Patient leaflet - REZOLSTA 800 MG / 150 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
1 What REZOLSTA is and what it is used for
2 What you need to know before you take REZOLSTA
3 How to take REZOLSTA
4 Possible side effects
5 How to store REZOLSTA
6 Contents of the pack and other information
ZOLSTA is and what it is used for
What is REZOLSTA?
REZOLSTA contains the active substances darunavir and cobicistat.
Darunavir belongs to a group of HIV medicines called ‘protease inhibitors’ which work by reducing the amount of HIV in your body to a very low level. It is given with cobicistat, which increases the amount of darunavir in your blood.
Treatment with REZOLSTA will improve your immune system (your body’s natural defences) and reduce the risk of developing illnesses linked to HIV infection, but REZOLSTA is not a cure for HIV infection.
What it is used for?
REZOLSTA is used to treat adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms and who are infected by HIV (see How to take REZOLSTA).
REZOLSTA must be taken in combination with other HIV medicines. Your doctor will discuss with you which combination of medicines is best for you.
need to know before you take REZOLSTA
| Do not take REZOLSTA
Ask your doctor if you are unsure about the severity of your liver disease. Some additional tests might be necessary. | Do not combine REZOLSTA with any of the following medicines 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 |
| Dabigatran , 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 |
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Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking REZOLSTA.
You can still pass on HIV when taking this medicine, although the risk is lowered by effective antiretroviral therapy. Discuss with your physician the precautions needed to avoid infecting other people.
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 m m with your liver before, including = he = hepatitis B or C infection. Your doctor may
" g ™ 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.
Children and adolescents
REZOLSTA is not for use in children younger than 12 years, or weighing less than 40 kilograms.
Other medicines and REZOLSTA
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. 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, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, warfarin, clopidogrel (to reduce clotting of the blood) as their therapeutic effect or side effects may be altered; your doctor may have to check your blood.
- 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.
Your doctor might want to do some additional tests.
- Corticosteroids including betamethasone, budesonide, fluticasone, mometasone, prednisone, triamcinolone. These medicines are used to treat allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases, inflammatory conditions of the eyes, joints and muscles and other inflammatory conditions.
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).
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:
- 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)
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need to know before you take REZOLSTA (continued)
- 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.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tell your doctor immediately if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding. Pregnant or breast-feeding mothers should not take REZOLSTA. It is recommended that HIV infected women must not breast-feed their infants because of both the possibility of your baby becoming infected with HIV through your breast milk and because of the unknown effects of the medicine on your baby.
Driving and using machines
Do not operate machines or drive if you feel dizzy after taking REZOLSTA.
REZOLSTA contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
How to take REZOLSTA
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.
Removing the child resistant cap
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.
If you take more REZOLSTA than you should
Contact your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately.
If you forget to take REZOLSTA
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 after taking REZOLSTA 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.
Do not stop taking REZOLSTA without talking to your doctor first 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.
side effects
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.
Tell your doctor if you develop any of the following side effects
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].
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.
Reporting of side effects
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: 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.
tore REZOLSTA
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the bottle after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not use this medicine after 6 weeks of first opening the bottle.
REZOLSTA does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away any medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
of the pack and other information
What REZOLSTA contains
- The active substances are darunavir and cobicistat. Each tablet contains 800 mg of darunavir (as ethanolate) and 150 mg cobicistat.
- The other ingredients are hypromellose, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone and magnesium stearate. The film-coating contains polyvinyl alcohol – partially hydrolyzed, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol (macrogol), talc, iron oxide red, and iron oxide black.
What REZOLSTA looks like and contents of the pack
Film-coated, pink, oval shaped tablet, mentioning TG on one side, 800 on the other side.
30 tablets in a plastic bottle.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Janssen-Cilag Ltd., 50–100 Holmers Farm Way, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 4EG, UK
Manufacturer
Janssen-Cilag SpA, Via C. Janssen, Borgo San Michele, 04100 Latina, Italy
For information in large print, tape, CD or Braille, telephone 0800 7318450
This leaflet was last revised in January 2021.
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