Viracept
| Noun | 1. | Viracept - a protease inhibitor (trade name Viracept) used in treating HIV usually in combination with other drugs |
Viracept
nelfinavir mesylate
Pharmacologic class: Protease inhibitor
Therapeutic class: Antiretroviral
Pregnancy risk category B
Action
Inhibits action of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease and prevents cleavage of viral polyproteins, resulting in production of immature, noninfectious virus
Availability
Oral powder: 50 mg/1 g powder (1 g powder/level scoopful)
Tablets: 250 mg, 625 mg
Indications and dosages
➣ HIV infection
Adults and children older than age 13: 750 mg P.O. t.i.d. or 1,250 mg b.i.d., given with other antiretrovirals
Children ages 2 to 13: 20 to 30 mg/kg P.O. t.i.d., given with a meal or light snack
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to drug or its components
• Concurrent use of amiodarone, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, midazolam, pimozide, quinidine, rifampin, sildenafil (when used for pulmonary arterial hypertension), or triazolam
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• moderate or severe hepatic impairment (avoid use)
• hemophilia, diabetes mellitus
• concurrent use of lovastatin, simvastatin, or St. John's wort (not recommended)
• concurrent use of other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors also metabolized by the CYP3A pathway, proton pump inhibitors, and rifampin
• phenylketonuria (oral powder contains phenylalanine)
• breastfeeding patients.
Administration
• Give tablets with food.
• For adult who can't swallow tablets whole, crush and mix in food or dissolve in small amount of water. Have patient consume mixture immediately, or refrigerate for up to 6 hours.
• For child who can't swallow tablets, mix oral powder with small amount of water, formula, or milk. Have child consume mixture immediately, or refrigerate for up to 6 hours.
• Don't mix powder with water in its original container.
• Don't mix powder with acidic juice (combination produces bitter taste).
Don't give concurrently with amiodarone, astemizole, cisapride, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, midazolam, quinidine, rifampin, terfenadine, or triazolam.
Adverse reactions
CNS: anxiety, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, emotional lability, headache, hyperkinesia, insomnia, malaise, migraine headache, sleep disorders, weakness, myasthenia, paresthesia, suicidal ideation, seizures
EENT: acute iritis, rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis
GI: nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence
GU: nephrolithiasis, sexual dysfunction
Hematologic: anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
Metabolic: dehydration, hyperuricemia, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia
Musculoskeletal: joint pain, arthritis, back pain, myalgia, myopathy
Respiratory: dyspnea, bronchospasm
Skin: pruritus, rash, sweating, fungal dermatitis, folliculitis, urticaria
Other: fever, body fat redistribution, allergic reactions, immune reconstitution syndrome
Interactions
Drug-drug. Amiodarone, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, midazolam, quinidine, triazolam: excessive sedation, vasoconstriction, serious arrhythmias
Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin: increased statin concentration
Azithromycin, bosentan, colchicine, inhaled fluticasone, salmeterol: increased concentration of these drugs
Carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin: decreased nelfinavir blood level and efficacy
Delavirdine: increased nelfinavir concentration, decreased delavirdine concentrations
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: increased risk of serious reactions, such as myopathy and rhabdomyolysis
Hormonal contraceptives: decreased contraceptive blood level and efficacy
Immunosuppressants (cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus): increased immunosuppressant concentration
Indinavir, saquinavir: increased indinavir or saquinavir concentration and increased nelfinavir concentration
Methadone, trazodone: decreased concentration of these drugs Nevirapine: decreased nelfinavir concentration
Rifabutin: decreased rifabutin metabolism and effects Ritonavir: increased nelfinavir concentration
Sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil: increased risk of adverse events
Warfarin: affected warfarin concentration
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine amino-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, lactic dehydrogenase lipids, uric acids: increased levels Blood glucose: increased or decreased level
Hemoglobin, platelets, white blood cells: decreased levels
Drug-food. Most foods: enhanced drug absorption
Drug-herbs. St. John's wort: decreased nelfinavir blood level and efficacy
Patient monitoring
Watch for signs and symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation.
• Evaluate neurologic status closely, particularly for seizures and sensori-motor dysfunction.
• Assess CBC, lipid panel, uric acid level, and HIV-specific tests.
• Watch for secondary infections, particularly fungal and EENT infections.
Be aware that immune reconstitution syndrome may occur in patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy. During initial phase of therapy, patient whose immune system responds may develop an inflammatory response to indolent or residual opportunistic infections (such as Mycobacterium avium complex, cytomegalovirus, Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, and tuberculosis), which may necessitate further evaluation and treatment.
Patient teaching
• Advise patient to take with a meal or snack. Inform him that he may mix oral powder with nonacidic fluids.
• Tell patient he may take missed dose up to 1 hour before next scheduled dose.
Instruct patient to report depression or suicidal thoughts.
• Tell patient that drug may predispose him to other infections, especially fungal and EENT infections. Advise him to avoid crowds and to wash hands often and thoroughly.
• Tell patient with phenylketonuria (or caregiver) that powder contains phenylalanine.
Tell patient to immediately report new or worsening signs or symptoms.
Advise patient not to use St. John's wort while taking this drug.
• Advise female patient to use reliable barrier contraception.
• Advise female patient not to breastfeed, because breast milk may transfer HIV to infant.
• Caution patient to avoid driving and other hazardous activities until he knows how drug affects concentration, vision, strength, and alertness.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, foods, and herbs mentioned above.
Viracept
(vîr′ə-sĕpt′)nelfinavir
A potent HIV protease inhibitor, which is combined with reverse transcriptase inhibitors—e.g., Retrovir (AZT), zidovudine and Epivir (3TC, lamivudine)—acting at late stages in the HIV life cycle.Side effects
Diarrhoea, 20%, increased liver function tests (LFTs), lipodystrophy.
Contraindicated drugs
Nelfinavir inhibits the cytochrome P-450 system, precluding co-administration of agents (e.g., amiodarone, astemizole, cisapride, ergot derivatives, midazolam, quinidine, rifampin, terfenadine, triazolam) which are metabolised by the P-450 system.
Viracept®
Nelfinavir mesylate AIDS An antiretroviral HIV protease inhibitor for treating AIDS, prescribed as a monotherapy or in a triple-combination therapy with Retrovir®–AZT, Epivir®–3TC. See Protease inhibitor.Viracept
- noun
Synonyms for Viracept
noun a protease inhibitor (trade name Viracept) used in treating HIV usually in combination with other drugs
Synonyms
- nelfinavir
Related Words
- protease inhibitor
- PI