Can you answer the following questions about Invirase®?
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?
Invirase ®
(Saquinavir) is a protease
inhibitor (PI)
that suppresses viral
replication.
Invirase ®
(Saquinavir) is the original
hard gel capsule formulation of Saquinavir and
should only be used with
ritonavir.
Invirase ®
(Saquinavir) should be taken
with food.
Side effects include GI
intolerance,
headache, and elevated
transaminase levels.
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 saquinavir, but to
other PIs as well.
