Amprenavir

Amprenavir is used in combination with other antiretroviral medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Amprenavir belongs to a class of drugs called protease inhibitors, which slow the spread of HIV infection in the body. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Amprenavir comes as a capsule and liquid to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day. Amprenavir may be taken with or without food. However, avoid taking amprenavir with high-fat foods or high-fat meals. The amount of drug in amprenavir capsules is not the same as the amount in amprenavir liquid. Do not switch between amprenavir capsules and amprenavir liquid unless your doctor tells you how many amprenavir capsules or how much amprenavir liquid you should take. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take amprenavir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Amprenavir is not a cure and may not decrease the number of HIV-related illnesses. Amprenavir does not prevent the spread of HIV to other people. Continue to take amprenavir even if you feel well. Do not stop taking amprenavir without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p>Amprenavir may cause hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

<ul>
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extreme thirst</li>
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frequent urination</li>
<li>
extreme hunger</li>
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weakness</li>
<li>
blurred vision</li></ul>If high blood sugar is not treated, a serious, life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could develop. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the these symptoms:

<ul>
<li>
dry mouth</li>
<li>
upset stomach and vomiting</li>
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shortness of breath</li>
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breath that smells fruity</li>
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decreased consciousness</li></ul></p> <p>Amprenavir may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
upset stomach</li>
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vomiting</li>
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diarrhea or loose stools</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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change in taste</li>
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tingling sensation around your mouth</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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rash</li>
<li>
seizures (if you are taking the liquid)</li>
<li>
confusion (if you are taking the liquid)</li>
<li>
rapid heart rate (if you are taking the liquid)</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking amprenavir, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amprenavir, sulfa drugs, or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking in addition to those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, especially alprazolam (Xanax); amiodarone (Cordarone); antacids; anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); astemizole (Hismanal);atorvastatin (Lipitor); bepridil (Vascor); betamethasone (Celestone); bepridil (Vascor); birth control pills; carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol); cerivastatin (Baycol); cimetidine (Tagamet); cisapride (Propulsid); clorazepate (Tranxene); clozapine (Clozaril); cortisone acetate (Cortone); dapsone (Avlosulfon); delavirdine (Rescriptor); dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol, others); diazepam (Valium); didanosine (Videx); dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor); efavirenz (Sustiva); ergonovine (Ergotrate); ergotamine (Cafergot, Ercaf, others); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, PCE, others); flurazepam (Dalmane); hydrocortisone (Cortef, Cortenema, Hydrocortone); itraconazole (Sporanox); lidocaine (Xylocaine, LidoPen Auto-Injector, others); loratadine (Claritin); lovastatin (Mevacor); medications for depression such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); medications for diabetes; methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol, others); midazolam (Versed); nevirapine (Viramune); nicardipine (Cardene); nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia); nimodipine (Nimotop); phenobarbital (Barbita); phenytoin (Dilantin, Diphenylan Sodium); pimozide (Orap); prednisolone (Delta-Cortef, Prelone); prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others); quinidine (Quinaglute, Cardioquin, Quinidex); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane); ritonavir (Norvir); sildenafil (Viagra); simvastatin (Zocor); steroid medications such as estrogen or progesterone; terfenadine (Seldane); triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort); triazolam (Halcion); vitamin E and any other vitamins. take amprenavir 1 hour before or 1 hour after you take antacids or didanosine (Videx). tell your doctor and pharmacist what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort or products containing St. John's wort. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease, diabetes, or hemophilia. if you are taking birth control pills, you should talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control because amprenavir may decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pills. if you are taking amprenavir liquid, you should avoid drinking alcohol. you should be aware that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body, such as your breasts and your upper back.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.