INDINAVIR (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
In Canada?
Category
Description
Indinavir (in-DIN-a-veer) is used, alone or in combination with othermedicines, in the treatment of the infection caused by the human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS).
Indinavir will not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS; however, it helpskeep HIV from reproducing and appears to slow down the destruction of theimmune system. This may help delay the development of problems usually relatedto AIDS or HIV disease. Indinavir will not keep you from spreading HIV toother people. People who receive this medicine may continue to have otherproblems usually related to AIDS or HIV disease.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage form:
Oral- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For indinavir, the followingshould be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to indinavir. Also tell your health care professional ifyou are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, ordyes.
Pregnancy?Indinavir has not been studied in pregnant women.However, it has caused increased levels of a substance called bilirubin inthe mother, which can cause jaundice. It is not known if it causes this effectin the baby. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if youare pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding?It is not known whether indinavir passes into thebreast milk in humans. However, it does pass into the milk in animals. Becauseit can cause serious unwanted effects, breast-feeding is usually not recommendedwhile you are taking indinavir.
Children?Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients,and there is limited recommendations comparing the use of indinavir in childrenwith use in other age groups.
Older adults?Indinavir has not been studied specifically in olderpeople. Therefore, it is not known whether it causes different side effectsor problems in the elderly than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are takingindinavir, it is especially important that your health care professional knowif you are taking any of the following:
- P450 CYP3A4 substrates such as:
- Cisapride (e.g., Propulsid) or
- Ergot derivatives (e.g., Ergotrate) or
- Midazolam (e.g., Versed) or
- Pimozide (e.g., Orap)
- Triazolam (e.g., Halcion)?There is a possibility that indinavirmay interfere with the removal of these medicines from the body, which couldlead to serious side effects
- Delavirdine (e.g., Rescriptor) ? Use of this medicine withindinavir may increase the amount of indinavir in the body
- Didanosine (e.g., Videx)?It is recommended that this medicineand indinavir be taken at least 1 hour apart so that both will be absorbedproperly from the stomach
- Efavirenz (e.g., Sustiva) ? Use of this medicine with indinavirmay decrease the amount of indinavir in the body
- HMG-CoA inhibitors such as
- Lovastatin (e.g., Mevacor ) or
- Simvastatin (e.g., Zocor) ? Use of this medicine may causean increased risk of certain side effects
- Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox) ? Use of this medicine with indinavirmay increase the amount of indinavir in the body
- Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral)?Use of this medicine with indinavirmay increase the amount of indinavir in the body
- Rifabutin (e.g., Mycobutin)?Use of this medicine with indinavirmay increase the amount of rifabutin and decrease the amount of indinavirin the body
- Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin)?Use of this medicine with indinavirmay decrease the amount of indinavir in the body
- St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)? Use of this medicine with indinavir may cause indinavir not to workproperly
- Sildenafil (e.g., Viagra) ? Use of this medicine with indinavirmay increase the amount of serious side effects
Other medical problems?The presence ofother medical problems may affect the use of indinavir. Make sure you tellyour doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Hemophilia? Increased effects of hemophilia may occur whenusing indinavir
- Hepatitis? Increased effects of hepatitis and hepatic failuremay happen when using indinavir
- Hyperbilirubinemia? may make these effects greater in newbornbabies
- Liver disease?Effects of indinavir may be increased becauseof slower removal from the body
Proper Use of This Medicine
This medicine should be taken with water on an empty stomach (1 hour beforeor 2 hours after a meal) or with a light meal Indinavirmay also be taken with other liquids (skim milk, juice, coffee, or tea) orwith a light meal (dry toast with jelly, juice, coffee with skim milk andsugar, or corn flakes with skim milk and sugar).
While you are taking indinavir, it is important thatyou drink extra fluids so that you will pass more urine. This willhelp prevent possible kidney stones. Follow your doctor'sinstructions carefully about how much fluid to drink. Usually you willneed to drink at least 48 ounces (1.5 liters) of fluids every day during yourtreatment.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time thanyour doctor ordered. Also, do not stop taking this medicine without checkingwith your doctor first.
Keep taking indinavir for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better.
This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also,it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times, day and night.For example, if you are to take three doses a day, the doses should be spacedabout 8 hours apart. If you need help in planning the best times to take yourmedicine, check with your health care professional.
Only take medicine that your doctor has prescribed specially for you. Donot share your medicine with others.
Dosing?The dose of indinavir may be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage doses of indinavir. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of capsules that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (capsules):
- For treatment of HIV infection:
- Adults?800 mg every eight hours.
- Children?Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Note: | This medicine may be taken in combination with other medicines thatare used to treat HIV infection. Check with your health care professionalfor information and dose amounts. |
Missed dose?If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it assoon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skipthe missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not doubledoses.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Indinavir capsules are very sensitive to moisture. Keep them in theiroriginal container and leave the drying packet in the container.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Do not take any other medicines without checking with your doctorfirst. To do so may increase the chance of side effects from indinavir.
It is very important that your doctor check your progressat regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly andto check for unwanted effects.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine maycause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur,if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of thefollowing side effects occur:
Other sideeffects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effectsmay go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However,check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or arebothersome:
Note: | Other side effects not listed above have occurred since indinavirwas released on the market and these side effects may also occur in some patients.How often these side effects occur is unknown. If you notice any other effects,check with your doctor. |
Revised: 02/12/2003
