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.