Nelfinavir is indicated for the treatment of HIV infection when antiretroviral therapy is warranted
Drugs for HIV / Anti-retroviral drugs
Nelfinavir is a selective, competitive, reversible HIV protease inhibitor. It inhibits HIV-1 protease preventing the cleavage of the gag-pol polyprotein resulting in the production of noninfectious virus.
Adults: The recommended dose is 1250 mg (five 250 mg tablets) twice daily or 750 mg (three 250 mg tablets) three times daily. Nelfinavir should be taken with a meal. Antiviral activity is enhanced when Nelfinavir is administered in combination with nucleoside analogues. Therefore, it is recommended that Nelfinavir should be used in combination with nucleoside analogues. Paediatric patients (2-13 years): The recommended oral dose of Nelfinavir for paediatric patients 2 to 13 years of age is 20-30 mg/kg per dose, three times daily with a meal.
Reduced levels/effects with antacids, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, aminoglutethimide, phenytoin, rifampicin, nafcillin, nevirapine, omeprazole, nevirapine. Increased serum levels/effects with azole antifungal agents, cimetidine, efavirenz. Increased serum levels/effects of azithromycin, calcium channel blockers, clarithromycin, corticosteroids (e.g. fluticasone), mirtazapine, nateglinide, nefazodone, ciclosporin, sirolimus, tacrolimus, venlafaxine, eplerinone, fentanyl, atorvastatin, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, rifabutin, trazodone, TCAs. Reduced serum levels/effects of hormonal contraceptives, methadone, theophylline derivatives.
Nelfinavir is contraindicated in patients with clinically significant hypersensitivity to any of its components. Co-administration of Avifix is contraindicated with drugs that are highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance and for which elevated plasma concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening adverse events
Hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and redistribution of body fat (protease paunch, buffalo hump, facial atrophy and heart engorgement); hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia. Diarrhoea, rash, nausea, flatulence, decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, decreased haemoglobin, increased creatine kinase, increased transaminases.
Pregnancy Category B. There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Lactation: The US Public Health Service Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises HIV-infected women not to breast-feed to avoid postnatal transmission of HIV to a child.
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