Indinavir (By mouth)

Introduction

Indinavir (in-DIN-a-vir)

Treats human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Indinavir does not cure HIV or AIDS, but it may slow the progress of the disease.

Brand Name(s)

Crixivan

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to indinavir. You should not use this medicine if you are also using alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), alprazolam (Xanax®), amiodarone (Cordarone®), astemizole (Hismanal®), cisapride (Propulsid®), oral midazolam (Versed®), pimozide (Orap®), sildenafil (Revatio®), triazolam (Halcion®), or ergot medicines (such as dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, Cafergot®, D.H.E. 45®, Ergotrate®, Methergine®, Migranal®, or Wigraine®). Using this medicine while you are also using the medicines listed above can cause very serious medical problems, or even death.

How to Use This Medicine

Capsule

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Indinavir is used with other medicines to treat HIV infection. Take all other medicines your doctor has prescribed as part of your combination treatment. Your dose of indinavir may depend on the other medicines you are using.
• Indinavir must be taken every 8 hours, around the clock. Do not stop using this medicine or change the amount without asking your doctor.
• It is best to take the medicine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Drink water, skim or non-fat milk, juice, coffee, or tea when taking the medicine. If you need to take the medicine with food, eat a small, low-fat, low-protein meal. Dry toast with jelly or corn flakes with skim milk and sugar are good meals to eat.
• Drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you are using this medicine. This will keep your kidneys working well and help prevent kidney problems. Drink at least 48 ounces (6 full glasses) of liquid throughout each day.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine less than 2 hours, use it as soon as you can. If your next regular dose is more than 2 hours away, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Your medicine bottle has a small packet inside. Keep this packet inside the bottle with the capsules. It helps keep the capsules from getting damp.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not take atazanavir (Reyataz®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®), salmeterol (Advair®, Serevent®), St. John's wort, or medicine to lower cholesterol (such as lovastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, Crestor®, Mevacor®, or Zocor®) while you are being treated with this medicine, unless your doctor says it is okay.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using bosentan (Tracleer®), clarithromycin (Biaxin®), colchicine (Colcrys®), cyclosporine (such as Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), fluticasone (Advair®, Flonase®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), midazolam injection (Versed®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), sirolimus (Rapamune®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Adcirca®, Cialis®), or vardenafil (Levitra®).
• Tell your doctor if you also use other medicines to treat HIV/AIDS (such as delavirdine, didanosine, efavirenz, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir, Invirase®, Norvir®, Rescriptor®, Sustiva®, or Videx®), medicine to lower cholesterol (such as atorvastatin, Lipitor®), medicine for heart rhythm problems (such as bepridil, lidocaine, quinidine, Cardioquin®, Quinaglute®, or Vascor®), medicine to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, Dilantin®, Luminal®, or Tegretol®), a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, Decadron®, or Hexadrol®), certain blood pressure medicines (such as amlodipine, felodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, Cardene®, Norvasc®, Plendil®, or Procardia®), or medicines to treat depression (such as trazodone, venlafaxine, Desyrel®, or Effexor®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease (including hepatitis), diabetes, hemolytic anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or hemophilia (a bleeding disorder).
• You should not breast feed if you have HIV or AIDS, because you may give the infection to your baby through your breast milk.
• This medicine will not protect you from getting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. Also, it will not keep you from giving HIV to your partner during sex. Make sure you understand and practice safe sex, even if your partner also has HIV. Do not share needles with anyone.
• This medicine may raise your blood sugar. Check with your doctor if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests.
• This medicine may increase your risk of having kidney stones. Check with your doctor right away and stop using this medicine if you have blood in your urine, nausea and vomiting, pain in the groin or genitals, or sharp back pain just below the ribs.
• When you start taking HIV medicines, your immune system may get stronger. If you have infections that are hidden in your body, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, you may notice new symptoms when your body tries to fight them. If this occurs, tell your doctor immediately.
• This medicine may cause you to have excess body fat. Tell your doctor if you notice changes in your body shape, such as an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck, or around the chest and stomach area. You might also lose fat from the legs, arms, and face.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, difficult or painful urination.
• Chest pain.
• Increased thirst or hunger.
• Red or dark brown urine.
• Severe muscle pain, weakness, tenderness, or stiffness.
• Sharp pain in your side, back, or stomach.
• Unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant taste.
• Gaining weight around your neck, upper back, breast, face, or waist.
• Headache, dizziness, or drowsiness.
• Mild back or muscle pain.
• Mild diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
• Mild skin rash or itching.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088