Indinavir

Common use

Indinavir is used alone or in combination with other anti-HIV medicines to treat infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Indinavir will not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS. It helps keep HIV from reproducing and appears to slow down the destruction of the immune system. This may help delay problems that are usually related to AIDS or HIV disease from occurring. Indinavir will not keep you from spreading HIV to other people.

Dosage and direction

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Also, do not stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Indinavir is used with other medicines to treat HIV infection. Your dose of indinavir may depend on the other medicines you are using.
This medicine should be taken with water on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal) or with a light meal. Indinavir may also be taken with other liquids (eg, skim milk, juice, coffee, or tea) or with a light meal (eg, dry toast with jelly, juice, coffee with skim milk and sugar, or corn flakes with skim milk and sugar).

Precautions

This medicine may raise your blood sugar. Check with your doctor if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests.
This medicine may increase your risk of having kidney stones. Check with your doctor right away if you have blood in your urine, nausea and vomiting, pain in the groin or genitals, or sharp back pain just below the ribs.
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Contraindications

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines.
You should not use this medicine if you are also using alfuzosin (Uroxatral), alprazolam (Xanax), amiodarone (Cordarone), cisapride (Propulsid), ergot medicines (eg, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, Cafergot®, D.H.E. 45, Ergotrate, Methergine, Migranal, Wigraine), lovastatin (Mevacor), lurasidone (Latuda), oral midazolam (Versed), pimozide (Orap), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane), sildenafil (Revatio), simvastatin (Zocor), St. John's wort, or triazolam (Halcion). Using any of them together with this medicine may increase the chance of serious side effects.

Possible side effect

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: blood in the urine; sharp back pain just below the ribs; abdominal or stomach pain; chills; clay-colored stools; dark urine; dizziness; fever; headache; itching; loss of appetite; nausea; rash; unpleasant breath odor; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting of blood; yellow eyes or skin.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: change in sense of taste; diarrhea; difficulty with sleeping; generalized weakness; acid or sour stomach; acid regurgitation; belching; cough; general feeling of discomfort or illness; heartburn; increase in appetite; indigestion; sleepiness.

Drug interaction

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine less than 2 hours, use it as soon as you can. If your next regular dose is more than 2 hours, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Indinavir capsules are very sensitive to moisture. Keep them in their original container and leave the drying packet in the container. Keep out of the reach of children.