What is fosamprenavir? 

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

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

Fosamprenavir may also be used for other purposes not listed  in this medication guide. 

What is  the most important information I should know about fosamprenavir? 

Do  not take fosamprenavir 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. Fosamprenavir 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 fosamprenavir. 

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

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

What  should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fosamprenavir? 

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

Do not take fosamprenavir 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). Fosamprenavir 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 fosamprenavir. 

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a fosamprenavir dose adjustment or special tests: 

• liver disease; 
• kidney disease; 
• diabetes; 
• a bleeding disorder such  as hemophilia; 
• heart disease, history of heart attack; 
• 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 fosamprenavir will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection. 

Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using this medication. 

Taking fosamprenavir 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 fosamprenavir and ritonavir. Women with HIV  or AIDS should not breast-feed  a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed  to the baby in your breast milk. 

How should I  take fosamprenavir? 

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not  take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.  Follow the directions on your prescription label. 

Fosamprenavir tablets can be taken with or without food. 

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

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure the liquid with a special dose-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. 

Use fosamprenavir regularly  to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before  you run out of medicine completely. 

To be sure this medicine is helping your condition and is  not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly. 

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications  as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication.  Do not change your doses  or medication schedule without  your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a  doctor.

Store fosamprenavir tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat. You may store fosamprenavir liquid 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. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose.  Do not take extra medicine  to make up the missed dose. 

What happens if I overdose? 

Seek emergency medical attention  or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. 

What should I avoid while taking fosamprenavir? 

Taking this  medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to  other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing razors or toothbrushes. Talk with  your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug  or medicine needles is never safe, even  for a healthy person. 

Fosamprenavir 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 fosamprenavir and call your doctor  at once if you have  any of these serious side effects: 

• chest pain  or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; 
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness; 
• increased urination or extreme thirst; 
• sudden and severe pain in  your lower back or side, blood in your urine, pain or burning when you urinate; 
• signs  of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms; 
• easy bruising or bleeding; or 
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash. 

Less serious side effects  of fosamprenavir may 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). 

This  is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA. 

What other drugs will affect fosamprenavir?

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

• itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral); 
• heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone), lidocaine, or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex); 
• 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). 
• This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with fosamprenavir. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products.  Do not start a new medication without telling  your doctor. Keep a list of all  your medicines and show it to  any healthcare provider who treats you. 

Where can I get more information? 

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about fosamprenavir. 
• 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. 

Notes: Dr. Nelson Crumfield

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EditText of this page (last edited June 10, 2010)