Can you answer the following questions about Agenerase®?
What is the generic name? Any abbreviations?
What "class" antiretroviral is it and how does it work?
With food, without food or food doesn't matter?
Any side effects?
Any possible drug interactions?
What is a typical dose?
Any other significant counseling points?
Agenerase ® (Amprenavir) is a protease inhibitor (PI) that
suppresses viral replication.
The FDA approved dose is 1200 mg
bid. Increasing evidence exists to
support 600 mg bid when used in combination with 100 mg of ritonavir. Many
other dosage combinations are also being investigated. The capsule and
solution formulations are not interchangeable on a mg-per-mg basis.
Agenerase ®(Amprenavir) may be taken with or without
food, but a high fat meal should be
avoided due to the potential for reduced drug
concentrations.
Side effects commonly encountered include GI
intolerance, rash,
oral paresthesias, and
elevated transaminase levels. Many of the adverse events
are transient and will dissipate as therapy continues.
Hyperglycemia,
fat redistribution, and
cholesterol abnormalities have been
associated with the use of PIs.
Potential for drug interactions exists due to inhibition of cytochrome
P450 enzymes.
As with all antiretrovirals, adherence is
crucial. Non-adherence is a
frequent cause of drug failure and viral resistance, not only to amprenavir,
but to other PIs as well.
