation of treatment may lead to worsening of\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0A, and this may be life-threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tell your doctor immediately if<\/strong>\u00a0any new and unexpected symptoms appear after stopping treatment, especially symptoms that you usually associate with\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0B\u00a0infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any further questions about this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Possible side effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like all medicines, this medicine can cause\u00a0side effects, although not everybody gets them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tell your doctor if you develop any of the following\u00a0side effects.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Liver problems, which in some cases can be serious, have been reported.\u00a0Your doctor should take a blood test before starting treatment with Symtuza.\u00a0If you have\u00a0chronic\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0B or C\u00a0infection, your doctor should take blood tests more often because you have an increased risk of developing liver problems.\u00a0Talk to your doctor about the signs and symptoms of liver problems.\u00a0These may be yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, dark (tea-colored) urine, pale stools (bowel movements), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain, ache or pain, and discomfort on the right side under the ribs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skin rash affects more than 1 in 10 patients receiving Symtuza.&nbsp;Although most rashes are mild and disappear over time as treatment continues, sometimes the rashes can be severe or potentially life-threatening.&nbsp;It is therefore important that you consult your doctor if you develop a rash.&nbsp;Your doctor will advise you on how to manage the symptoms or if treatment with Symtuza needs to be stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other serious\u00a0side effects, occurring in up to 1 in 10 patients, were\u00a0diabetes, elevated blood lipids, and symptoms of\u00a0infection.\u00a0Inflammation\u00a0of the pancreas (\u00a0pancreatitis\u00a0) has been reported in up to 1 in 100 patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Very common&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(may affect more than 1 in 10 users)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>headache<\/li><li>diarrhea<\/li><li>rash<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Common&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(may affect up to 1 in 10 users)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>low\u00a0red blood cell count\u00a0(\u00a0anemia\u00a0)<\/li><li>allergic reactions such as\u00a0hives\u00a0(\u00a0urticaria\u00a0),\u00a0itching<\/li><li>decreased appetite (\u00a0anorexia\u00a0)<\/li><li>abnormal dreams<\/li><li>vomiting, abdominal pain or swelling, indigestion, flatulence<\/li><li>abnormal blood test results, such as certain tests of the kidneys.\u00a0The doctor will explain these to you.<\/li><li>dizziness<\/li><li>joint pain<\/li><li>muscle pain, muscle cramps, or muscle weakness<\/li><li>weakness<\/li><li>fatigue<\/li><li>nausea<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Uncommon&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(may affect up to 1 in 100 users)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>severe swelling of the skin or other&nbsp;tissues&nbsp;(usually lips or eyes)<\/li><li>symptoms of&nbsp;infection&nbsp;or autoimmune disorders (immune reactivation syndrome)<\/li><li>breast augmentation<\/li><li>osteonecrosis&nbsp;(bone tissue damage as a result of reduced blood supply to the bone tissue)<\/li><li>abnormal blood test results such as certain pancreatic tests.&nbsp;The doctor will explain these to you.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Rare&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 users)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>a reaction called DRESS [severe rash that may be followed by fever, fatigue, swelling of the face or\u00a0lymph nodes, increased number of\u00a0eosinophils\u00a0(a type of\u00a0white blood cell\u00a0), effect on the liver, kidneys, or lungs].<\/li><li>severe rash with blisters and scaly skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Side effects&nbsp;that have been reported: a rash may be severe or possibly life-threatening:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>rash with blisters and scaly skin over most of the body<\/li><li>the red rash covered with small wart-filled bumps that may spread over the body, sometimes with a fever.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;are typical of anti &#8211;&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;drugs similar to Symtuza.&nbsp;These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>elevated blood sugar and worsening\u00a0diabetes<\/li><li>aches, pains, or weakness in muscles.\u00a0In rare cases, these muscle problems have been severe.<\/li><li>immune reactivation syndrome.\u00a0In some patients with advanced\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection\u00a0(\u00a0AIDS\u00a0) and a history of\u00a0opportunistic infection\u00a0(\u00a0uncommon\u00a0infection\u00a0due to a weakened immune system), signs and symptoms of\u00a0inflammation\u00a0from the previous\u00a0infection\u00a0may appear shortly after starting\u00a0HIV\u00a0treatment, also for Symtuza.