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Lexiva

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Treatment & Uses
Side Effects
Treating Overdose
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Before Using

Generic Name: fosamprenavir (FOS am pren a veer)
Brand Names: Lexiva

What is Lexiva?

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

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

Lexiva may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Lexiva

Do not take Lexiva with cisapride (Propulsid), pimozide (Orap), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or an ergot medicine such as Ergomar, Cafergot, Wigraine, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, Methergine, and others.

Lexiva should not be taken together with ritonavir (Norvir) if you are also using a heart rhythm medication called flecainide (Tambocor) or propafenone (Rythmol). Ask your doctor about taking a different medication for your heart rhythm disorder.

These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking Lexiva.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious interactions if you use them while taking Lexiva. 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.

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.

Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking Lexiva will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex.

Before taking Lexiva

Do not take Lexiva if you are allergic to fosamprenavir or a similar drug called amprenavir (Agenerase).

Do not take Lexiva together with cisapride (Propulsid), pimozide (Orap), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking Lexiva.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Lexiva. Before you take this medicine, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;
diabetes;
a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
high cholesterol or triglycerides; or
if you have ever used a protease inhibitor in the past.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Lexiva is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. 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.

Taking Lexiva together with another HIV medicine called ritonavir (Norvir) and also using birth control pills can increase you risk of liver problems.

Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking Lexiva and ritonavir. You should not breast-feed while you are using Lexiva. 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.

How should I take Lexiva?

Take Lexiva exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Lexiva tablets can be taken with or without food.

Lexiva liquid should be taken with food in children and without food in adults.

Shake the oral liquid well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

It is important to use Lexiva regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

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. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. 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.

Store Lexiva tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat. You may store Lexiva suspension in the refrigerator but do not allow it to freeze.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a Lexiva overdose are unknown.

What should I avoid while taking Lexiva?

Lexiva side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking Lexiva and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
increased urination or extreme thirst;
easy bruising or bleeding; or
signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms.

Less serious side effects of Lexiva include:

mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
numbness or tingling, especially around your mouth;
headache, mood changes; or
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Lexiva?

Many other drugs can cause serious or life-threatening drug interactions if you use them while taking Lexiva. Before taking Lexiva, tell your doctor if you are also using:

heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone), lidocaine, or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);
itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), or paroxetine (Paxil);
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
steroid medicine such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) or fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent);
St. John's wort;
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Caduet, Lotrel, Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Dilacor), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);
cholesterol-lowering medicine such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), or simvastatin (Zocor);
drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf);
other HIV /AIDS medicine such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), nevirapine (Viramune), or lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra);
insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;
medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra);
seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin); or
stomach acid reducers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), or ranitidine (Zantac).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Lexiva, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

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.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Lexiva.

What does my medication look like?

Fosamprenavir is available with a prescription under the brand name Lexiva. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Lexiva 700 mg - pink, film-coated, capsule-shaped tablets
Lexiva Oral Suspension - white to off-white grape-bubblegum-peppermint-flavored suspension

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.