amprenavir, Agenerase (cont.)

Pharmacy Author:

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

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Medical and Pharmacy Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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St. John's wort and rifampin (Rifadin) decrease the concentration of amprenavir in the body, and this could reduce the effectiveness of amprenavir.

Amprenavir may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.

Amprenavir oral solution should not be administered with disulfiram (Antabuse), metronidazole (Flagyl) or alcohol.

Administration of the solution with these agents could cause severe side effects because of the substantial amount of propylene glycol in the oral solution.

Administration of amprenavir and didanosine (Videx) or antacids should be separated by one hour. Supplemental vitamin E should not be used because amprenavir formulations contain more than the daily requirement of vitamin E.

PREGNANCY: Pregnant women should not use amprenavir oral solution. Amprenavir capsules have not been adequately evaluated in pregnant women.

NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known whether amprenavir is secreted in breast milk. Nevertheless, HIV-infected mothers should not breast-feed because of the potential risk of transmitting HIV to an infant that is not infected.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most frequent side effects are headache, weakness, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. Amprenavir may also cause severe skin reactions and breakdown of red blood cells. The propylene glycol in the oral solution can cause seizures, stupor, increased heart rate, metabolic disturbance, and kidney failure. Like other protease inhibitors, use of amprenavir may be associated with redistribution or accumulation of body fat, increased cholesterol and worsening of diabetes.

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information

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