Invirase (saquinavir)

Classification:

Protease Inhibitor (PI)

Form:

• Fortovase: 200mg soft gel capsule
• Invirase: 200mg hard gel capsule (light brown/green) and 500mg tablet (light orange/gray; oval)

As of 2006, the formulation of Saquinavir called Fortovase is being phased out due to the popularity and the ease of administration of Invirase 500mg tablets. If you are taking Fortovase, contact your doctor to switch to the 500mg Invirase tablets.

Dosage:

• Invirase: Five 200mg capsules two times each day or Two 500mg tablets two times each day. (When boosted with 100mg of Norvir two times each day)

Invirase 200mg and Fortovase is no longer used due to the popularity and the ease of administration of Invirase 500mg tablets.

Instructions:

• Must be taken on full stomach for proper absorption.
• Keep at room temperature. In hot climates gel caps should be refrigerated.
• Drug should never be frozen.

Side Effects to Report to Your Doctor:

• Nausea / vomiting / diarrhea
• Numbness, tingling, or burning in feet or hands

Drug Interactions or Incompatibility:

• Rifampin (TB treatment) and Rifabutin (MAC treatment) decrease Invirase levels
• Invirase can cause a significant blood level increase of the heart medication Digoxin; meaning the digoxin dose must be reduced.
• 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 necessitating an increase in Methadone dose.
• Tipranavir/ritonavir decreases Invirase levels when taken together.Prilosec (omeprazole) significantly increases Invirase drug levels therefore close monitoring is needed.

For more information:

To learn more about Fortovase and Invirase try About.com's Drug Finder.

More medication fact sheets

PLEASE NOTE:

As of 2006, the formulation of Saquinavir called Fortovase is being phased out due to the popularity and the ease of administration of Invirase 500mg tablets. If you are taking Fortovase, contact your doctor to switch to the 500mg Invirase tablets.