• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is the most important information I should know about saquinavir?

Do not take saquinavir with amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), bepridil (Vascor), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), (Quinaglute, Quinidex), astemizole (Hismanal), terfenadine (Seldane), cisapride (Propulsid), pimozide (Orap), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or an ergot medicine such as Ergomar, Cafergot, Wigraine, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, Methergine.

There are many other medicines that can interact with saquinavir. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Taking saquinavir will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What is saquinavir?

Saquinavir is an antiviral medication. It is in a group of drugs called protease (PRO-tee-ayz) inhibitors. Saquinavir prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.

Saquinavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Saquinavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Saquinavir may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking saquinavir?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to saquinavir.

Do not take saquinavir with any of the following medications. They can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking saquinavir:

• amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);

• astemizole (Hismanal);

• bepridil (Vascor);

• cisapride (Propulsid);

• flecainide (Tambocor);

• midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);

• pimozide (Orap);

• propafenone (Rythmol);

• quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute);

• terfenadine (Seldane); or

• or ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Before taking saquinavir, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• liver disease;

• diabetes;

• a bleeding disorder (hemophilia); or

• high cholesterol or triglycerides.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take saquinavir.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, but HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.

Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.

Saquinavir can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking saquinavir. You should not breast-feed while you are using saquinavir. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.