Aptivus

Generic name: Tipranavir
Drug class: Protease inhibitors

Usage of Aptivus

Aptivus is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body.

Aptivus is used together with another drug called ritonavir to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Aptivus is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Aptivus side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Aptivus: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Some people taking Aptivus with ritonavir have developed fatal medical problems including liver damage and bleeding in the brain. Stop taking this medicine and get emergency medical attention if you have:

right-sided upper stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

unusual bleeding, sudden severe headache, problems with speech or vision.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe skin rash, blistering, peeling, redness or sunburn;

skin rash and also joint or muscle pain, fever, or tightness in your throat; or

increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth.

Aptivus affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have:

signs of a new infection - fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;

trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or

swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Common Aptivus side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;

skin rash (especially in children);

headache, fever, tired feeling; 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. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Aptivus

You should not use Aptivus if you are allergic to tipranavir, or if you have:

moderate to severe liver disease.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Aptivus. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

alfuzosin;

cisapride;

lurasidone;

pimozide;

rifampin;

sildenafil (Revatio for pulmonary arterial hypertension);

St. John's wort;

ergot medicine - dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine;

heart medication - amiodarone, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine;

a sedative - oral midazolam, triazolam; or

"statin" cholesterol medicine - atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);

diabetes;

high cholesterol or triglycerides;

a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia; or

an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, and use your medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.

Aptivus can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

Aptivus should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Aptivus

Usual Adult Dose for HIV Infection:

tipranavir 500 mg plus ritonavir 200 mg orally twice a day Use: In combination with ritonavir and other antiretrovirals, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in therapy-experienced patients infected with HIV-1 strains resistant to more than 1 protease inhibitor

Usual Pediatric Dose for HIV Infection:

2 to 18 years: -Based on weight: Tipranavir 14 mg/kg plus ritonavir 6 mg/kg orally twice a day -Based on BSA: Tipranavir 375 mg/m2 plus ritonavir 150 mg/m2 orally twice a day Maximum dose: Tipranavir 500 mg/dose plus ritonavir 200 mg/dose Comments: -Special vigilance recommended during dose calculation, medication order transcription, dispensing information, and dosing instructions to reduce risk for medication errors, overdose, and underdose. -Pediatric dose should not exceed the usual adult dose. Use: In combination with ritonavir and other antiretrovirals, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in therapy-experienced patients infected with HIV-1 strains resistant to more than 1 protease inhibitor

Warnings

You should not use Aptivus if you have moderate to severe liver disease.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Some people taking Aptivus with ritonavir have developed fatal medical problems including liver damage and bleeding in the brain. Stop taking these medicines and get emergency medical attention if you have: right-sided upper stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), unusual bleeding, sudden severe headache, or problems with speech or vision.

What other drugs will affect Aptivus

Many drugs can interact with tipranavir, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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