HIV: Protease inhibitors

Product

Daily dose

Side-effects

Precautions

Saquinavir (Invirase®)

Tablet 200 mg

Soft gel (Fortovase®)

3 x 600 mg or 2 x 400 mg

if taken with Norvir

Tolerated relatively well; nausea, diarrhoea, headache

Taking with fat-rich meals or with grapefruit juice raises blood levels

Ritonavir (Norvir®)

Tablet 100 mg

Syrup 80 mg/ml

2 x 600 mg or 2 x 400 mg if taken with Invirase®

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, paraesthesias, hypertriglyceridaemia. Lower dose is used as booster.

Take with meals. Gradually increase dose, store cool and in the dark, many interactions with other medicaments

Indinavir (Crixivan®)

Capsule 200 / 400 mg

3 x 800 mg

Kidney stones, hyperbilirubinaemia, haemolytic anaemia

Hydration important, take on empty stomach (or with low-fat meal)

Amprenavir (Agenerase®)

Capsule 150 / 600 mg

2 x 600-1200

Gastrointestinal disturbances, liver function, rash, insomnia

None

Nelfinavir (Viracept®)

Tablet 250 mg

Oral powder 50 mg/g

3 x 750 mg or

2 x 1250 mg

Diarrhoea

Take with meals. Not with acid drink (bitter taste).

Lopinavir (Kaletra®)

3 tablets BD

Nausea, diarrhoea