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Introduction About QVIR KIT
QVIR KIT is a combination of Atazanavir, Emtricitabine, Ritonavir and Tenofovir which belongs to the group of medicines called Antiretrovirals. It is used to manage HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection.
HIV targets the immune system and weakens your defense against many infections that people with healthy immune systems can fight off. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient and reach the most advanced stage of HIV infection called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It may present with the symptoms of any other infection like fever, throat pain, extreme tiredness, weight loss, muscle pain.
During the management, your physician might take regular blood tests to avoid any untoward side effects.
Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking QVIR KIT as it may cause bone problems. Before taking QVIR KIT, inform your physician if you have any end-stage kidney disease, liver problems, are infected with hepatitis B, diabetes, history of pathologic bone fracture or at risk for osteopenia and haemophilia.
Inform your physician if you are pregnant before taking QVIR KIT. You should not breastfeed while taking QVIR KIT.
This medicine is not suitable for use in children (weighing less than 40 kgs). Your doctor will prescribe the right dose depends on your child’s age, body weight and disease condition. Consult your doctor before taking QVIR KIT.
The most common side effects of taking QVIR KIT are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, dizziness, depression, insomnia, abnormal dreams, abdominal pain, asthenia, malaise, anorexia, paresthesia, depression, fever, taste perversion, rash. Contact your physician if any of the above side effects worsen.
Uses Of QVIR KIT
- Used to manage HIV infection
How QVIR KIT Works
QVIR KIT helps to control HIV infection where Atazanavir and Ritonavir are protease inhibitors that work by inhibiting the protease enzyme production, which is required by the HIV-infected cells to make new viruses. This effect helps to inhibit viral replication. Emtricitabine and Tenofovir are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) that inhibit HIV replication through incorporation into viral DNA by binding to different sites of the enzyme HIV reverse transcriptase, resulting in the obstruction of viral DNA synthesis.
How to use QVIR KIT
Take QVIR KIT as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your physician will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending on your age, body weight and disease condition.
Side Effects Of QVIR KIT
Common
- feeling weak
- nausea
- headache
- stomach pain
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- depression
- fever
- dizziness
- trouble sleeping
- numbness
- tingling or burning of hands or feet
- muscle pain
- abnormal dreams
- rash
Rare
Stop taking QVIR KIT and contact your physician immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
- severe allergic reactions (shortness of breath, ill feeling or flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle or joint aches, conjunctivitis, blisters, mouth sores, swelling of the face)
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- heart rhythm change
How To Manage Side Effects
Nausea or Vomiting:
Take QVIR KIT with or just after meals. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily or spicy foods. Get adequate rest. Drink lots of fluids, especially water. Have small sips if you feel sick. Do not take any medicine on your own without asking your physician. If nausea or vomiting does not improve, contact your physician.
Headache:
Drink enough water. Take adequate rest. Try to be relaxed and stress-free. Ask your physician for advice before taking any medicine for headache. If the headache does not improve, contact your physician.
Dizziness:
Lie down until dizziness is gone, then wake up slowly. Move gently and carefully, do not hurry. Get sufficient rest. Drink sufficient water and other fluids. Avoid coffee, smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs. If dizziness does not improve, contact your physician.
Diarrhea:
Drink more fluids, such as water or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated. Do not consume any medicine on your own without taking advice from your physician. If diarrhea does not improve, contact your physician.
Stomach pain:
Try to take more rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have lesser meals more frequently. Keep a heating pad on your stomach. If the stomach pain does not improve, contact your physician.
Warning & Precautions
Pregnancy
QVIR KIT should be used in pregnancy only if considered necessary by your physician, as it is not known if it will harm your unborn baby. Consult your physician before taking it.
Breastfeeding
QVIR KIT is not recommended for breastfeeding women. Consult your physician before taking it and ask about the best way to feed your baby.
Driving and Using Machines
Do not drive or operate any machines if you feel dizzy or extremely tired after taking QVIR KIT.
Alcohol
Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking QVIR KIT as it may cause bone problems.
Kidney
QVIR KIT should be used with caution in patients who have or had any kidney disease or undergoing dialysis. Consult your physician before taking it.
Liver
QVIR KIT should be used with caution in patients who have or had any liver disease like hepatitis B or C. Consult your physician before taking it.
