Fosamprenavir (oral route)
Available brands
Lexiva
About this medication
Fosamprenavir is used in combination with other medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fosamprenavir may slow down the destruction of the immune system caused by HIV. This may help delay problems that are usually related to AIDS or HIV disease from occurring. However, this medicine will not cure or prevent HIV infection, and it will not keep you from spreading the virus to other people. Patients who receive this medicine may continue to have other problems usually related to AIDS or HIV disease. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
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 this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of fosamprenavir in infants and children 4 weeks of age and older who have not taken HIV medicines in the past called protease inhibitors. Use is not recommended in children younger than 6 months of age who have taken HIV medicines called protease inhibitors in the past. Safety and efficacy have not been established in infants younger than 4 weeks of age. Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of fosamprenavir have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatric-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of fosamprenavir in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving fosamprenavir. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. 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 this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Also, do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. When your supply of this medicine is running low, contact your doctor or pharmacist ahead of time. Do not allow yourself to run out of this medicine. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. Fosamprenaviroral suspensionshould be taken by adults without food. Children should take theoral suspensionwith food. Shake theoral suspensionwell before each use. Use a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup to measure the dose. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. Fosamprenavirtabletsmay be taken with or without food. However, it should not be taken with a high-fat meal. Taking fosamprenavir with a high-fat meal may decrease the amount of fosamprenavir that is absorbed by the body and prevent the medicine from working properly. It is important to take fosamprenavir as part of a combination treatment. Your dose of medicine will be based on what other medicines you are taking, as well as your weight. Be sure to takeallthe medicines your doctor has prescribed for you, including fosamprenavir. Keep using fosamprenavir for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop the medicine even briefly, the virus may become harder to treat. This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times, day and night. For example, if you are to take two doses a day, the doses should be spaced about 12 hours apart. If you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your doctor. Only take medicine that your doctor has prescribed especially for you. Do not share your medicine with others. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. If you or your child vomits 30 minutes after the first dose, a second dose should be taken right away. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Theoral suspensionmay also be refrigerated. Do not freeze.
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