SAQUINAVIR ORAL (cont.)
PRECAUTIONS: Before taking this, tell your doctor if you have: liver disease, diabetes, blood disorders, allergies. This may make you more sensitive to the sun than usual. Avoid sun exposure. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this medication. It is not known if this drug is excreted into breast milk. HIV infected mothers are advised to avoid breast-feeding in order to protect the infant from becoming infected with HIV.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, triazolam, midazolam, ergot alkaloids and derivatives (e.g., ergotamine), cholesterol-lowering drugs (e.g., statins such as lovastatin, simvastatin), St. John's wort, rifamycins (e.g., rifabutin, rifampin), antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g., amiodarone, propafenone, quinidine). If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting saquinavir. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: insulin, anti-diabetic medications, phenobarbital, phenytoin, dexamethasone, carbamazepine, calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, nifedipine), clindamycin, dapsone, nelfinavir, indinavir, ritonavir, delavirdine, nevirapine, ketoconazole, sildenafil, clarithromycin. This drug may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Discuss using other methods of birth control with your doctor. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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