Roche Laboratories Has Updated Drug Interaction Info For Their HIV Drug

HIV drug manufacturer Roche Laboratories has updated the package insert for its protease inhibitor Invirase (saquinavir) to warn of possible drug interactions. The possible interactions include:

• Invirase can cause a significant blood level increase of the heart medication Digoxin when taken together. The dose of Digoxin may have to be reduced when taken with Invirase.
• The coadministration of garlic capsules and Invirase is not recommended because garlic capsules decrease blood levels of invirase. This results in less than therapuetic levels of Invirase, increasing the risk of drug failure and HIV resistance.
• Invirase decreases Methadone levels so Methadone doses may need increased when used with Invirase.
• Coadministration of Invirase and tipranavir/ritonavir is not recommended because of decreased Invirase levels when taken with tipranavir/ritonavir.
• Prilosec (omeprazole) significantly increases Invirase drug levels. If taken together, close monitoring for Invirase toxicity must be done.

Read more about HIV medications and drug interactions.