If you are being treated for HIV, your doctor may have prescribed you various medications. Among these, Indinavir is a very important medication. This article is intended to discuss this medication, how to use it, and what to be careful about in detail and simply. We hope that this information will be very useful to you.
What is this Indinavir?
Simply put, Indinavir is a drug that belongs to the class of antiretroviral drugs. It is used in combination with other drugs to control HIV infection.
It is important to remember that this medicine cannot completely cure HIV. However, it can help control the virus in the body and strengthen your immune system.
Also, when used correctly, this medicine can reduce the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to another person. Therefore, it is a very important medicine that can improve the quality of your life living with HIV.
Things to tell your doctor before taking medication
Before starting this medication, it is very important to tell your doctor about your complete health history. Don't hide anything, even the smallest details. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
- Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus)
- Bleeding disorders like hemophilia
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- If you have an allergic reaction to indinavir or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding (this is very important during HIV treatment)
How should I use the medicine?
The most important thing is to take the medicine exactly as the doctor says. In general, you should follow these instructions.
- Take this medicine with a glass of water.
- It is best to take it on an empty stomach , meaning one hour before or two hours after a meal.
- But if you have trouble taking it on an empty stomach, you can take it with a light meal, such as a piece of toast with some jam, a cup of coffee with less sugar, and some cornflakes. Talk to your doctor about this.
- Take the medicine at the prescribed time and at the prescribed intervals. Do not take it more often than the doctor tells you to.
Where the success of treatment depends
The biggest secret to the success of this treatment is taking the correct dose on time. Never skip a dose of the medicine. Even if you feel better, do not stop taking the medicine without the advice of your doctor. If you miss such doses, the HIV virus can become resistant not only to this medicine, but also to other medicines. That is a major obstacle to treatment.
What if I miss a medication appointment?
If it is more than 2 hours past the time you are supposed to take the medicine, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time. However, if it is less than 2 hours past the time you are supposed to take the medicine, take it as soon as you remember and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not take a double dose for any reason.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you have the slightest suspicion that you have taken more than the prescribed dose, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital, or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other medications that may interact with Indinavir
Indinavir is a drug that can interact with many other medications. Therefore, you should tell your doctor about every medication you take, even vitamins.
| Type of medicine | Examples and notes |
|---|---|
| Do not take Indinavir with this medicine. | |
| Some medications for headaches | dihydroergotamine, such as ergotamine |
| Some cholesterol-lowering medications | lovastatin, simvastatin |
| Some sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medications | alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam |
| Other | amiodarone, cisapride, pimozide, rifampin, St. John's wort, red yeast rice |
| If you are taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor. | |
| Antifungal | ketoconazole, itraconazole |
| Antibiotics | clarithromycin |
| Medication for high blood pressure | amlodipine, felodipine, nifedipine |
| Other HIV medications | Your doctor should be aware of possible interactions with other HIV medications. |
This list may not be complete. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take (including vitamins and herbal products). Also tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
- Regular medical checkups: See your doctor on a regular basis for checkups. Talk to him or her about any new symptoms you have. You may need to have regular blood tests (blood work) while taking this medicine.
- Birth control:
- Blood sugar levels: This medication may increase blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, ask your doctor about changes in your diet or medications.
- Kidney Stones: This is very important. There is a risk of kidney stones with this medicine. To prevent this, you should drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you are an adult, drink at least 8 glasses of water (about 2 liters) a day. If you feel pain, discomfort, or blood in your urine, tell your doctor immediately.
- Keep it out of the reach of small children.
- Store at room temperature (between 15-30 Celsius), protected from moisture, in a tightly closed bottle.
- Discard expired medication without using it.
- Indinavir is a drug that controls the HIV virus, but it is not a cure.
- Do not skip a dose of medication for any reason, and do not stop taking the medication without your doctor's advice.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day (at least 2 liters) to prevent kidney stones.
- If you experience a serious side effect (yellowing of the skin, blood in the urine, severe pain), seek medical advice immediately.
- Use another form of contraception, such as condoms, as birth control pills may be less effective when taking this medication.
Important: Birth control pills may not work as well while taking this medication. Therefore, talk to your doctor about using another barrier method of birth control, such as a condom.
What side effects can be seen?
Like any medicine, Indinavir can cause side effects. Some are serious, while others are common.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| If you have any of these, tell your doctor immediately. | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Liver problems | Yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, pain in the upper right side of the stomach. |
| Symptoms of kidney stones | Lower abdominal or back pain, blood in the urine, pain when urinating. |
| Symptoms of high blood sugar | More thirst than usual, hunger, frequent urination, extreme fatigue, blurred vision. |
| If these persist or become bothersome, tell your doctor. | |
| Digestive system problems | Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain. |
| Changes in body fat distribution | Fat accumulation around the waist and back, and thinning of the face, arms, and legs. |
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