Amprenavir (Agenerase) Drug for AIDS/HIV: Use, Side Effects, Interactions

Amprenavir or Agenerase
(Agenerase, United States)

Use:

Amprenavir or Agenerase is an anti viral drug which is used in infections such as HIV and AIDS.

How It Works:

Amprenavir or Agenerase is an protease inhibitor which means it blocks an enzyme - protease - which the virus needs to reproduce.
HIV infections have the ability to develop a resistance to protease inhibitors. For this reason Amprenavir or Agenerase is often given in combination with other AIDS drugs which reduces the development of resistance. If resistance does develop, other protease inhibitors - indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir - can be used.

Side Effects:

The most common adverse effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and oral rashes. As with other protease inhibitors, elevated blood glucose levels and altered body fat distribution have been reported.

Cautions for People:

Because Amprenavir or Agenerase affects liver enzymes, people with liver function problems should be careful when taking the drug. The large capsule size and large number of capsules per day needed may be a deterrent for some people.

Drug Interactions:

Because Amprenavir or Agenerase affects liver enzymes it can affect blood levels of other drugs that require the same liver enzymes, for example triazolam, ergotamine, cisapride, warfarin, cholesterol lowering statins.

Further Reading:

Drugs 1998;55:827

Added to Virtual Drugstore November 1999.

The relevant product monographs must be regarded as the appropriate sources of prescribing information.