selzentry

Selzentry (maraviroc) is an antiviral medication that prevents certain viral cells from multiplying in your body.

Selzentry is used with other medications to treat CCR5-tropic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. HIV causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Maraviroc is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Selzentry may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

If you have severe or end-stage kidney disease, you may not be able to take Selzentry if you use certain medications, including some antibiotics or antifungal medications, some heart or blood pressure medicines, St. John"s wort, and certain drugs to treat hepatitis or tuberculosis. Tell your doctor about all other medications you use.

Selzentry may cause an allergic reaction that leads to severe liver symptoms. Stop taking Selzentry and call your doctor at once if you have: fever, itching or rash, vomiting, upper stomach pain, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Selzentry if you are allergic to maraviroc. If you have severe or end-stage kidney disease, you may not be able to take Selzentry if you use certain medications, including some antibiotics or antifungal medications, some heart or blood pressure medicines, St. John"s wort, and certain drugs to treat hepatitis or tuberculosis. Tell your doctor about all other medications you use.

To make sure Selzentry is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease, especially hepatitis B or C;

• heart disease;

• low blood pressure; or

• a history of stroke or circulation problems.

Selzentry is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, but HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of Selzentry on the baby.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I take Selzentry?

Take Selzentry exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, or break the Selzentry tablet. Swallow the pill whole.

Use Selzentry regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. Selzentry must be given in combination with other antiviral medications and it should not be used alone. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor"s advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are more than 6 hours late in taking your Selzentry, skip the missed dose and take the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid?

Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John"s wort at the same time you are taking Selzentry.

Selzentry may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Selzentry side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Selzentry: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Selzentry may also cause an allergic reaction with severe liver symptoms. Stop taking it and call your doctor at once if you have:

• fever, itching or rash;

• vomiting, upper stomach pain; or

• dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Call your doctor at once if you have a side effect such as:

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• chest pressure, tight feeling in your neck or jaw, sweating, pain spreading to your arm or shoulder; or

• severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Selzentry may increase your risk of certain infections or autoimmune disorders by changing the way your immune system works. Symptoms may occur weeks or months after you start treatment. Tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of a new infection--fever, night sweats, swollen glands, diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss;

• chest pain (especially when you breathe), dry cough, wheezing, feeling short of breath;

• cold sores, sores on your genital or anal area;

• rapid heart rate, feeling anxious or irritable, weakness or prickly feeling, problems with balance or eye movement;

• trouble speaking or swallowing, severe lower back pain, loss of bladder or bowel control; or

• swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence, loss of interest in sex.

Common Selzentry side effects may include:

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat;

• dizziness; or

• mild skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Selzentry?

Many drugs can interact with Selzentry. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with Selzentry, especially:

• bosentan;

• imatinib;

• nefazodone;

• an antibiotic--clarithromycin, telithromycin;

• antifungal medicine--itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;

• heart medication--nicardipine, quinidine;

• the hepatitis C medications boceprevir or telaprevir;

• seizure medication--carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone;

• tuberculosis medication--isoniazid, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine; or

• other HIV/AIDS medications--atazanavir, darunavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with maraviroc. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.