This drug is used with other HIV medications to help
control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body
so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting
HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your
quality of life.
Fosamprenavir belongs to a class of drugs known as
protease inhibitors. It may be given with ritonavir, another protease
inhibitor, to increase ("boost") the levels of fosamprenavir. This helps
fosamprenavir work better.
Fosamprenavir is not a cure for HIV infection. To
decrease your risk of spreading HIV disease to others, continue to take all
HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Use an effective
barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during sexual
activity as directed by your doctor. Do not share personal items (such as
needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood
or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more
details.
This section contains uses of this drug that are not
listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be
prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition
that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your
health care professional.
This product may also be used to lessen the risk of HIV
infection after contact with the virus (for example, due to a needle
stick). Ask your doctor for more details.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from
your pharmacist before you start taking fosamprenavir and each time you get
a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your
doctor, usually once or twice daily.
Fosamprenavir tablets may be taken with or without
food.
If you are taking fosamprenavir suspension, shake the
bottle well before each dose. Carefully measure the dose using a special
measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not
get the correct dose. Adults should take the suspension without food.
Children should take the suspension with food. If vomiting occurs less than
30 minutes after taking a dose, repeat the dose.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, response
to treatment, other medications you may be taking, and if you have taken
protease inhibitors to treat HIV before. Children's dosage is also based on
age and weight. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the
products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and
herbal products). If you are directed to take ritonavir with this
medication, take them both at the same time(s).
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same
time(s) every day.
It is very important to keep taking this medication (and
other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip
any doses. Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop
taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to
do so by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase,
make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side
effects.
Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and headache may occur. If
any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
As your immune system gets stronger, it can begin to
fight off infections you already had, possibly causing disease symptoms to
come back. You could also have symptoms if your immune system becomes
overactive. This reaction may happen at any time (soon after starting HIV
treatment or many months later). Get medical help right away if you have
any serious symptoms, including:
- unexplained weight loss
- severe tiredness
- muscle aches/weakness that doesn't go away
- headaches that are severe or don't go away
- joint pain
- numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs
- vision changes
- signs of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph
nodes, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores)
- signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability,
nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging
eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter)
- signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre
syndrome (such as unsteadiness, loss of coordination, trouble
swallowing/speaking/chewing, trouble moving your eyes)
- signs of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't
stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark
urine)
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- increased thirst/urination
- signs of a kidney stone (such as pain in side/back/abdomen,
painful urination, blood in the urine)
Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking this
medication (such as increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas,
decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of
these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with
your doctor, as well as the possible use of exercise to reduce this side
effect.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- signs of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain,
shortness of breath, unusual sweating)
Fosamprenavir can commonly cause a rash that is usually
not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash
that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Get medical help right away if
you develop any rash.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking fosamprenavir, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to it or to amprenavir; or if you have any
other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as
propylene glycol in the suspension), which can cause allergic reactions or
other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- liver problems (including hepatitis B or C infections)
- kidney problems (including kidney stones)
- heart problems (such as coronary artery disease, heart
attack)
- diabetes
- a certain bleeding problem (hemophilia)
Fosamprenavir may increase the level of cholesterol and
fats (triglycerides) in your blood. HIV infection can also cause this
effect. This could increase your risk for heart problems such as a heart
attack. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and
ways to lower your risk of heart disease. Tell your doctor if you have
heart problems, if you smoke, or if you have other conditions that increase
your risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high
cholesterol/triglyceride levels.
Before having surgery, tell your doctors or dentist
about all the products you use (including prescription drugs,
nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of
this drug, especially vomiting and signs of infection (such as sore throat
that doesn't go away, fever).
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. Treatment can lower the risk of passing HIV infection
to your baby, and fosamprenavir may be part of that treatment. Discuss the
risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast
milk. Because breast milk may transmit HIV, consult your doctor before
breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- certain HIV protease inhibitors (such as lopinavir,
tipranavir)
- orlistat
Other medications can affect the removal of
fosamprenavir from your body, which may affect how fosamprenavir works.
Examples include apalutamide, etravirine, rifampin, St. John's wort, among
others.
Fosamprenavir can speed up or slow down the removal of
other medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples
of affected drugs include alpha blockers (such as alfuzosin), certain
benzodiazepines (midazolam, triazolam), ergot alkaloids (such as
dihydroergotamine, ergotamine), fluticasone, pimozide, ranolazine,
rivaroxaban, drugs to treat erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary
hypertension (such as sildenafil, vardenafil), certain drugs to treat
irregular heartbeat (such as flecainide, propafenone), certain "statin"
cholesterol drugs (lovastatin, simvastatin), salmeterol, among
others.
This medication may decrease the effectiveness of
hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause
pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use
reliable backup birth control methods while using this medication. Also
tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding,
because these may be signs that your birth control is not working
well.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as viral load, T-cell
counts, liver function, cholesterol/triglyceride levels, blood sugar
levels) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all
medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more
details.
It is important not to miss doses of this drug. If you
miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is more than 4 hours
after the missed dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the
regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Store the tablets at room temperature away from light
and moisture. Store the suspension at room temperature or in the
refrigerator. Refrigeration may improve the taste of the suspension. Do not
freeze. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from
children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.