What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Atazanavir and dexamethasone
Atazanavir's FDA label of August 6, 2025 names dexamethasone in its drug interactions section; the dexamethasone labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name atazanavir. The atazanavir label: “Coadministration with dexamethasone or other corticosteroids that induce CYP3A may result in loss of therapeutic effect of atazanavir and development of resistance to atazanavir and/or ritonavir. …”
Check it at the source: the atazanavir FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 6, 2025, Aurobindo Pharma Limited); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the atazanavir label say about dexamethasone?
Atazanavir label, drug interactionsConcomitant Drug Class/Specific Drugs: Corticosteroids: dexamethasone and other corticosteroids (all routes of administration); Effect on Concentration of Atazanavir or Concomitant Drug: ↓ atazanavir ↑ corticosteroids; Clinical Comment: Coadministration with dexamethasone or other corticosteroids that induce CYP3A may result in loss of therapeutic effect of atazanavir and development of resistance to atazanavir and/or ritonavir. Alternative corticosteroids should be considered. …
Source: FDA drug label (Atazanavir Sulfate), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective August 6, 2025 (SPL set 7fbea274-d6b5-4faa-bbf0-05fefab42114), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the dexamethasone label say about atazanavir?
Dexamethasone's label (effective June 6, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name atazanavir in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Dexamethasone Intensol), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set b15200fb-1826-472b-a907-e677a272513b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Atazanavir | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | HIV | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $2.23 per capsule 300 mg capsule | $0.193 per tablet 4 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once