Invirase Warnings and Precautions

To help ensure a safe and effective treatment process, you should understand Invirase warnings and precautions. These include the possibility of Invirase increasing triglyceride and cholesterol levels, the risk of the drug making liver problems worse, and the safety of taking Invirase when pregnant or breastfeeding. You should also tell your healthcare provider about any health problems you have and if you are taking any other medicines.

 

Invirase: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Invirase® (saquinavir mesylate) if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding.
     
You should also be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Specific Invirase Warnings and Precautions

Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Invirase include the following:
 
  • Invirase must be taken with ritonavir (Norvir®), another HIV medication. Taking Invirase without ritonavir will decrease the level of Invirase in your blood, making it less effective.
     
  • The liver helps to remove Invirase from the blood. Therefore, the medication can make liver disease worse. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider if you already have liver disease or liver damage prior to taking Invirase.
     
  • Invirase can cause high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). This can cause problems for people who have diabetes, or it can even cause diabetes in individuals who are at risk for this condition.
     
  • It is not known if it is safe for people with severe kidney disease to take Invirase.
     
  • Invirase can increase triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Your healthcare provider should monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels while you are taking the drug.
     
  • There have been reports of bleeding possibly due to protease inhibitors (such as Invirase) in people with hemophilia. Be sure your healthcare provider knows if you have this condition.
     
  • Invirase can change the distribution of fat on your body. You may gain fat in areas that are not typical for you, such as in the abdomen or at the back of the neck (a "buffalo hump"), and you may lose weight in other areas.
     
  • Invirase is not a cure for HIV or AIDS. If you have HIV or AIDS, you should always use safer sex practices, whether or not you are taking medications.
     
  • As with all HIV medications, it is important that you take Invirase exactly as prescribed. Missing doses may increase the chance of the virus becoming resistant to HIV medications.
     
  • Invirase can interact with a number of different medications (see Invirase Drug Interactions).
     
  • Invirase is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not known (see Invirase and Pregnancy).
     
  • It is not known if Invirase passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Invirase and Breastfeeding). It is important to understand that the HIV virus can be transmitted through breast milk and that breastfeeding is usually not recommended in women with HIV or AIDS.
     
(Invirase Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;