Patients who take indinavir should drink a lot of water 1 liters per 24 hours to avoid or minimize the side effects. The usual dose is five 250 mg pills twice daily, taken with food. Nelfinavir will soon be available in a 625 mg pill, so only two pills will have to be taken. Other side effects include poor concentration, intermittent headaches, and moderate hypertension. The FDA-approved dose is eight 150 mg pills twice daily.
Current studies show that taking ritonavir simultaneously boosts the level of amprenavir.
Some HIV specialists now prescribe 100 to 200 mg of ritonavir with three or four 150 mg amprenavir pills twice daily. The main side effects of amprenavir are a skin rash and gastrointestinal complications, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It s usually mild to moderate but can be life-threatening. Amprenavir interacts with many other drugs, including antacids, so patients should tell their doctors about any and all drugs that they are taking, legal or illegal, in order to avoid experiencing adverse effects resulting from drug interaction. It was approved for use by the FDA in September of 2000.