Symtuza is a single-tablet regimen combining darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide in one pill, taken once a day.

You must not take Symtuza with any of the following medicines: alfuzosin (treatment for prostate enlargement); amiodarone (for angina and cardiac arrhythmia); avanafil (for erectile dysfunction); carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin (epilepsy and seizures); colchicine (for kidney/liver problems); dihydroergotamine or ergotamine (migraine); dronedarone, quinidine (cardiac arrhythmia); ergometrine or methylergonovine (after childbirth); lovastatin, simvastatin (lipid lowering); lurasidone, pimozide, quetiapine, sertindole (antipsychotic); midazolam (seizures); ranolazine (angina); rifampicin (tuberculosis); sildenafil (when used for pulmonary arterial hypertension); St John’s wort (anti-depressant); ticagrelor (blood thinner); triazolam (sedative).

The antibiotics used to treat TB, rifampicin and rifabutin, may reduce levels of tenofovir alafenamide; so may some anticonvulsants.

There are a number of other drugs which can be affected by Symtuza so your doctor or pharmacist may prescribe a different dose. This includes some commonly prescribed drugs such as hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, any product that contains steroids (such as inhalers, eye drops, skin creams or injections), erectile dysfunction drugs, psychiatric drugs, and drugs used to treat opioid dependence, asthma, infections and pain.

Symtuza is suitable for people who have taken antiretroviral drugs before if they do not have any resistance to darunavir. Resistance to darunavir will mean resistance to all protease inhibitors.

Severe rash with fever (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).

Allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction, loss of appetite, abnormal dreams, diabetes, raised lipid or liver or pancreatic enzyme or creatinine levels, headache, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion, flatulence, facial swelling, rash, itching, aching joints or muscles, tiredness, feeling weak.

Take with food – within half an hour of having a meal or snack. The tablet should be swallowed whole – don’t chew, crush or split it. If you take Symtuza without food you may not absorb enough darunavir and your treatment may fail.

Combination treatment in one tablet, taken once a day. Combines 800mg of darunavir (a protease inhibitor), 200mg of emtricitabine and 10mg of tenofovir alafenamide (both NRTIs), along with 150mg of cobicistat (a boosting agent), in a yellow tablet.