\u00a0In addition to opportunistic\u00a0infections, autoimmune disorders (conditions where the immune system attacks healthy body tissue) can also occur after you start taking\u00a0medicines\u00a0to treat your\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection.\u00a0Autoimmune disorders may appear many months after treatment has begun.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tell your doctor if you get any of these symptoms.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During\u00a0HIV\u00a0treatment, you may gain weight, have higher blood sugar levels, and increase in blood fats.\u00a0This is partly due to improved health and lifestyle, and in the case of blood, lipids sometimes to the\u00a0HIV\u00a0drugs themselves.\u00a0Your doctor will do tests to check for these changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to store Symtuza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use before the expiry date stated on the carton and the can after &#8220;EXP&#8221;.\u00a0The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not use this medicine for more than 6 weeks after first opening the can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Store in the original packaging to protect against moisture.&nbsp;<strong>The jar must be kept tightly closed.&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;Tablets can be stored outside the original packaging for up to 7 days and should then be discarded if not used.&nbsp;Tablets stored outside the original packaging must not be put back in the packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Medicines must not be thrown into the drain or among the household waste.\u00a0Ask the pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer used.\u00a0These measures will help to protect the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contents of the packaging and other information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contents declaration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The active substances are darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide.&nbsp;1 film-coated tablet (tablet) contains 800 mg darunavir (as ethanolate), 150 mg cobicistat, 200 mg emtricitabine and 10 mg tenofovir alafenamide (as fumarate).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other ingredients are<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tablet core:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tablet core contains croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and\u00a0colloidal\u00a0silicon dioxide (see section 2 &#8220;Symtuza contains sodium&#8221;).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Film coating:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The film coating contains polyethylene glycol (macrogol), polyvinyl alcohol (partially hydrolyzed), talc, titanium dioxide (E171), and yellow iron oxide (E172).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Appearance and package sizes of the medicine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yellow to yellowish brown capsule-shaped film-coated tablet, debossed with \u201c8121\u201d on one side and \u201cJG\u201d on the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symtuza is supplied in tins of 30 tablets (with a desiccant, in the form of silica gel, which must be kept in the tin to protect the tablets).&nbsp;The desiccant is in a separate&nbsp;sachet&nbsp;or container and should not be swallowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symtuza tablets are available in packs containing one can or three cans per carton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all pack sizes may be marketed.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marketing Authorisation Holder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Janssen\u2011Cilag International NV,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turnhoutseweg 30,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>B-2340 Beerse,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belgium<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Janssen\u2011Cilag SpA, Via C. Janssen,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Borgo San Michele,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>04100 Latina,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Italy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Symtuza is an antiretroviral medicine used to treat\u00a0infection\u00a0with the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (\u00a0HIV\u00a0-1 ).\u00a0It is used in adults and adolescents aged 12 years or older with a body weight of at least 40 kg.\u00a0Symtuza contains four active substances:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2200,18530],"tags":[3362,22927,6112,6115,3398,25068,25071,25072,21819,22925,6113,4318,25069,25073,25070],"class_list":["post-24095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medicines","category-s","tag-cobicistat","tag-cobicistat-tablet","tag-darunavir","tag-darunavir-tablet","tag-emtricitabine","tag-symtuza","tag-symtuza-tablet","tag-tenofovir-alafenamide","tag-what-darunavir-is-used-for","tag-what-is-cobicistat","tag-what-is-darunavir","tag-what-is-emtricitabine","tag-what-is-symtuza","tag-what-is-tenofovir-alafenamide","tag-what-symtuza-is-used-for"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24095"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24155,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24095\/revisions\/24155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}