INVIRASE
General description

Invirase is the brand name for the drug saquinavir produced by Roche Laboratories. It is an inhibitor of HIV protease for use in treating HIV infection.

Mechanism

By inhibiting the action of HIV protease, saquinavir prevents cleavage of polyprotein precursors, resulting in the development of immature, noninfectious viral particles.

Indications

Invirase is indicated for use as part of a combination treatment with other antiretroviral agents for treatment of HIV infection.

Usage/Dosage

The recommended dosage is three 200 mg capsules three times daily taken within 2 hours of a meal. Doses of less than 600 mg tid are not recommended since lower doses have shown no antiviral activity.

Precautions

Caution should be exercised when treating patients with hepatic impairment. The safety for patients younger than 16 years has not been established. Studies have not yet been completed for carcigenicity.

Contraindications

Invirase is contrainicated for patients with known hypersensitivity to saquinavir or its components. It should not be adminstered concomitantly with terfenadine, cisapride, astemiazole, triazolam, midazolam, or ergot derivatives.

Potential Adverse Effects

The majority of side effects are of mild intensity and low frequency. Invirase has been associated with nwe onset diabetes mellitus in some patients, though no causal relationship has been studied or proven.