Agenerase

Agenerase is a prescription medication used with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Agenerase belongs to a group of drugs called protease inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood.

This medication comes in capsule and oral solution forms and is usually taken two to three times a day, with or without food. 

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Agenerase is a prescription medication used with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Agenerase may cause the following side effects:

• skin rash. Skin rashes, some with itching, have happened in patients taking Agenerase. Swelling of the face, lips, and tongue (angioedema) has also been reported. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a rash or develop facial swelling after starting Agenerase.
• diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Some patients had diabetes before taking Agenerase while others did not. Some patients may need changes in their diabetes medicine. Others may need a new diabetes medicine.
• increased bleeding problems in some patients with hemophilia.
• worse liver disease. Patients with liver problems, including hepatitis B or C, are more likely to get worse liver disease when they take anti-HIV medicines like Agenerase.
• changes in blood tests. Some people have changes in blood tests while taking Agenerase. These include increases seen in liver function tests and decreases in white blood cells. Your healthcare provider may do regular blood tests to see if Agenerase is affecting your body.
• changes in body fat. These changes have happened in patients taking antiretroviral medicines like Agenerase. The changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck ("buffalo hump"), breast, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.
• increase in lipids. Cholesterol and triglycerides can become elevated after taking Agenerase. Your doctor will order lab tests before treatment and during treatment. 
• bleeding in patients with hemophilia A and B. Additional factor VIII may be required.
• kidney stones have been reported in some patients taking Agenerase. If you develop signs or symptoms of kidney stones (pain in your side, blood in your urine, pain when you urinate) tell your healthcare provider right away.

Do not take supplemental vitamin E since Agenerase includes high amount of vitamin E already. 

Do not drink alcohol while taking Agenerase. 

Do not take Agenerase if you:

• are allergic to fosamprenavir or any of its ingredients. 
• are allergic to Agenerase (amprenavir) or any of its ingredients
• are pregnant
• have liver or kidney failure
• taking metronidazole, disulfiram, Dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, cisapride, pimozide, Midazolam, triazolam

Avoid doing things that can spread HIV infection since Agenerase doesn't stop you from passing the HIV infection to others.

• Do not share needles or other injection equipment.
• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes or razor blades.
• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Serious side effects have been reported. See "Drug Precautions" section.

Common side effects of Agenerase include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• rash
• tingling sensation around the mouth

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that bother you or that won't go away.

This list of side effects of Agenerase is not complete.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Agenerase can cause dangerous and life-threatening interactions if taken with certain other medicines. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. The following medications should not be taken with Agenerase. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Halcion (triazolam; used for insomnia)
• Ergot medicines: dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, and methylergonovine such as Cafergot, Migranal, D.H.E. 45, ergotrate maleate, Methergine, and others (used for migraine headaches)
• Propulsid (cisapride), used for certain stomach problems
• Rifampin
• St. John's Wort
• Ritonavir
• Lovastatin and Simvastatin
• Versed (midazolam), used for sedation
• Orap (pimozide), used for Tourette’s disorder
• Revatio (sildenafil), used for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Uroxatral (alfuzosin), used for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
• Birth control pills. Women who use birth control pills should choose a different kind of contraception. The use of Agenerase may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Talk to your healthcare provider about choosing an effective contraceptive.

Patients taking antacids (or the buffered formulation of didanosine) should take Agenerase at least 1 hour before or after antacid (or the buffered formulation of didanosine) use.

You should not take Agenerase (amprenavir) and fosamprenavir at the same time.

This is not a complete list of Agenerase drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking before you begin taking Agenerase. 

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Agenerase oral solution is not recommended during pregnancy, because it can harm your baby. If Agenerase is given during pregnancy, the capsules should be used. You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if Agenerase is right for you. If you use Agenerase while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can be on the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry.

Women who use birth control pills should choose a different kind of contraception. The use of Agenerase with or without NORVIR may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Talk to your healthcare provider about choosing an effective contraceptive.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed if you are HIV-positive because of the chance of passing the HIV virus to your baby through your milk. Also, it is not known if Agenerase can pass into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby. If you are a woman who has or will have a baby, talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.