Full Prescribing Information (241K/PDF)
Important Patient Information (93K/PDF)
Fortovase Discontinuation Notice - Dear Health Care Professional Letter (56K/PDF)
Rifampin and Saquinavir Drug Interaction - Dear Health Care Professional Letter (49K/PDF)
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Invirase® (saquinavir mesylate) in combination with ritonavir and other anti-HIV medicines is used to treat HIV infection. Invirase should always be used with ritonavir.

Important Safety Information

• Invirase should not be taken if you have had a serious allergic reaction to Invirase or any of its ingredients
• Invirase/ritonavir should not be taken if you have serious liver problems. Tell your doctor if you have or have had liver disease, such as hepatitis
• Taking Invirase/ritonavir with certain drugs could create potential for serious and/or life-threatening side effects. Invirase/ritonavir should not be taken with amiodarone (Pacerone®), flecainide (Tambocor®), propafenone (Rhythmol®), bepridil, quinidine, ergot medications, cisapride (Propulsid), midazolam (Versed®), triazolam (Halcion®), rifampin, pimozide or products containing St. John's wort. Coadministration of fluticasone (Flonase®) and any ritonavir boosted protease inhibitor, like Invirase/ritonavir, is not recommended
• Caution should be exercised when taking Invirase with digoxin. Your doctor may want to decrease the dose of digoxin and monitor the levels of digoxin in your blood
• Garlic capsules should not be used while taking unboosted saquinavir, due to the risk of lowered saquinavir blood levels
• Taking Invirase with lovastatin (Mevacor®) or simvastatin (Zocor®) is not recommended. Caution should be used if HIV protease inhibitors, including Invirase, are used at the same time as other medications like these that are used by the body in the same way
• Invirase/ritonavir should be taken within 2 hours after a meal
• Discuss all medicines, including those without a prescription, and herbal preparations you are taking or plan to take with your doctor or pharmacist
• People with severe kidney problems have not been studied when taking Invirase. Tell your doctor if you have or have had kidney problems
• When taking protease inhibitors, patients have experienced incidents of diabetes/high blood sugar; people with hemophilia have experienced increased bleeding
• Some people taking Invirase/ritonavir have had increases in cholesterol and/or triglycerides
• Changes in body fat have been seen in people taking anti-HIV medicines. It is not known if taking protease inhibitors causes these changes, and the long-term effects are not known at this time
• In clinical studies, the most commonly reported side effects of moderate or severe intensity were: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, feeling tired, changes in body fat, and pneumonia

These are not all the side effects of Invirase. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

As with other anti-HIV medicines, Invirase may strengthen the body's immune response, which could uncover hidden infections. Report any new or continuing symptoms to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will tell you what to do and may be able to help you with these side effects.

Invirase is not a cure for HIV infection or AIDS. Invirase does not prevent the transmission of HIV.

For complete details on Invirase, please see the Patient Information or Complete Prescribing Information.

View full prescribing information for additional safety information.