Nelfinavir (Systemic)

Brand Names : Viracept

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nelfinavir, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nelfinavir. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However, nelfinavir has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether nelfinavir passes into breast milk. However, breast-feeding is usually not recommended in AIDS patients because of the risk of passing the AIDS virus on to the nursing infant.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children between 2 and 13 years of age and, in effective doses, has not been reported to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. There is no specific information comparing use of nelfinavir in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking nelfinavir, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Amiodarone (e.g., Cordarone) or
• Astemizole (e.g., Hismanal) or
• Cisapride (e.g., Propulsid) or
• Ergot medicines (dihydroergotamine [e.g., D.H.E. 45], ergoloid mesylates [e.g., Hydergine], ergonovine [e.g., Ergotrate], methylergonovine [e.g., Methergine], methysergide [e.g., Sansert]) or
• Midazolam (e.g., Versed) or
• Quinidine (e.g., Quinidex) or
• Terfenadine (e.g., Seldane) or
• Triazolam (e.g., Halcion) - There is a possibility that nelfinavir may interfere with the removal of these medicines from the body, which could lead to serious side effects

• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) - Nelfinavir may cause these medicines to be less effective

• Rifabutin (e.g., Mycobutin) - Use of this medicine with nelfinavir may increase the amount of rifabutin and decrease the amount of nelfinavir in the body

• Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin) - Use of this medicine with nelfinavir may decrease the amount of nelfinavir in the body

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of nelfinavir. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Liver disease - Effects of nelfinavir may be increased because of slower removal from the body

• Phenylketonuria (a metabolic problem) - The oral powder form of nelfinavir contains phenylalanine, which may not be broken down properly in people with this condition