Drug Interactions With Saquinavir

Arrhythmia medications, calcium channel blockers, and certain antibiotics are among the medications that may cause drug interactions with saquinavir. These interactions can affect the level of saquinavir in your blood, possibly increasing your risk of side effects or making the medication less effective. Before beginning treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about possible drug interactions with saquinavir that may apply to you.

Drug Interactions With Saquinavir: An Introduction

Saquinavir mesylate (Invirase®) can potentially interact with several other medicines. Some of the possible saquinavir drug interactions are extremely serious, due to the increased risk of very serious problems, such as a life-threatening irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Other interactions are potentially serious but can be managed with careful monitoring.
 

Life-Threatening Saquinavir Drug Interactions

The list of medications that should never be combined with saquinavir due to the possibility of extremely dangerous problems includes:
 
 
  • Alfuzosin (Uroxatral®)
  • Certain arrhythmia medications, including:
     
    • Amiodarone (Cordarone®)
    • Bepridil (Vascor®)
    • Dofetilide (Tikosyn®)
    • Flecainide (Tambocor™)
    • Intravenous lidocaine
    • Propafenone (Rythmol®)
    • Quinidine
 
  • Cisapride (Propulsid®)
  • Ergot medications, such as:
     
    • Bromocriptine (Parlodel®)
    • Dihydroergotamine (Migranal®)
    • Ergonovine
    • Ergotamine (Bellamine S®, Cafergot®, Ergomar®)
    • Methylergonovine (Methergine®)
    • Pergolide (Permax®)
 
 
Drug Interactions With Saquinavir Article Continues on Next Page >
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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