f side effects is not complete. If you have questions about side effects, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. You should report any new or continuing symptoms to your doctor right away. Your doctor may be able to help you manage these side effects.
The most commonly reported side effects are: feeling weak/tired, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, changes in taste, tingling feeling or numbness in hands or feet or around the lips, headache, and dizziness.
Blood tests in patients taking NORVIR may show possible liver problems. People with liver disease such as Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C who take NORVIR may have worsening liver disease. Liver problems including rare cases of death have occurred in patients taking NORVIR. It is unclear if NORVIR caused these liver problems because some patients had other illnesses or were taking other medicines.
Some patients taking NORVIR can develop serious problems with their pancreas (pancreatitis) which may cause death. Tell your doctor if you have nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. These may be signs of pancreatitis.
Some patients have large increases in triglycerides and cholesterol. The long-term chance of getting complications such as heart attacks or stroke due to increases in triglycerides and cholesterol caused by protease inhibitors is not known at this time.
Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) have occurred in patients taking protease inhibitors. Some patients had diabetes before starting protease inhibitors, others did not. Some patients need changes in their diabetes medication. Others needed new diabetes medication.
Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking antiretroviral therapy. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck ("buffalo hump"), breast and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The cause and long term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.
Some patients with hemophilia have increased bleeding with protease inhibitors.
Allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe have occurred in patients taking NORVIR.
Changes in the electrocardiogram (EKG). Consult your physician if you experience dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting spells or abnormal heart beat. Patients with heart defects or conduction defects should avoid NORVIR.
There have been other side effects noted in patients receiving NORVIR; however, these side effects may have been due to other medicines that patients were taking or to the illness itself. Some of these side effects can be serious. If you have questions about side effects, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. You should report any new or persistent symptoms to your doctor immediately.
What Should I Tell My Doctor Before Taking NORVIR?
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant: The effects of NORVIR on pregnant women or their unborn babies are not known.
If you are breast-feeding: Do not breast-feed if you are taking NORVIR. You should not breast-feed if you have HIV. If you are a woman who has or will have a baby, talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your baby. You should be aware that if your baby does not already have HIV, there is a chance that HIV can be transmitted through breast-feeding.
If you have liver problems: If you have liver problems or are infected with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, you should tell your doctor before taking NORVIR.
If you have diabetes: Some people taking protease in |
