|
Generic Name |
Brand Name
Other Name |
Drug Class |
Standard Daily Dosing * (TDD = Total
Daily Dose) |
Comments |
|
Amprenavir |
Agenerase |
Protease
Inhibitor |
Dose 1=8 pills
Dose 2=8 pills
Each pill 150mg
TDD = 2,400mg |
Amprenavir is only available through
studies and early access programs as of October 31, 1998
Can be taken with or without food.
Side effects include rash, fatigue,
vomiting, headache and diarrhea.
|
|
Indinavir |
Crixivan |
Protease
Inhibitor |
Dose 1=2 pills
Dose 2=2 pills
Dose 3=2 pills
Each pill 400mg
TDD = 2,400mg |
Should be taken on an empty stomach,
at least one hour before or two hours after a meal.
Should not be taken at the same time
as ddI, which includes a buffer for the stomach. If taken
in a combination with ddI, take indinavir at least one
hour before or two hours after ddI.
Most serious side effect is kidney
stones. To reduce the risk of kidney stones, drink large
amounts (8 glasses) of water daily.
Must be taken every eight hours.
|
|
Nelfinavir |
Viracept |
Protease
Inhibitor |
Dose 1=3 pills
Dose 2=3 pills
Dose 3=3 pills
Each pill 250mg
TDD = 2,250mg |
Should be taken with food.
Most common side effect is diarrhea,
may be controlled with over-the-counter therapies like
Imodium or “bulking agents” like Metamucil
and other fiber supplements. (Note: Imodium may cause
drowsiness, may be useful to take in the evening).
|
|
Ritonavir |
Norvir |
Protease
Inhibitor |
Dose 1=6 pills
Dose 2=6 pills
Each pill 100mg
TDD = 1,200mg |
Most common side effect is diarrhea
and nausea. Appears worse in first few weeks after initiating
therapy.
When starting ritonavir, should use
300mg twice a day for two days, 400mg twice a day for
two days, 500mg twice a day for two days, then onto the
standard 600mg twice a day dose.
People with liver dysfunction (e.g.,
hepatitis B or C) should be cautious when using ritonavir.
|
|
Saquinavir |
Fortovase,
Invirase |
Protease
Inhibitor |
Fortovase
Dose 1=6 pills
Dose 2=6 pills
Dose 3=6 pills
Each pill 200mg
TDD = 3,600mg
Invirase
Dose 1=3 pills
Dose 2=3 pills
Dose 3=3 pills
Each pill 200mg
TDD = 1,800mg |
Should be taken with food, preferably
within two hours of a high fat meal.
Side effects are relatively rare.
Most common include diarrhea and nausea.
|
|
Efavirenz |
Sustiva |
NNRTI1 |
Dose 1=3 pills
Each pill 200mg
TDD = 600mg |
Can be taken with or without food.
Most common side effect include neurological
symptoms (primarily dizziness, drowsiness and lack of
concentration).
Should be taken at night to reduce
likelihood of neurological side effects (using lorazepam
[Ativan] or Benadryl may also help).
Should not be taken by pregnant women.
|
|
Delavirdine |
Rescriptor |
NNRTI1 |
Dose 1=4 pills
Dose 2=4 pills
Dose 3=4 pills
Each pill 100mg
TDD = 1,200mg |
Can be taken with or without food.
Can be dissolved in water or other liquids if drank immediately.
Most serious side effect is severe
rash, which may require hospitalization. Rash usually
occurs within first 3 weeks of starting drug. Mild rashes
can be managed with antihistamines or topical agents.
|
|
Nevirapine |
Viramune |
NNRTI1 |
Dose 1=1 pill
Dose 2=1 pill
Each pill 200mg
TDD = 400mg |
Dose is escalated over first two weeks,
typically beginning at 1×200mg tablet daily increased
to 2×200mg tablets after 14 days.
Can be taken with or without food.
Most serious side effect is severe
rash, which may require hospitalization. Rash usually
occurs within first 3 weeks of starting drug. Mild rashes
can be managed with antihistamines or topical agents.
|
|
Abacavir |
Ziagen |
NRTI2 |
Dose 1=1 pill
Dose 2=1 pill
Each pill 300mg
TDD = 600mg |
Abacavir is only available through
studies and early access programs, as of October 31, 1998.
Can be taken with or without food.
Most common side
effects include nausea, vomiting, headache and
fatigue.
