Nelfinavir
Nelfinavir Information

About Nelfinavir

Nelfinavir is an oral antiretroviral agent. Nelfinavir is a protease inhibitor, belongs to the group that includes indinavir , ritonavir and saquinavir. Nelfinavir is used in conjunction with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors , for the treatment of HIV infection. Nelfinavir is a competitive inhibitor of HIV protease, an enzyme involved in the replication of HIV. Protease is responsible for cleaving precursor molecules (immuture budding particles) to produce the final structural proteins of a mature virion core and to activate reverse transcriptase for a new round of infection. Thus, protease is necessary for the production of mature virions. Protease inhibition renders the virus noninfectious. Because they inhibit the HIV replication cycle after translation and before assembly, HIV protease inhibitors are active in acutely and chronically infected cells, as well as in cells (e.g., monocytes and macrophages) not normally affected by dideoxynucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Indications

Nelfinavir is primarily indicated in conditions like HIV infection.

Contraindication

Nelfinavir

Side Effects

The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Nelfinavir, which give rise to further complications include Renal impairment, Paresthesia, Myalgia, Lipodystrophy.The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Nelfinavir are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Flatulence, Dizziness, Headache, Fatigue, Diarrhea, Pruritus, Taste disturbance, Asthenia, Nausea and vomiting, dizziness, Rash.

Warnings

Caution is required in diabetic patient, patients with hemophilia who may experienced increased bleeding. It should be used with caution and possible dose reduction is needed in hepatic impairment. Adequate hydration is recommended to avoid any risk of nephrolithiasis. Monotoring is required in case of renal impairment.

High Risk Groups

Drug should not be given to Pregnant Mothers, and Cardiac / Hypertensive Patients.If prescribing authority justifies the benefits of the drug against the possible damages he/she should reevaluate them and consult the reference material and previous studies.