Who Takes Saquinavir

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Saquinavir (Invirase)

What Is Saquinavir? Saquinavir, also called Invirase, is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). There used to be a version called Fortovase that is no longer made. Saquinavir is manufactured by Roche Laboratories. Saquinavir is a protease inhibitor. These drugs prevent the protease enzyme from working. HIV protease acts like a chemical scissor. It cuts the raw material for HIV into specific pieces needed to build a new virus....

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Saquinavir & grapefruit juice

My Dr. suggested that I may substitute grapefruit juice for the fatty mealnormally taken withSaquinavir. Mind you, he recommended the fatty meal, but said, when a fattymeal is not possible,drink grapefruit juice! I have asked my pharmacists about...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

Unfortunately, given the poor bioavailability of saquinavir you need to doeverything you can to increase blood levels. In my mind that means doingboth -- taking it with a fatty meal AND with with grapefruit juice. Iwouldn't want to substitute... Read more »

Ritonavir/Saquinavir Combination -v- Crixivan

I am currently taking AZT, Nevirapine (Viramune), 3TC and Crixivan. I have been following the debate about whether toincrease Crixivan dosage from 800mg to 1000mg because of the effects of Nevirapine, and have chosen to do this.However, I found the...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

I think that ritonavir/saquinavir is at least as effective as indinavir (Crixivan). Changing from one protease inhibitor to another is not a problem provided you are doing it because of side effects and not because of resistance.Since your viral... Read more »

gastrointestinal problems with ratonavir &Saquinavir

Dr Gallant, Is there anything you know of, that can be taken or done for the gastrointestinal problems caused from ratonavirand saquinavir combo.? I am refering to the stomach cramps and extreme flatulance. I am taking 3 phaysyme tablets a dayand I...

Response from Joel Gallant, M.D.

Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

My experience with ritonavir is that people either seem to get diarrhea or flatulence. (In other words, you either suffer yourself, or you let everyone else suffer for you.) For some of my patients with the latter problem, simethicone (which is... Read more »

High Dose Saquinavir

Dear Dr. Gallant, Currently on azt,3tc, and 7200mgs/day saq. Thinking ofswitching to Crix. If Saq is still working wouldyou suggest this or not? Also what is your opinion of high dose saq? Iffailure occurs do you recomend changing one or alldrugs in...

Response from Joel Gallant, M.D.

Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

If your viral load is undetectable on the current regimen, there'd be nothingwrong with sticking with it, unless the change involved adding ritonavir ornelfinavir, which increase saquinavir levels.If your viral load is detectable, then... Read more »

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Med resistance on Norvir/Saquinivar..anyone else?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I have been on Norvir/Saquinavir for 7 years. Starting to show resistance. Panicking a little, they worked for so long,
controlled side effects. Doctor wants to do labs more frequently for now but not switch, maybe add another drug.
Has anyone gone... Read more »