Saquinavir

Description

Saquinavir is an antiviral medicine used in combination with ritonavir to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This medicine is not a cure for HIV. It prevents the virus from multiplying in your body. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients below 16 years of age.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Saquinavir

  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Chills and fever
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Confusion
  • Dehydration
  • Weakness

Uses of Saquinavir

What is it prescribed for?

  • HIV infection
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The time required for this medicine to show its effect is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is 7 to 8 hours.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendency has been reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is recommended for use in pregnant women only if necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is recommended for use in breastfeeding women only in life-threatening conditions. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to saquinavir.

Drug interaction

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients receiving medicines which are highly dependent on CYP3A for their clearance as well as strong CYP3A inducers due to an alteration in Saquinavir blood levels which may cause serious and life-threatening reactions.

Drug interaction

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients receiving medicines such as Antiarrythmics>, HMG CoA inhibitors, cyclosporine, Lurasidone, Ziprasidone, Ergot derivatives, Midazolam, and Triazolam due to the increased risk of severe side effects.

Severe Hepatic impairment

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of severe hepatic impairment due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is recommended for use in pregnant women only if necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is recommended for use in breastfeeding women only in life-threatening conditions. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.
General warnings

Hyperlipidemia

Saquinavir may increase the lipid levels in the body. Close monitoring of lipid levels is necessary during treatment with this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Boosted therapy

Saquinavir should be used in combination with ritonavir for better effectiveness.

Bleeding disorders

This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with bleeding disorders like Hemophilia A or Hemophilia B due to an increase in the risk of excessive bleeding. Report any symptoms of unusual bleeding or bruising to the doctor on priority. The dose of the medicine should be adjusted based on the clinical condition.

Drug interactions

Saquinavir may interact with many medicines and may cause severe side effects. It is advised that you should inform the doctor about all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements before starting treatment with this medicine.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Atenolol

Bisoprolol

Clozapine

Digoxin

Ciprofloxacin

Azithromycin

Vasopressin

Disease interactions

Liver Disease

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of liver disease due to the increased risk of severe side effects. Close monitoring of liver function is recommended during treatment with this medicine. This medicine should not be used in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Hemophilia

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of bleeding disorders due to the increased risk of excessive bleeding. Close monitoring of prothrombin time and INR may be necessary for such patients based on the clinical condition. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative should be done under your doctor's supervision.

Hyperglycemia

This medicine should be used with caution due to the risk of an increase in the blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels should be monitored closely during the treatment with this medicine. Patients with diabetes should be carefully monitored for symptoms such as increased frequency of urination, excessive thirst, etc. If necessary, the dose of the antidiabetic agents should be adjusted based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Food can increase the absorption levels of Saquinavir. This medicine should be taken with meals or within 2 hours after taking food.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Saquinavir exactly as instructed by the doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller quantities than recommended. Ritonavir should be taken at the same time you take this medicine. Ensure that proper hygiene measures are adopted. Complete the course of treatment to prevent the spread of the infection.
Miscelleneous

To be taken with food

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Does not cause sleepiness

How it works
It works by stopping the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying. This helps in reducing the chances of development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other HIV-related illnesses.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Protease inhibitors

Schedule

Schedule H

DailyMed - INVIRASE - saquinavir mesylate tablet, film coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 10 August 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=b8b53129-06ab-4143-b9b7-7675e49a52ef

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 10 August 2017]. Available from:

http://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database

Saquinavir - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 10 August 2017]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01232

Saquinavir: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 10 August 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a696001.html

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Information on this page was last updated on 15 Aug 2017

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.