Saquinavir dosing

The most common adverse effects associated with nelfinavir are diarrhea and flatulence. Diarrhea often responds to antidiarrheal medications but can be dose-limiting. Nelfinavir is an inhibitor of the CYP3A system, and multiple drug interactions may occur (Tables 49-3 and 49-4). An increased dosage of nelfinavir is recommended when co-administered with rifabutin (with a decreased dose of rifabutin), whereas a decrease in saquinavir dose is suggested with concurrent nelfinavir. Co-administration with efavirenz should be avoided due to decreased indinavir levels. Nelfinavir has a favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile for pregnant women compared with that of other Pis (Table 49-5) there is no evidence of human teratogenicity. 

A 30-year-old woman taking nevirapine, saquinavir 1.2 g daily and ritonavir 600 mg daily with undeteetable viral load had her epilepsy med-ieation ehanged from gabapentin and lorazepam to lamotrigine and phenytoin beeause of inereased frequeney and severity of seizures. She required phenytoin 8 mg/kg daily to maintain therapeutie serum levels. The ritonavir dose was doubled and the saquinavir dose inereased to 2 g daily to eompensate for the enzyme-indueing efifeets of phenytoin. The patient s viral load remained undeteetable, and her seizures deereased over the next 6 months but she died suddenly of unexplained causes following a tonic-elonie seizure (autopsy not performed). ... 

In vitro kinetic constants obtained from homogenate or whole-cell experiments under controlled conditions were used, and the constants were scaled to the in vivo scenario using appropriate physiological scale factors. Figure 18.6 shows our simulated results for absorption and metabolism of midazolam when dosed with and without grapefruit juice. Midazolam is metabolized by the gut and liver by cytochrome 3A4. Saquinavir is also metabolized in the gut and liver by 3A4, and it is also a substrate for efflux by P-gp. Figure 18.7 shows our simulated results for absorption and metabolism of saquinavir when dosed with and without grapefruit juice. In both cases, it can be seen that the simulation correctly predicts the... 

Sildenafil doses should be decreased when any potent cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor is used (e g., cimetidine, erythromycin, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, and saquinavir). Vardenafil doses vary accordingto which agent is used (2.5 mg q 72 h for ritonavir, 2.5 mg q 24 h for indinavir, ketoconazole 400 mg daily, and itraconazole 400 mg daily and 5 mg q 24 h for ketoconazole 200 mg daily, itraconazole200 mg daily, and erythromycin). Tadalafil doses are reduced only when it is used with the most potent cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e g., ketoconazole or ritonavir). 

For patients receiving weak CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg, erythromycin, saquinavir, verapamil, fluconazole), reduce the starting dose to 25 mg once daily. 

Dosage adjustment - Consider a starting dose of 25 mg in the following patients Older than 65 years of age, hepatic impairment, severe renal impairment, and concomitant use of potent cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (eg, erythromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, saquinavir). 

Fortovase Six 200 mg capsules 3 times daily taken with a meal or up to 2 hours after a meal. When used in combination with nucleoside analogs, do not reduce the dosage of saquinavir, as this will lead to greater than dose-proportional decreases in saquinavir plasma levels. 

Dose adjustment for combination therapy with saquinavir For serious toxicities that may be associated with saquinavir mesylate, the drug should be interrupted. Saquinavir mesylate at doses less than 1,000 mg with ritonavir 100 mg twice daily are not recommended since lower doses have not shown antiviral activity. For recipients of combination therapy with saquinavir mesylate and ritonavir, dose adjustments may be necessary. These adjustments should be based on the known toxicity profile of the individual agent and the pharmacokinetic interaction between saquinavir and the coadministered drug. Health care providers should refer the complete monographs for these drugs for comprehensive dose adjustment recommendations and drug-associated adverse reactions of nucleoside analogues. 

Absorption/Distribution - Saquinavir exhibits a low absolute bioavailability of 4% following a single dose of invirase after a high-fat breakfast (48 g protein, 60 g carbohydrate, 57 g fat, 1006 kcal). This is considered to be the result of incomplete P.1064... 

Following IV administration, 66% of circulating radioactivity was attributed to unchanged drug and the remainder attributed to saquinavir metabolites, suggesting that saquinavir undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism. Systemic clearance of saquinavir was rapid, 1.14 L/h/kg after IV doses of 6, 36, and 72 mg. The mean residence time of saquinavir was 7 hours. 

Efavirenz (Sustiva) [Antiretroviral/NNRTI] Uses Hiv infxns Action Antiretroviral nonnucleoside RTI Dose Adults. 600 mg/d PO qhs Feds. See package insert avoid high-fat meals Caution [D, ] CDC recommends HIV-infected mothers not breast-feed Contra Component sensitivity Disp Caps SE Somnolence, vivid dreams, dizziness, rash, N/V/D Interactions T Effects W/ ritonavir T effects OF CNS depressants, ergot derivatives, midazolam, ritonavir, simvastatin, triazolam, warfarin X effects W/ carbamazepine, phenobarbital, rifabutin, rifampin, saquinavir, St. John s wort i effects OF amprenavir, carbamazepine, clarithromycin, indinavir, phenobarbital, saquinavir, warfarin may alter effectiveness OF OCPs EMS Concurrent EtOH usage can t CNS d ression OD May cause muscle contractions and adverse CNS effects activated charcoal may be effective... 

Hard-gel capsules Possibly, if antiretroviral Coadministration of saquinavir SGC with usual-dose... 

Hypertension PO 50 mg once a day. If 50 mg once a day produces an inadequate BP response, may increase dosage to 50 mg twice a day. If patient is concurrently receiving erythromycin, saquinavir, verapamil, or fluconazole, reduce initial dose to 25 mg once a day. 

In its original formulation as a hard gel capsule (saguinavir-H Invirase), oral saquinavir is pooriy bioavailable (only about 4% after food). However, reformulation of saquinavir-H for once-daily dosing in combination with low-dose ritonavir has both improved antiviral efficacy and decreased gastrointestinal adverse effects. 

Saquinavir should be taken within 2 hours after a fatty meal for enhanced absorption. Saquinavir is 97% protein-bound, and serum half-life is approximately 2 hours. Saquinavir has a large volume of distribution, but penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid is negligible. Excretion is primarily in the feces. Reported adverse effects include gastrointestinal discomfort (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia) and rhinitis. When administered in combination with low-dose ritonavir, there appears to be less dyslipidemia or gastrointestinal toxicity than with some of the other boosted PI regimens. 

Saquinavir is subject to extensive first-pass metabolism by CYP3A4 and functions as a CYP3A4 inhibitor as well as a substrate thus, there are many potential drug-drug interactions (Table 49-4). A decreased dose of saquinavir is recommended when -administered with nelfinavir. Increased saquinavir levels when -administered with omeprazole necessitate close monitoring for toxicities. Digoxin levels may increase if co administered with saquinavir and should therefore be monitored. Liver function tests should be monitored if saquinavir is -administered with delavirdine or rifampin. There is no evidence of human teratogenicity from saquinavir there is short-term safety data for both mother and infant. 

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