Saquinavir (Systemic)
Brand Names : Fortovase, Invirase
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For saquinavir, the
following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to saquinavir. Also tell your health care professional if
you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or
dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However, saquinavir
has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether saquinavir passes into
human breast milk. However, breast-feeding is usually not recommended in AIDS
patients because of the risk of passing the AIDS virus on to the infant.
Children - There is no specific information comparing use of
saquinavir in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults. There is no specific information comparing
use of saquinavir in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
saquinavir, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Astemizole (e.g., Hismanal) or
-
Cisapride (e.g., Propulsid) or
-
Ergot medicines (dihydroergotamine [e.g., D.H.E. 45], ergoloid mesylates
[e.g., Hydergine], ergotamine [e.g., Ergotrate], methylergonovine [e.g., Methergine],
methysergide [e.g., Sansert]) or
-
Midazolam (e.g., Versed) or
-
Terfenadine (e.g., Seldane) or
-
Triazolam (e.g., Halcion) - There is a possibility that saquinavir
may interfere with the removal of these medicines from the body, which could
lead to serious side effects
-
Calcium channel blocking agents (bepridil [e.g., Bepadin], diltiazem
[e.g., Cardizem], felodipine [e.g., Plendil], flunarizine [e.g., Sibelium],
isradipine [e.g., DynaCirc], nicardipine [e.g., Cardene], nifedipine [e.g.,
Procardia], nimodipine [e.g., Nimotop], verapamil [e.g., Calan]) or
-
Quinidine (e.g., Quinidex) - There is a possibility that saquinavir
may interfere with the removal of these medicines from the body, which could
lead to increased side effects
-
Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
-
Dexamethasone (e.g., Decadron) or
-
Phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal) or
-
Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin) or
-
Rifabutin (e.g., Mycobutin) or
-
Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin) - These medicines may decrease the amount
of saquinavir in the body
-
Delavirdine (e.g., Rescriptor) or
-
Nevirapine (e.g., Viramune) or
-
Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir) - This medicine may increase the amount
of saquinavir in the body, which could lead to increased side effects
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of saquinavir. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Hemophilia - Possible increased risk of bleeding
-
Liver disease - Effects of saquinavir may be increased because
of slower removal of the medicine from the body; also saquinavir has been
reported to cause unwanted effects on the liver
|