Nelfinavir Drug: Indication, Dosage, Precaution, Side Effect , Storage, Category Type and corresponding Brands - www.genericdrugscan.com

Nelfinavir

pronunciation

pronounced as (nel fin' a veer)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Nelfinavir is used along with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Nelfinavir is in a class of medications called protease inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. Although nelfinavir does not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other life-style changes may decrease the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to other people.

How should this medicine be used?

Nelfinavir comes as a tablet and a powder to take by mouth. It is usually taken two to three times a day with food. Take nelfinavir at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take nelfinavir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

If you are unable to swallow the tablet, you may put it in a glass and dissolve it in a small amount of water. Mix the liquid well, and drink it immediately. Rinse the glass with more water and swallow the entire mixture to make sure you have taken all of the medication.

Nelfinavir oral powder may be added to water, milk, formula, soy milk, or dietary supplements. Mix well, and drink all of the liquid right away in order to take the full dose. Your prescription label tells you how many scoops of nelfinavir powder to add to the liquid. If the mixture is not taken immediately it must be stored in the refrigerator and taken within 6 hours. Do not mix nelfinavir oral powder with acidic food or juice (orange juice, apple juice, or apple sauce). Do not mix nelfinavir with water in the original container.

Nelfinavir controls HIV infection but does not cure it. Continue to take nelfinavir even if you feel well. Do not stop taking nelfinavir without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking nelfinavir or skip doses, your infection may get worse or become resistant to medications.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

What are the precautions to be followed?

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to nelfinavir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in nelfinavir tablets or powder. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor if you are taking alfuzosin (Uroxatral); amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the U.S.); ergot-type medications such as bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel), cabergoline, dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergoloid mesylates (Hydergine), ergotamine (Ergomar, in Cafergot, in Migergot), and methylergonovine (Methergine); lovastatin (Altoprev, in Advicor); midazolam (Versed) by mouth; pimozide (Orap); quinidine (in Nuedexta); rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, in Rifater, in Rifamate); sildenafil (only Revatio brand used for lung disease); simvastatin (Zocor, in Simcor, in Vytorin); and triazolam (Halcion). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take nelfinavir if you are taking one or more of these medications.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: azithromycin (Azasite, Zithromax, Zmax); bosentan (Tracleer); certain calcium-channel blocking medications such as amlodipine (Norvasc, in Amturnide, in Tekamlo), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine, nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Afeditab, Procardia), nimodipine (Nymalize), and nisoldipine (Sular); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, others); certain cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet, in Liptruzet) and rosuvastatin (Crestor); colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare); delavirdine (Rescriptor); fluticasone (in Advair, Flonase, Flovent); indinavir (Crixivan); medications that suppress the immune system such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune, Torisel), and tacrolimus (Astagraf XL, Prograf); methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); nevirapine (Viramune); certain phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors) used for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); proton-pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex); quetiapine (Seroquel); rifabutin (Mycobutin); ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra, in Viekira Pak); salmeterol (Serevent, in Advair); saquinavir ( Invirase); tadalafil (Adcirca); trazodone; and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with nelfinavir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort. You should not take St. John's wort during your treatment with nelfinavir.
• if you are taking didanosine (Videx), take it 1 hour before or more than 2 hours after nelfinavir.
• tell your doctor if you are taking birth control pills. Nelfinavir can decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. You should use another method of birth control while taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about birth control while taking nelfinavir.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes, hemophilia (a group of inherited bleeding disorders in which the ability of blood to clot is not normal),or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking nelfinavir, call your doctor. You should not breast-feed if you have HIV infection and are taking nelfinavir.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking nelfinavir.
• you should be aware that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body, such as your upper back, neck ('buffalo hump'), breasts, and around your stomach. You may notice a loss of body fat from your face, legs, and arms.
• you should know that you may experience hyperglycemia (increases in your blood sugar) while you are taking this medication, even if you do not already have diabetes. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms while you are taking nelfinavir: extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision, or weakness. It is very important to call your doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms, because high blood sugar that is not treated can cause a serious condition called ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis may become life-threatening if it is not treated at an early stage. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include: dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, breath that smells fruity, and decreased consciousness.
• if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent mental retardation), you should know that nelfinavir oral powder is sweetened with aspartame that forms phenylalanine.
• you should know that while you are taking medications to treat HIV infection, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight other infections that were already in your body. This may cause you to develop symptoms of those infections. If you have new or worsening symptoms at anytime during your treatment with nelfinavir, be sure to tell your doctor.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

• diarrhea
• nausea
• gas
• stomach pain
• loss of appetite
• rash

• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing

Nelfinavir contains a chemical found to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked the manufacturer to make changes in the way nelfinavir is made to decrease the amount of this chemical in nelfinavir products. The risk to humans is unknown, but may be higher in children and pregnant women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking nelfinavir.

How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). After nelfinavir powder has been added to liquid, the mixture may be kept at room temperature for up to 6 hours. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

Drug Category/Class

• Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inducers
• Protease Inhibitors
• HIV Protease Inhibitors
• Direct Acting Antivirals
• Antivirals for Systemic Use
• Combined Inhibitors of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inducers
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 Inducers
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6 Inducers
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6 Inhib

Prescribed	Used in combination with other antiviral drugs in the treatment of HIV in both adults and children.
Weight :	567.782
Structure	Nelfinavir
Formula	C32H45N3O4S

Nelfinavir has 7 Brands listed

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