Aptivus

Generic Name: tipranavir
Other Brand Names: tipranavir

What is tipranavir?

Tipranavir is an antiviral medication in a group of HIV medicines called protease (PRO-tee-ayz) inhibitors. Tipranavir prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.

Tipranavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Tipranavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Tipranavir may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tipranavir?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to tipranavir, if you have moderate to severe liver disease, or if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);

  • astemizole (Hismanal);

  • bepridil (Vascor);

  • cisapride (Propulsid);

  • flecainide (Tambocor);

  • midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);

  • pimozide (Orap);

  • propafenone (Rythmol);

  • quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute);

  • terfenadine (Seldane); or

  • 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 tipranavir.

Before taking tipranavir, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);

  • diabetes;

  • a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia; or

  • high chlolesterol or triglycerides.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use tipranavir, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. 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 antiretroviral pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.

Tipranavir can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking tipranavir.

You should not breast-feed while you are using tipranavir. 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 tipranavir?

Take this medication 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.

If you also take ritonavir, take it at the same time you take tipranavir unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

Tipranavir works best if you take it with food. Swallow the capsule whole. Do not break or chew it.

It is important to use tipranavir regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

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.

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.

Store an unopened bottle of tipranavir capsules in the refrigerator but do not allow them to freeze. After opening the bottle for the first time, you may store the capsules at room temperature. Throw away any capsules you have not used within 60 days after you first opened the medicine bottle.

What happens if I miss a dose of tipranavir?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about tipranavir?
Your pharmacist has information about tipranavir written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tipranavir?

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.

Some people taking tipranavir and ritonavir have developed life-threatening medical problems including liver damage and bleeding in the brain. If you are taking these two medications, call your doctor at once if you have any of the following side effects:

  • unusual bleeding (such as a nosebleed or blood in your urine or stools);

  • sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

  • low fever, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;

  • dark urine, clay-colored stools; or

  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Stop taking tipranavir and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • increased urination or extreme thirst;

  • easy bruising or bleeding; or

  • signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms.

Keep taking the medication and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

  • mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain;

  • numbness or tingling, especially around your mouth;

  • headache, mood changes; or

  • changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about tipranavir?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to tipranavir, or if you have moderate to severe liver disease.

Do not take tipranavir with amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), bepridil (Vascor), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex), astemizole (Hismanal), terfenadine (Seldane), cisapride (Propulsid), pimozide (Orap), 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 tipranavir.

There are many other medicines that can interact with tipranavir.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.

Tipranavir is used in combination with a similar drug called ritonavir (Norvir). Some people taking this combination of medicines have developed life-threatening medical problems including liver damage and bleeding in the brain. If you are taking these two medications, call your doctor at once if you have any of the following side effects:

  • unusual bleeding (such as a nosebleed or blood in your urine or stools);

  • sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

  • low fever, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;

  • dark urine, clay-colored stools; or

  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

What should I avoid while taking tipranavir?

If you also take didanosine, take it 2 hour before or after you take tipranavir.

Taking tipranavir 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 other drugs will affect tipranavir?

Before taking tipranavir, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent);

  • St. John’s wort;

  • antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

  • antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone (Desyrel), and others;

  • a beta-blocker such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol) or timolol (Blocadren);

  • 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), or simvastatin (Zocor);

  • drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf);

  • other HIV /AIDS medicine such as amprenavir (Agenerase), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase);

  • insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;

  • medications that a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

  • medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra); or

  • seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), clonazepam (Klonopin), divalproex (Depakote), ethosuximide (Zarontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), or phenytoin (Dilantin).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take tipranavir, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There are many other medicines that can interact with tipranavir. 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 tipranavir?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a tipranavir overdose are unknown.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008