About 3% of people develop a hypersensitivity
to abacavir which results in flu-like symptoms. If this
occurs, contact your physician immediately and abacavir
should be stopped immediately. Do not try to start taking
abacavir again as this can lead to severe side effects.
|
|
AZT |
Retrovir,
zidovudine |
NRTI2 |
Dose 1=2 pills
Dose 2=2 pills
Dose 3=2 pills
Each pill 100mg
TDD = 600mg
OR
Dose 1=1 pill
Dose 2=1 pill
Each pill 300mg
TDD = 600mg |
Can be taken with or without food.
Most common side effects are headache,
nausea and general sense of feeling ill. Side effects
usually diminish after 6 to 8 weeks of therapy.
Most serious side effect is anemia,
if caught early treatable with erythropoietin (EPO).
|
|
AZT
+ 3TC |
Combivir |
NRTI2 |
Dose 1=1 pill
Dose 2=1 pill
Each pill 150mg 3TC, 300mg AZT
TDD = 300mg 3TC, 600mg AZT |
Can be taken with or without food.
See comments from AZT and 3TC sections.
|
|
ddC |
Hivid,
zalcitabine |
NRTI2 |
Dose 1=1 pill
Dose 2=1 pill
Dose 3=1 pill
Each pill 0.75mg
TDD = 2.25mg |
Can be taken with or without food.
Most common side effect include peripheral
neuropathy (pain/tingling in feet and/or hands), thrombocytopenia
(low platelets) and mouth sores.
Most serious side effect is pancreatitis,
which has been fatal in some people. Symptoms include
sharp pain in upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. Stop
drug immediately and consult a doctor if this occurs.
Alcohol use increases risk of pancreatitis.
|
|
ddI |
Videx,
didanosine |
NRTI2 |
Dose 1=2 pills
Dose 2=2 pills
Each pill 100mg
TDD = 400mg |
Must be taken on an empty stomach
(without food).
Cannot be taken within two hours of
drugs which require an acidic stomach environment, including
many protease inhibitors and common therapies, such as
dapsone.
Most common side effects include increases
uric acid levels (a measure of kidney function), headaches,
sleeplessness, diarrhea and peripheral neuropathy (pain/tingling
in feet and/or hands).
Most serious side effect is pancreatitis,
which has been fatal in some people. Symptoms include
sharp pain in upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. Stop
drug immediately and consult a doctor if this occurs.
Alcohol use increases risk of pancreatitis.
|
|
d4T |
Zerit,
stavudine |
NRTI2 |
Dose 1=1 pill
Dose 2=1 pill
Each pill 40mg
TDD = 80mg |
Can be taken with or without food.
Most common side effect is peripheral
neuropathy (pain/tingling in feet and/or hands). May cause
anemia.
Rare incidence of pancreatitis has
been observed. Symptoms include sharp pain in upper abdomen,
nausea and vomiting. Stop drug immediately if this occurs.
Alcohol use increases risk of pancreatitis.
|
|
3TC |
Epivir,
lamivudine |
NRTI2 |
Dose 1=1 pill
Dose 2=1 pill
Each pill 150mg
TDD = 300mg |
Can be taken with or without food.
Side effects associated with 3TC are
rare, but may include headaches, nausea, general sense
of feeling ill, diarrhea, anemia and hair loss.
|
|
Adefovir |
Preveon |
NtRTI3 |
Dose 1=1 pill
Each pill 60mg
TDD = 60mg
OR
Each pill 120mg
TDD = 120mg |
Adefovir is only available through
studies and early access programs, as of October 31, 1998.
Can be taken with or without food.
Most common side effect is kidney
dysfunction.
Approximately 40% of people on 120mg
adefovir developed kidney test abnormalities after 48
weeks.
If starting on 120mg, should dose
reduce to 60mg after 20 weeks.
Anti-HIV activity of 60mg unknown.
|
* Dose modifications of one or more drugs in
a combination may be necessary when taking a protease inhibitor
or an NNRTI with 1) another protease together or NNRTI; or 2) common
therapies, whether over-the-counter medication or prescription drugs.
For more detailed information, call Project Inform’s National
HIV/AIDS Treatment Hotline at 1-800-822-7422.
1 NNRTI = Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
2 NRTI = Nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
3 NtRTI = Nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
For a complete listing of the potential drug interactions with
those drugs listed above, read Drug
Interactions.
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