Nelfinavir

Nelfinavir is used for:

Treating HIV infection.

Nelfinavir is an HIV protease inhibitor. It works by slowing the growth of HIV type 1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT use Nelfinavir if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Nelfinavir
• you are taking amiodarone, astemizole, cisapride, an ergot derivative (eg, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine), midazolam, pimozide, quinidine, rifampin, a quinazoline (eg, alfuzosin), terfenadine, or triazolam
• you have taken eletriptan within the past 72 hours

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Nelfinavir :

Some medical conditions may interact with Nelfinavir . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have hemophilia, high blood sugar, or liver problems

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Nelfinavir . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Carbamazepine, efavirenz, garlic, nevirapine, or St. John's wort because they may decrease Nelfinavir 's effectiveness
• Cyclosporine or delavirdine because they may increase the actions and the risk of Nelfinavir 's side effects
• Aldosterone blockers (eg, spironolactone), amiodarone , anticoagulants (eg, warfarin)astemizole, benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam), buspirone, cisapride, eletriptan, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), erythromycin, fluticasone, H₁ antagonists (eg, diphenhydramine), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins", eg, simvastatin), isotretinoin, macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus), midazolam, muscarinic receptor antagonists (eg, scopolamine), narcotic analgesics (eg, morphine, codeine), phosphodiesterase inhibitors (eg, sildenafil) pimozide, quinazolines (eg, alfuzosin), quinidine, rifampin, risperidone, sumatriptan, terfenadine, trazodone, or triazolam because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Nelfinavir
• Methadone or oral contraceptives (birth control pills) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Nelfinavir

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Nelfinavir may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Nelfinavir :

Use Nelfinavir as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Nelfinavir . Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Take Nelfinavir by mouth with a meal or light snack.
• Tablets may be swallowed whole, crushed and mixed with food, or dissolved in water. Once mixed with food or dissolved in water, swallow the entire contents to get the full dose. Rinse the glass with water and swallow the rinse to ensure that the entire dose is taken.
• If you are taking didanosine, take Nelfinavir with food at least 1 hour before or more than 2 hours after taking didanosine.
• If you miss a dose of Nelfinavir , use it as soon as you remember. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. It is important not to miss doses of Nelfinavir . Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Nelfinavir .

Important safety information:

• Do not exceed the recommended dose of Nelfinavir without checking with your doctor. Exceeding the recommended dose of Nelfinavir may not provide additional benefits, and may increase the risk of side effects.
• Nelfinavir is not a cure for HIV infection. Patients may still get illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.
• When your medicine supply is low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. Do not stop taking Nelfinavir , even for a short period of time. If you do, the virus may grow resistant to the medicine and become harder to treat.
• Nelfinavir does not stop the spread of HIV to others through blood or sexual contact. Use barrier methods of birth control (eg, condoms) if you have HIV infection. Do not share needles, injection supplies, or items like toothbrushes or razors.
• Certain birth control pills may not be as effective while taking Nelfinavir . Women taking birth control pills should use other birth control measures (eg, condoms, diaphragms).
• Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Nelfinavir . The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.
• Diabetes patients - Nelfinavir may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Lab tests, including CD4 counts, may be performed while you use Nelfinavir . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Nelfinavir should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 2 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Nelfinavir while you are pregnant. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Nelfinavir to the baby.

Possible side effects of Nelfinavir :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Breast enlargement; cushingoid appearance (excessive accumulation of fat in the face and around the neck; dusky complexion with purple markings); diarrhea; gas; nausea; shift in body fat to stomach and upper body; skin and facial wasting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); flushing; gradual onset of drowsiness; increased blood sugar (excessive urination, hunger, or thirst); loss of appetite.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http: / / www.aapcc.org / dnn / Resources / FindLocalPoisonCenters / tabid / 130 / Default.aspx), or emergency room immediately.

Store Nelfinavir at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in its original container. Store away from heat, light, and moisture. Keep Nelfinavir out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about this medicine, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Nelfinavir is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Nelfinavir . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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