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Amprenavir Side Effects

Applies to amprenavir: oral capsule liquid filled, oral solution.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (solution)

Oral solution is contraindicated in infants and children below the age of 4 years, pregnant women, patients with hepatic or renal failure, and patients treated with disulfiram or metronidazole because of the potential risk of toxicity from the large amount of the excipient, propylene glycol.

Serious side effects of amprenavir

Along with its needed effects, amprenavir may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking amprenavir:

More common

  • burning or prickling sensation in arms or legs
  • dry or itchy skin
  • fatigue
  • increased cholesterol and triglycerides
  • increased hunger
  • increased thirst
  • increased urination
  • skin rash

Less common

Rare

  • back, leg or stomach pains
  • bleeding gums
  • blistering, peeling, or loosening of skin and mucous membranes
  • buffalo hump
  • chills
  • dark urine
  • difficult breathing
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • general body swelling
  • general feeling of discomfort or illness
  • loss of appetite
  • nosebleeds
  • pale skin
  • sore throat
  • unexplained weight loss
  • yellowing of eyes or skin

Other side effects of amprenavir

Some side effects of amprenavir may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  • abdominal pain
  • burning or prickling sensation around the mouth
  • diarrhea
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting

Less common or rare

  • change in sense of taste
  • unusual tiredness or weakness

Managing side effects (general information)

For healthcare professionals

Applies to amprenavir: oral capsule, oral solution.

General

Gastrointestinal side effects and skin rashes were the most frequent side effects in clinical trials of amprenavir in combination with other antiretrovirals. Gastrointestinal effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain) most often resulted in discontinuation of amprenavir during the first 12 weeks of treatment. Skin rashes had a median onset and duration of 11 and 10 days, respectively, and led to discontinuation of amprenavir in 3% of patients.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea (74%), vomiting (34%), and diarrhea or loose stools (39%) in clinical trials when amprenavir was administered with lamivudine and zidovudine in therapy-naive patients. This compares to an incidence of 50%, 17%, and 34%, respectively, when therapy-naive patients were only administered lamivudine and zidovudine. Abdominal symptoms (unspecified, 14%) and anorexia have been reported in patients receiving amprenavir in combination with ritonavir plus other antiretrovirals.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have been reported frequently. Skin rash occurred in 28% of HIV-1 infected patients treated with amprenavir in all multidose studies. Severe or life-threatening rash, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, occurred in 1% of patients.[Ref]

Rashes were usually maculopapular, mild to moderate in intensity, and some with pruritus. The onset of rash development was approximately 10 days and ranged from 7 to 73 days. Amprenavir was often continued with mild to moderate rash and if discontinued, rash did not recur when the drug was restarted. Amprenavir should be discontinued for severe or life-threatening rashes and for moderate rashes accompanied by systemic symptoms.[Ref]

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included hyperglycemia (37%), hypertriglyceridemia (36%), and hypercholesterolemia (4%) in clinical trials when amprenavir was administered with lamivudine and zidovudine in therapy-naive nonfasting patients. This compares to an incidence of 29%, 22% and 3%, respectively, when therapy-naive nonfasting patients were only administered lamivudine and zidovudine. Grade 3/4 hypertriglyceridemia (8% to 13%) and hyperglycemia (2% to 3%) have been reported in patients receiving amprenavir in combination with ritonavir. New onset and exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, elevated serum creatine kinase, and ketoacidosis have also been reported.[Ref]

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included elevations in AST (greater than 5 times ULN), ALT (greater than 5 times ULN), and amylase (greater than 2 times ULN) in 3% to 5% of patients receiving amprenavir in combination with ritonavir.[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included oral/perioral paresthesia (26%) and other paresthesias (10%), including peripheral paresthesias, in clinical trials when amprenavir was administered with lamivudine and zidovudine in therapy-naive patients. This compares to an incidence of 6% and 4%, respectively, when therapy-naive patients were only administered lamivudine and zidovudine. Headache (12% to 16%) has been reported in patients receiving amprenavir in combination with ritonavir plus other antiretrovirals.[Ref]

