Invirase® (Fortovase®, Saquinavir)
Who should take this?
For HIV-positive adults beginning anti-HIV drug therapy for the first time, Invirase combined with Norvir, is listed as a "alternative" protease inhibitor option. This means that it is safe and effective to use, after consideration is given to the "preferred" protease inhibitor options. Invirase is not recommended for children who have HIV.
How is it taken? / Dosage
Invirase is given as a hard, gelatin capsule or a tablet. It is usually taken with ritonavir (Norvir) twice a day with a meal. It can be taken up to two hours after a full meal. A person taking Invirase should discuss with his or her doctor whether the drug can be taken when eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice.
To be most effective Invirase and Norvir should be taken exactly as the doctor prescribes. Not following the doctor’s directions can lead to less control over the HIV infection. This can also lead to drug resistance.
Saquinavir soft gelatin capsules are also used to help prevent infection in health care workers or other people who were accidentally exposed to HIV. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
Side Effects
Along with its desired effects, saquinavir can cause some serious unwanted effects. These include:
- Changes in where fat is on the body. Body fat may build up on the upper back, neck, chest/breasts and stomach. Fat may go away from the face, arms and legs.
- High blood sugar levels. This can increase the risk of diabetes or make it worse. Signs of this include thirst, dry mouth, tiredness, flushing, dry lips or skin, frequent urination, loss of appetite, trouble breathing or fast breathing, upset stomach, vomiting, fruity breath, loss of consciousness
Saquinavir may cause these side effects as well:
- Anxiety or depression
- Change in the way food tastes
- Changes in sex drive
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Dizziness
- Eczema
- Gas or bloating
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Increased appetite
- Mouth sores
- Muscle or back pain
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea
- Numbness, pain or tingling in the hands or feet
- Rash
- Runny nose
- Sores in mouth
- Stomach pain
- Tiredness
- Trouble sleeping
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Warts
People who have a history of drinking a lot of alcohol, have diabetes, heart, kidney or liver disease or high cholesterol levels may be at a greater risk for side effects than others.
Drug Interactions
(over 4,000 character limit) ...refer to drug fact sheet
Resistance
As HIV copies itself and multiplies, changes sometimes happen in the new HIV copies. These are called mutations. When the virus changes, it is sometimes able to resist certain antiretroviral drugs. This is called drug resistance. Sometimes when the virus develops a resistance to one drug, it will also resist other antiretroviral drugs. This is called cross-resistance.
Protease inhibitors are slightly less likely to be resisted by the HIV compared to non-nucleoside analog drugs.
The best way to prevent drug resistance is to take antiretroviral drugs regularly as the doctor has prescribed. This will make opportunistic infections less likely. It will also improve quality and length of life.
