What is maraviroc?
Maraviroc is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HIV infection in people 2 years of age and older weighing at least 22 lb (10 kg). Maraviroc is always used in combination with other HIV medicines.
Maraviroc should only be used in people whose strain of HIV uses the CCR5 coreceptor. Maraviroc is not recommended for people whose HIV uses the CXCR4 coreceptor or both the CCR5 and CXCR4 coreceptors. Your health care provider will do a blood test to see whether your HIV uses only the CCR5 coreceptor.
HIV medicines can’t cure HIV/AIDS, but taking HIV medicines every day helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission. If you are taking HIV medicines, don’t cut down on, skip, or stop taking them unless your health care provider tells you to.
What should I tell my health care provider before taking maraviroc?
Before taking maraviroc, tell your health care provider:
If you are allergic to maraviroc or any other medicines.
If you have or have had liver problems, including a history of hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) or hepatitis C virus infection (HCV).
If you have heart problems.
If you have kidney problems.
If you have low blood pressure or take medicines to lower your blood pressure.
If you have any other medical conditions.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of taking maraviroc during pregnancy.
If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV or are taking maraviroc.
If you are using hormone-based birth control (such as pills, implants, or vaginal rings). For more information about using birth control and HIV medicines at the same time, view the AIDSinfo HIV and Birth Control infographic.
About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take, especially St. John’s wort. Maraviroc may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how maraviroc works. Certain other medicines may affect the levels of maraviroc in your blood. Your health care provider may need to change your dose of maraviroc when you take it with certain medicines. Taking maraviroc together with certain medicines or products may cause serious, life-threatening side effects.
How should I take maraviroc?
Maraviroc (brand name: Selzentry) comes in tablet and oral solution form in five formulations:
20-mg/mL oral solution
25-mg tablets
75-mg tablets
150-mg tablets
300-mg tablets
Take maraviroc according to your health care provider’s instructions.
Take maraviroc with or without food. Swallow maraviroc tablets whole. Do not chew the tablets.
Always take maraviroc in combination with other HIV medicines.
If you take too much maraviroc, contact your health care provider or local poison control center (1-800-222-1222) right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
For more information on how to take maraviroc, see the FDA drug label.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you miss a dose of maraviroc, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
What side effects can maraviroc cause?
Maraviroc may cause side effects. Many side effects from HIV medicines, such as nausea or occasional dizziness, are manageable. See the AIDSinfo fact sheet on HIV Medicines and Side Effects for more information.
Some side effects of maraviroc can be serious. Serious side effects of maraviroc include liver problems, heart problems (including heart attack), skin reactions, and allergic reactions. An allergic reaction may happen before liver problems occur. (See section above: What are the most important things to know about maraviroc?)
Other possible serious side effects of maraviroc include:
Low blood pressure when standing up (postural hypotension). This can cause dizziness or fainting.
Changes in your immune system (called immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome or IRIS). IRIS is a condition that sometimes occurs when the immune system begins to recover after treatment with an HIV medicine. As the immune system gets stronger, it may have an increased response to a previously hidden infection.
Possible increased risk of other infections or cancer.
Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of maraviroc. To learn more about possible side effects of maraviroc, read the drug label or package insert or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.
You can also report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.
How should maraviroc be stored?
Store maraviroc at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
Do not use maraviroc if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
Throw away maraviroc that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
Keep maraviroc and all medicines out of reach of children.