What is indinavir?
Indinavir is an antiviral medication in a group of HIV medicines called protease
(PRO-tee-ayz) inhibitors. Indinavir prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from
multiplying in your body.
Indinavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS). Indinavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Indinavir may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking indinavir?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to indinavir.
Do not take indinavir with amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), cisapride (Propulsid),
pimozide (Orap), alprazolam (Xanax), oral midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or ergot
medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal
Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).
These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are
taking indinavir.
Before taking indinavir, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
-
liver disease;
-
kidney disease, or a history of kidney stones;
-
diabetes;
-
a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia; or
-
high cholesterol or triglycerides.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take indinavir.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. HIV can be passed
to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV
medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.
Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using
this medication.
You should not breast-feed while you are using indinavir. Women with HIV or
AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the
virus to the baby in your breast milk.
How should I take indinavir?
Take indinavir exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these
directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Take indinavir with a full glass (8 ounces) of water or skim milk. You may also
drink juice, coffee, or tea with this medication. Drink at least 6 glasses of water each day to
prevent kidney stones while you are taking indinavir.
Indinavir should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after
a meal.
If you prefer to take the medication with food, eat only a light meal, such as dry toast with
jelly, or corn flakes with skim milk and sugar. Avoid eating a high-fat meal.
It is important to use indinavir regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription
refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on
a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits
to your doctor.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your
condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication
guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses
or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS
should remain under the care of a doctor.
Store indinavir at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the capsules
in their original container, along with the packet of moisture-absorbing preservative that comes
with indinavir capsules.
What happens if I miss a dose of indinavir?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember and take your next dose at the regularly
scheduled time.
If you are more than 2 hours late in taking your indinavir,
skip the missed dose and take the next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about indinavir?
Your pharmacist has information about indinavir written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of indinavir?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking indinavir and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
-
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling,
and red skin rash;
-
pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion
or weakness;
-
increased urination or extreme thirst;
-
pain in your side or lower back, blood in your urine;
-
easy bruising or bleeding;
-
signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or
flu symptoms; or
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating;
-
numbness or tingling, especially around your mouth;
-
tired feeling;
-
headache, mood changes; or
-
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in
your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about indinavir?
Do not take indinavir with amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), cisapride (Propulsid),
pimozide (Orap), alprazolam (Xanax), oral midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or an ergot
medicine such as Ergomar, Cafergot, Wigraine, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, Methergine.
These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are
taking indinavir.
There are many other medicines that can interact with indinavir.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you
use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your
condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or
medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should
remain under the care of a doctor.
Taking indinavir will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through
unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing
HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine
needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
What should I avoid while taking indinavir?
If you also take didanosine, take it 1 hour before or after you take indinavir, on an empty
stomach.
Taking indinavir will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through
unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing
HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy
person.
What other drugs will affect indinavir?
Before taking indinavir, tell your doctor if you are using:
-
injectable midazolam (Versed);
-
fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent);
-
St. John's wort;
-
antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), itraconazole
(Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), rifabutin (Mycobutin), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane,
Rifater);
-
antidepressants such as trazodone (Desyrel), and others;
-
a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Caduet,
Lotrel, Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Dilacor), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia,
Adalat), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);
-
cholesterol-lowering medicine such as atorvastatin
(Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), or simvastatin (Zocor);
-
drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine
(Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf);
-
heart rhythm medications such as quinidine (Quinaglute,
Quinidex);
-
insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;
-
medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil
(Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra);
-
other HIV /AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz),
delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), or ritonavir (Norvir);
or
-
seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol,
Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin).
This list is not complete and there are many other
medicines that can interact with indinavir.
Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without
telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any
doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
What happens if I have an overdose of indinavir?
