indinavir

Pronunciation: in DIN a veer

Brand: Crixivan

What is the most important information I should know about indinavir?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact with indinavir, and some drugs should not be used together.

What is indinavir?

Indinavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body.

Indinavir is used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Indinavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Indinavir may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking indinavir?

You should not use indinavir if you are allergic to it.

Some medicines can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects when used with indinavir. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

  • alfuzosin;
  • amiodarone;
  • cisapride;
  • sildenafil (Revatio, for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension);
  • antipsychotic medicine --lurasidone, pimozide;
  • ergot medicines --dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine;
  • medicine to lower cholesterol --lovastatin, simvastatin; or
  • sedative medicines-- oral midazolam, alprazolam, triazolam.

To make sure indinavir is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • cirrhosis or other liver disease;
  • kidney disease or kidney stones;
  • diabetes;
  • a bleeding disorder (indinavir may cause bleeding in people with hemophilia); or
  • high cholesterol.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of indinavir on the baby.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

Indinavir is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take indinavir?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Indinavir works best if you take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

You may also take indinavir with a light meal such as dry toast with jelly, or corn flakes with skim milk and sugar. Avoid eating a high-fat meal.

Indinavir is usually taken every 8 hours around the clock. Take the medicine at the same times each day.

Take indinavir with a full glass (8 ounces) of water, skim milk, juice, coffee, or tea. Drink at least 6 glasses of water each day to prevent kidney stones while you are taking indinavir.

Use indinavir regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

While using indinavir, you will need frequent blood tests.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the capsules in their original container, along with the packet or canister of moisture-absorbing preservative. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are more than 2 hours late, skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lower back pain, and blood in your urine.

What should I avoid while taking indinavir?

If you also take didanosine, take it on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 1 hour after you take indinavir.

Taking this medicine will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What are the possible side effects of indinavir?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • painful or difficult urination;
  • blood cell disorders --pale or yellowed skin, fever, dark colored urine, confusion or weakness;
  • high blood sugar --increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss;
  • symptoms of a kidney stone --pain in your side or lower back, painful or difficult urination, blood in your urine;
  • liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
  • (if you also use a "statin" cholesterol medicine) --unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

Indinavir may increase your risk of certain infections or autoimmune disorders by changing the way your immune system works. Symptoms may occur weeks or months after you start treatment with indinavir. Tell your doctor if you have:

  • signs of a new infection--fever, night sweats, swollen glands, mouth sores, diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss;
  • chest pain (especially when you breathe), dry cough, wheezing, feeling short of breath;
  • cold sores, sores on your genital or anal area;
  • rapid heart rate, feeling anxious or irritable, weakness or prickly feeling, problems with balance or eye movement;
  • trouble speaking or swallowing, severe lower back pain, loss of bladder or bowel control; or
  • swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence, loss of interest in sex.

Common side effects may include:

  • stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
  • indigestion, heartburn;
  • changes in appetite;
  • headache, dizziness, feeling weak or tired;
  • back pain;
  • rash, itching, dry skin;
  • altered sense of taste;
  • cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat; or
  • changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect indinavir?

Many drugs can interact with indinavir. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • quetiapine;
  • rifampin;
  • St. John's wort;
  • heart or blood pressure medicine --amlodipine, felodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine, quinidine;
  • cholesterol medicine --atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor);
  • erectile dysfunction medicine --sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra);
  • other HIV medicines --atazanavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir;
  • seizure medicine --carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin; or
  • steroid medicine --dexamethasone, prednisone, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with indinavir. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about indinavir.

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