(VIRACEPT)
- WHAT IS NELFINAVIR?
- WHO SHOULD TAKE NELFINAVIR?
- WHAT ABOUT DRUG RESISTANCE?
- HOW IS NELFINAVIR TAKEN?
- WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
- HOW DOES NELFINAVIR REACT WITH OTHER
DRUGS?
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PrintNelfinavir, also called Viracept®, is a drug used for antiviral therapy. It is
manufactured by Agouron Pharmaceuticals. Nelfinavir is a protease
inhibitor. These drugs prevent the protease enzyme from working.
HIV protease acts like a chemical scissors. It cuts the raw material
for HIV into specific pieces needed to build a new virus. Protease
inhibitors “gum up” these scissors.
NELFINAVIR?
Nelfinavir was approved as an antiviral drug for people with
HIV infection. There are no absolute rules about when to start
antiviral drugs. You and your doctor should consider your T-cell count, your viral
load, any symptoms you are having, and your attitude about
taking HIV medications. Fact Sheet
411 has more information about guidelines
for the use of antiviral medications.
If you take nelfinavir with other antiviral drugs, you can
reduce your viral load to extremely low levels, and increase your
T-cell counts. This should mean staying healthier longer.
RESISTANCE?
Many new copies of HIV are mutations. They are slightly different
from the original virus. Some mutations can keep multiplying even
when you are taking an antiviral drug. When this happens, the
drug will stop working. This is called “developing resistance”
to the drug. See Fact Sheet 414
for more information on resistance.
Sometimes, if your virus develops resistance to one drug, it
will also have resistance to other antiviral drugs. This is called
“cross-resistance”.
Resistance can develop quickly. It is very important to
take antiviral medications according to instructions, on schedule,
and not to skip or reduce doses.
HOW
IS NELFINAVIR TAKEN?
Nelfinavir is taken by mouth as a capsule. The normal dose
is 750 milligrams (mg) three times a day. The capsules are 250mg,
so you will take 3 capsules at a time.
Late in 1999, the FDA approved twice-daily dosing of nelfinavir
at 1250 mg per dose. This means taking 5 capsules at a time. If
you want to change how often you take nelfinavir, talk to your
doctor. Different doses are used in some combinations. Be
sure you know how much nelfinavir your doctor has prescribed for
you, and when and how to take each dose.
The former capsules dissolved quickly and were difficult to
swallow. A film-coated tablet was approved in March 2000 and replaced
the old capsules.
Nelfinavir should be taken with meals. It should be stored
at room temperature and protected from moisture, freezing, or
excessive heat.
WHAT
ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
The most common side effects of nelfinavir are diarrhea, weakness,
headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. None of these side effects
seem to be very serious. The diarrhea in most cases can be controlled
with over-the-counter medications.
HOW DOES NELFINAVIR REACT WITH OTHER DRUGS?
Nelfinavir is broken down by the liver and can interact with
other drugs that also use the liver. Combining these drugs
can change the amount of each drug in your bloodstream and cause
an under- or overdose. Drugs to watch out for include Viagra,
several antihistamines, sedatives, drugs to lower cholesterol
and anti-fungal drugs. Make sure that your doctor knows about
ALL drugs you are taking.
If you are taking nelfinavir and ddI,
you should take ddI one hour before or two hours after nelfinavir.
Some birth control pills may not work if you are taking nelfinavir.
Talk to your doctor about how to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
The herb St. John’s Wort (See
Fact Sheet 729) lowers the blood levels of some protease inhibitors.
Tell your doctor about any herbs or other supplements that you
use.
Revised August 16, 2002
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New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center
and the New Mexico Department of Health