Dose of Viracept 250 mg :
* The recommended dose of Viracept 250 mg is 1250 mg (five 250-mg or two 625-mg tablets) twice a day or 750 mg (three 250-mg tablets) 3 times a day.
Food Restrictions:
* Viracept 250 mg must be taken with a meal or light snack.
* In clinical study, Viracept 250 mg was administered with meals containing 517 to 759 calories, of which 153 to 313 calories
were derived from fat.
Storage :
* Viracept 250 mg tablets should be stored in a closed container and kept at a temperature of 59° to 86°F.
Side Effects and Toxicity:
* The most frequent side effect associated with Viracept 250 mg therapy is: diarrhea, with moderate or severe diarrhea occurring in up to 20% of those taking the Viracept 250 mg drug.
* Metabolic (lipid and glucose) and morphologic (fat accumulation and fat atrophy) abnormalities have been associated with protease inhibitors
in general.
Drug Interactions:
* The following drugs are contraindicated with Viracept 250 mg :
- Zocor (simvastatin),
- Mevacor (lovastatin),
- Rifadin or ,
- Rimactane (rifampin),
- Propulsid (cisapride),
- Versed (midazolam),
- Halcion (triazolam),
- DHE 45 (dihydroergotamine)
- and other ergot derivatives such as Wigraine and Cafergot.
Viracept 250 mg should be used with caution when given with Lipitor (atorvastatin); a low dose of Lipitor (10 mg) has
been recommended if given concomitantly with Viracept 250 mg .
When administered concomitantly, the dose of Mycobutin (rifabutin) should be reduced to 150 mg once daily and the dose of Viracept 250 mg increased to 1000 mg 3 times daily. Since Viracept 250 mg decreases the level of oral contraceptives when the two are co-administered, an additional or alternative method of birth control should be used. Also, St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is likely to decrease Viracept 250 mg levels in the body and therefore should be avoided when taking Viracept 250 mg . Dose reductions are required for Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and Levitra (vardenafil) in patients taking Viracept 250 mg .
Viracept 250 mg doses should be decreased and Kaletra increased if given together.
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