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saquinavir

Pronunciation: sa KWIN a veer
Brand: Invirase

Invirase 500 mg

oblong, orange, imprinted with SQV 500, ROCHE

Image of Invirase 500 mg
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What is the most important information I should know about saquinavir?

Saquinavir must be taken together with another medication called ritonavir (Norvir).

donot You should not take this medication if you are allergic to saquinavir or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra).

Before you take saquinavir, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, diabetes; hemophilia, or high cholesterol.

donot There are many other drugs that can cause serious or life-threatening medical problems if you take them together with saquinavir. Do not take saquinavir with: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), cisapride (Propulsid), flecainide (Tambocor), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor), midazolam (Versed), pimozide (Orap), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quin-G), rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate), simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin), triazolam (Halcion), or an ergot medicine such as Ergomar, Cafergot, Ergotrate, Migranal, or Methergine.

Many other drugs can interact with saquinavir. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. 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.

donot Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing 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.

What is saquinavir?

Saquinavir is an antiviral medication. It is in a group of drugs called protease (PRO-tee-ayz) inhibitors. Saquinavir prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.

Saquinavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Saquinavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking saquinavir?

donot You should not take this medication if you are allergic to saquinavir or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra).
donot Do not take saquinavir with any of the following medications. They can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking saquinavir:
  • amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);
  • cisapride (Propulsid);
  • flecainide (Tambocor);
  • lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor) o simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin);
  • midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);
  • pimozide (Orap);
  • propafenone (Rythmol);
  • quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute);
  • rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate);
  • an ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a saquinavir dose adjustment or special tests:

  • liver disease;
  • heart disease, heart rhythm disorder, or a history of "Long QT syndrome";
  • diabetes;
  • hemophilia; or
  • high cholesterol or triglycerides.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication 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.

bcp Saquinavir can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking saquinavir.
nobrfeed 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.
nochild Do not give this medication to a child younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take saquinavir?

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

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Saquinavir must be taken together with another medication called ritonavir (Norvir).

food Take saquinavir and ritonavir with food or within 2 hours after eating a full meal.

To be sure saquinavir is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

Use saquinavir 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 drugs. 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.

rt Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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

What should I avoid while taking saquinavir?

donot Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing 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.

What are the possible side effects of saquinavir?

emt Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
donot Stop taking saquinavir and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
  • increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, fruity breath odor;
  • cough with yellow or green mucus, stabbing chest pain, wheezing, feeling short of breath;
  • fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, mouth and throat ulcers; or
  • any type of infection, skin infection, or open sores.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
  • tired feeling; or
  • changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

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.

What other drugs will affect saquinavir?

Many drugs can interact with saquinavir. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

  • digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
  • dexamethasone (DexPak, Cortastat, Dexasone, Solurex) and other steroids;
  • fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent);
  • garlic or St. John's wort;
  • methadone (Diskets, Dolophine, Methadose);
  • omeprazole (Prilosec);
  • an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and others;
  • antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal);
  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
  • an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), or trazodone (Desyrel);
  • cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and others;
  • drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf); or
  • heart or blood pressure medication such as amlodipine (Caduet, Lotrel, Norvasc), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (Dynacirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);
  • heart rhythm medication such as dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), ibutilide (Corvert), procainamide (Pronestyl), o sotalol (Betapace);
  • medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra);
  • other HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nevirapine (Viramune), or tipranavir (Aptivus);
  • a sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or flurazepam (Dalmane); or
  • seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin).
donot This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with saquinavir. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about saquinavir.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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