Invirase

Some medications can interfere with how well your body gets rid of Invirase (saquinavir) from your system. This can affect the amount of Invirase (saquinavir) in your body, how well it works, and the risk of side effects.

Taking certain medications and supplements (like St. John's wort) can lower the amount of Invirase (saquinavir) in your body and make the HIV medication work less well.

Invirase (saquinavir) can also affect how your body gets rid of other medications. This can raise the levels of these medications in the body and raise your risk for side effects. For example, taking Invirase (saquinavir) with certain statins can raise your risk for serious muscle problems.

Because of the potential for serious interactions with Invirase (saquinavir) and various medications, tell your provider and pharmacist about all the medications you take or plan to take.

• Risk factors: History of heart problems | Taking medications that affect heart rhythm | Low potassium or magnesium levels | Liver problems

Invirase (saquinavir) can sometimes affect your heart rhythm, which can be serious and life-threatening. Your risk is higher if you have certain conditions, including electrolyte levels that are out of balance and heart rhythm problems. Your risk might also be higher if you're taking other medications that cause heart rhythm problems, such as digoxin (Lanoxin) and beta-blockers, among others. In some instances, you might need to have your heart checked before starting this medication. Get medical attention right away if you feel your chest pounding, have trouble breathing, have chest pain, or feel faint or lightheaded while you're taking Invirase (saquinavir).

• Risk factor: Taking protease inhibitor medications

Some people taking protease inhibitor medications like Invirase (saquinavir) developed higher blood sugar levels, which has led to or worsened diabetes. In some cases, people needed to start taking a new medication or their current diabetes treatment plan needed changes to help keep blood sugar under control. If you have a history of diabetes, let your provider know before starting Invirase (saquinavir). Your provider might ask you to check your blood sugar at home to make sure this medication is safe for you.

• Risk factors: Hepatitis B or C | History of liver problems | Alcoholism

Some people taking Invirase (saquinavir) have had liver problems, which were sometimes life-threatening. Your provider will order blood tests for you before and during treatment so they can make sure Invirase (saquinavir) is safe for your liver. Let your provider know if you experience signs and symptoms of liver damage, such as sleepiness, nausea, loss of appetite, light-colored stool, upper right stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.

Some people with a bleeding condition called hemophilia have had more bleeding after starting protease inhibitors like Invirase (saquinavir). In about half of reported cases, people continued taking their protease inhibitor medication after the bleeding stopped. Let your provider know if you notice sudden bleeding or have bleeding that's difficult to stop.

Taking Invirase (saquinavir) along with ritonavir (Norvir) can raise the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in your blood. This can put you at higher risk for serious problems. Your provider will check your blood work before and during treatment to keep track of your levels. If your cholesterol levels are too high, you might need to take medications to help keep them under control. Keep in mind that you shouldn't take certain cholesterol medications, such as lovastatin and simvastatin (Zocor), with Invirase (saquinavir) because of the risk of serious muscle damage.

Invirase (saquinavir) oral tablets contain lactose. People with a history of certain genetic problems (e.g., galactose intolerance) are at high risk for diarrhea and other health problems because they can't process it well. For this reason, let your provider know before starting Invirase (saquinavir) if you've a history of genetic conditions.

Taking combination ARV therapy, such as Invirase (saquinavir) with other HIV medications, can cause changes to your immune system called immune reconstitution syndrome. This condition happens when your immune system becomes overly active after you start combination therapy. Your immune system begins to fight off different infections that it was too weak to fight off before you started treatment. In rare cases, your immune response might improve so much with treatment that it starts to attack normal cells in your body (autoimmune). You can develop immune reconstitution syndrome at any time during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms, such as fever, pain, hair loss, bulging eyes, or sweating, after starting Invirase (saquinavir).

Some people taking HIV medications such as Invirase (saquinavir) have experienced changes in body fat. These changes include fat buildup in the back of the neck, in the breast, and in other parts of the body. Some people also lost fat from the legs, arms, and face. It's not clear whether Invirase (saquinavir) causes these changes to body fat, why this happens, and whether it will affect your health in the future. Let your provider know if these changes occur while you're taking Invirase (saquinavir).