Maraviroc PIL - AM

Please read this factsheet together with the patient information leaflet carefully before taking your medicine. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Maraviroc, also known by the brand name Celsentri®, belongs to a class of drugs to treat HIV infection called CCR5 inhibitors. CCR5 Inhibitors are used for the treatment of HIV infection, in combination with other anti-HIV drugs. Please speak to your clinic doctor or pharmacist if you would like more information about how these drugs work.

Before taking Maraviroc
Tell your doctor if you:

* Take other drugs including any that you buy over the counter in a community pharmacy and any herbal medicines or recreational drugs;
* have any previous allergy to any other medicines;
* have liver or kidney problems;
* have heart problems, low blood pressure or take medicines to lower blood pressure;
* If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant;
* If you are allergic to peanuts or soya;

Taking your Maraviroc

* Maraviroc is available as a blue, biconvex, oval film-coated tablet with “Pfizer” on one side and “MVC 150” or “MVC 300” on the other; containing either 150mg or 300mg of Maraviroc;
* The dose of Maraviroc is specific to you, but is always taken twice daily. The doses should be divided equally throughout the day: try to take the doses as close as possible to twelve hours apart, and at the same times each day;
* There is no effect of food upon absorption; therefore you can take the tablets before, with or after food;
* Maraviroc, like all antiretrovirals, works best if there is a constant amount in your bloodstream. It is therefore very important to take the tablets regularly. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember, but do not double up the next dose;

Do not run out of Maraviroc. If you are going on holiday and need additional supplies, tell your doctor. When receiving a supply from pharmacy, ensure that you have an adequate supply to last until your next appointment.

Other drugs and Maraviroc
Maraviroc is metabolised (processed in the body) by the liver. Some other drugs are metabolised in the same way. This is why it is important to tell your doctor about all the medicines that you take even if you only take them occasionally, including herbal and recreational drugs.

Examples of some drugs that are metabolised in the same way as Maraviroc and therefore should NOT be taken are phenytoin, phenobarbitone, carbamazepine and St. John’s Wort. Other examples of drugs that are metabolised in the same way as Maraviroc include rifampicin and the protease inhibitors. Your doctor may alter your doses if you are taking one of these drugs.

Side effects
Maraviroc, like all other medicines, has some side effects. The most common side effects observed in clinical trials in combination with other HIV drugs were:

* Nausea, diarrhoea and headache;
* dizziness, postural hypotension;
* cough;
* rash;
* muscle spasms, back pain;
* sleep disorders;

Admission to hospital
If you are admitted to hospital please bring all your medicines with you. This is especially important for anti-HIV drugs, as they have to be taken regularly. Thomas Macaulay Ward of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital now operates a self medication programme. Some patients are able to self administer their own medicines to enable them to continue with the routine they have been used to at home.

Storing Maraviroc
Maraviroc should be stored at room temperature. Store in the original package.