Allergy
Do not take QVIR KIT if you are allergic to Atazanavir, Emtricitabine, Ritonavir, Tenofovir or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
Others
Before taking QVIR KIT, inform your physician if you:
- have diabetes
- have a history of pathologic bone fracture or are at risk for osteopenia
- have haemophilia
Use in Pediatrics:
Your doctor will prescribe the right dose depends on your child’s age, body weight and disease condition. Consult your doctor before taking QVIR KIT.
Use in Geriatrics:
QVIR KIT should be used with caution in elderly patients (65 years and older). Consult your physician before taking it.
Interactions
A. Drug - Drug interactions:
Before taking QVIR KIT, inform your physician if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- antiarrhythmics (Ex. amiodarone, bepridil, lidocaine, quinidine)
- medicines used to thin the blood (Ex. warfarin)
- medicines used to manage epilepsy and depression (Ex. carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, St. John’s Wort)
- medicines used to manage fungal infections (Ex. voriconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- medicine used to manage gout (Ex. colchicine)
- medicine used as antipsychotics (Ex. quetiapine and lurasidone)
- calcium channel blocker (Ex. felodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine and verapamil)
- medicine used as immunosuppressants (Ex. cyclosporin, sirolimus, tacrolimus)
- hormonal contraceptives (Ex. ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate or norethindrone)
- medicine used to manage cancer (Ex. dasatinib, nilotinib, vincristine, vinblastine)
Overdosage:
If you or anyone else accidentally took too much of QVIR KIT, contact your physician immediately or visit the nearby hospital.
Synopsis
| Drug | : | Atazanavir, Emtricitabine, Ritonavir and Tenofovir |
| Pharmacological Category | : | Antiretrovirals |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | HIV infection |
| Dosage Forms | : | Tablet |
More Information
- Keep QVIR KIT out of reach of children
- Do not store QVIR KIT above 25°C
FAQs About QVIR KIT
Q: Can I develop rash while taking QVIR KIT?
A: Skin rash is the most common side effect of QVIR KIT. Rashes may turn serious, so stop taking this medicine and go to your physician the moment you develop a rash.
Q: Can I drink alcohol with QVIR KIT?
A: Consuming alcohol with QVIR KIT may put you at a greater risk of developing a bone problem called osteonecrosis (bone cell death), so it is better to avoid it. Consult your physician for further queries.
Q: How does QVIR KIT manage HIV infection?
A: QVIR KIT does not manage HIV infection. It reduces the amount of HIV virus in your body and increases CD4 cell counts (a type of white blood cell, which is important in maintaining a healthy immune system to help fight infection). It is very important that you remain under the care of your physician.
Q: Can QVIR KIT be taken during pregnancy?
A: QVIR KIT should be used in pregnant women only if considered necessary by your physician. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to get pregnant, consult your physician before taking it. Inform your physician immediately if you become pregnant during management with QVIR KIT.
Q: Does QVIR KIT change my body shape?
A: Management with QVIR KIT might cause redistribution, accumulation or loss of body fat, which might lead to a change in your body shape. Contact your physician if you notice any such changes.
Q: What if I miss a dose of QVIR KIT?
A: If you miss a dose of QVIR KIT, take it if you remember immediately. However, omit if it is more than 6 hours past the missed dose. Do not take QVIR KIT twice to make up for a forgotten dose.
References
1. KD. Tripathi. Antiviral drugs. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page 798– 815.
2. Chad J Achenbach, Kristin M Darin, Robert L Murphy and Christine Katlama. Atazanavir/ritonavir-based combination antiretroviral therapy for treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults. National Library of Medicine. February 2011. [Accessed on 26th July 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3127229/
3. Onyema Ogbuagu, Peter J Ruane, Daniel Podzamczer, Laura C Salazar, Keith Henry, David M Asmuth, David Wohl, Richard Gilson et.al. Long-term safety and efficacy of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide vs emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis: week 96 results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. National Library of Medicine. July 2021. [Accessed on 26th July 2022] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34197772/
4. Matrix Laboratories Limited. US Food and Drug Administration. [Revised on November 2011] [Accessed on 26th July 2022] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/pepfar/022282PI.pdf
5. Gilead Sciences, Inc. US Food and Drug Administration. [Revised on March 2016] [Accessed on 26th July 2022] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/021752s047lbl.pdf
6. Ciplamed. Qvir Kit. [Revised on December 2018] [Accessed on 26th July 2022] https://ciplamed.com/content/qvir-kit
Useful Diagnostic Tests
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Viral Load Test
- CD4 Count Test
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