Drug Interaction Report

Using telaprevir together with tipranavir may reduce the blood levels and effects of both medications, which may make them less effective in the treatment of hepatitis C and HIV infection. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Let your doctor know if your conditions worsen during treatment with these medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Tipranavir should be taken with food. This helps to reduce the gastrointestinal side effects of ritonavir, which you must also take with tipranavir in order to achieve effective blood levels of the medication against HIV. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions on how to use these medications properly.

Food significantly increases the absorption of telaprevir. Within 30 minutes before you take each dose of telaprevir, you should eat a meal or snack containing approximately 20 grams of fat. Taking it on an empty stomach may lead to inadequate blood levels and reduced effectiveness of the medication. Examples of some foods that could be taken with telaprevir include: bagel with cream cheese; half cup of nuts; 3 tablespoons of peanut butter; 1 cup of ice cream; 2 ounces of American or cheddar cheese; 2 ounces of potato chips; or half cup of trail mix. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have additional questions about how to take telaprevir.

The recommended maximum number of medicines in the 'protease inhibitors' category to be taken concurrently is usually one. Your list includes two medicines belonging to the 'protease inhibitors' category:

• Aptivus (tipranavir)
• telaprevir

Note: In certain circumstances, the benefits of taking this combination of drugs may outweigh any risks. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or dosage.