Amprenavir oral solution

What is this medicine?

AMPRENAVIR (am PREN a veer) is an antiretroviral drug. It is used with other medicines to treat HIV. This medicine is not a cure for HIV. This medicine can lower, but not fully prevent, the risk of spreading HIV to others.

NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the United States. Patients taking Amprenavir should contact their prescriber regarding discontinuation and alternative therapies.

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Use a specially marked spoon or container to measure each dose. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one. Household spoons are not accurate. You can take this medicine with or without food, but do not take it with a high fat meal. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. For your anti-HIV therapy to work as well as possible, take each dose exactly as prescribed. Do not skip doses or stop your medicine even if you feel better. Skipping doses may make the HIV virus resistant to this medicine and other medicines. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 4 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing difficulties

• nausea, vomiting, unusual stomach upset or pain

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• seizures

• trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine

• unusually fast heart rate

• unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• changes in taste

• depressed mood

• diarrhea

• increased hunger or thirst

• tingling around the mouth

• weight gain around waist, back, or thinning of face, arms, legs

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• alcohol or any product that contains alcohol

• astemizole

• bepridil

• cisapride

• disulfiram

• dofetilide

• flecainide

• female hormones, like estrogens or progestins and birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections

• medicines for headaches like dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine

• medicines for cholesterol like atorvastatin, cerivastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin

• metronidazole

• midazolam

• pimozide

• propafenone

• ranolazine

• red yeast rice

• rifampin

• rifapentine

• ritonavir oral solution

• triazolam

• St. John's wort

• vitamin E supplements

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• amiodarone

• antacids

• cyclosporine

• dexamethasone

• fluticasone

• lidocaine

• medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances

• medicines for fungal infections like ketoconazole and itraconazole

• medicines for blood pressure like amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil

• medicines for seizures

• methadone

• other medicines for HIV

• quinidine

• rapamycin

• rifabutin

• sildenafil

• sirolimus

• tacrolimus

• warfarin

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose by more than 4 hours, wait and take the next dose at the regular time. But, if you miss a dose by less than 4 hours, take your missed dose right away. Then take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• hemophilia

• if you are of Asian, Eskimo, or Native American descent

• if you frequently drink alcohol containing drinks

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• an unusual or allergic reaction to amprenavir, fosamprenavir, sulfa drugs, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular check ups. Discuss any new symptoms with your doctor. You will need to have important blood work done while on this medicine.

HIV is spread to others through sexual or blood contact. Talk to your doctor about how to stop the spread of HIV.

Birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections may not work properly while you are taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor about using an extra method of birth control. Women who can still have children must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, like a condom or diaphragm.

This medicine contains large amounts of vitamin E. Do not take vitamin supplements that have vitamin E while you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check with your doctor or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.