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included depression and mood disorder in 15% of therapy-naive patients who were administered amprenavir with lamivudine and zidovudine in clinical trials. This compares to an incidence of 4% when therapy-naive patients were only administered lamivudine and zidovudine.[Ref]

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included neutropenia and hemolytic anemia. Hematologic side effects associated with protease inhibitors have included spontaneous bleeding in patients with hemophilia A and B. In many of the reported cases, treatment with protease inhibitors was continued or restarted and some patients required additional factor VIII. A causal relationship between protease inhibitor therapy and these episodes has not been established.[Ref]

Other

Redistribution/accumulation of body fat, including central obesity, dorsocervical fat enlargement, peripheral wasting, breast enlargement, and "cushingoid appearance" have been observed in patients receiving protease inhibitors. The mechanism and long-term consequences of these events are currently unknown and a causal relationship has not been established. In one case, reduction of neck fat disposition (buffalo hump) was reported when amprenavir replaced indinavir in a regimen.[Ref]

Other side effects have included taste disorders in 10% of therapy-naive patients who were administered amprenavir with lamivudine and zidovudine in clinical trials. This compares to an incidence of 5% when therapy-naive patients were only administered lamivudine and zidovudine. Fatigue (7% to 14%) and chills have been reported in patients receiving amprenavir in combination with ritonavir plus other antiretrovirals.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included urticaria.[Ref]

References

1. (2001) "Product Information. Agenerase (amprenavir)." Glaxo Wellcome

2. Bart PA, Rizzardi GP, Tambussi G, Chave JP, Chapuis AG, Graziois C, Corpataux JM, Halkic N, Meuwly JY, Munoz M, Meylan P, (2000) "Immunological and virological responses in HIV-1-infected adults at early stage of established infection treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy." Aids, 14, p. 1887-97

3. (2001) "Drugs for HIV infection." Med Lett Drugs Ther, 43, p. 103-8

4. Anderson PL (2004) "Pharmacologic perspectives for once-daily antiretroviral therapy." Ann Pharmacother, 38, p. 1969-70

5. Arvieux C, Tribut O (2005) "Amprenavir or Fosamprenavir plus Ritonavir in HIV Infection: Pharmacology, Efficacy and Tolerability Profile." Drugs, 65, p. 633-59

6. Wire MB, Baker KL, Jones LS, et al. (2006) "Ritonavir Increases Plasma Amprenavir (APV) Exposure to a Similar Extent when Coadministered with either Fosamprenavir or APV." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 50, p. 1578-80

7. DHHS Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents -- A Working Group of the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council (OARAC) (2006) Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in HIV-1-infected adults and adolescents. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/AdultandAdolescentGL.pdf

8. The National Institutes of Health, The Working Group on Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical Management of HIV Infected Children Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center, UMDNJ, The Health Resources and Services Administration (2006) Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in pediatric HIV infection. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/PediatricGuidelines.pdf

9. Adkins JC, Faulds D (1998) "Amprenavir." Drugs, 55, 837-42;disc. 843-4

10. Borras-Blasco J, Navarro-Ruiz A, Borras C, Castera E (2008) "Adverse cutaneous reactions associated with the newest antiretroviral drugs in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection." J Antimicrob Chemother, 62, p. 879-88

11. Costa A, Pulido F, Rubio R, Cepeda C, Torralba M, Costa JR (2002) "Lipid changes in HIV-infected patients who started rescue therapy with an amprenavir/ritonavir-based highly active antiretroviral therapy." AIDS, 16, p. 1983-4

12. Bergersen BM (2006) "Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with HIV Infection : Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy." Drugs, 66, p. 1971-87

13. Khanlou H, Adair M, Farthing C (2000) "Reduction of buffalo hump by switching to amprenavir in an HIV-infected patient." Arch Intern Med, 160, p. 3499-500

Further information

Amprenavir side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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