Brand Name(s): | IMPORTANT WARNING | WHY is this medicine prescribed? | HOW should this medicine be used? | Are there OTHER USES for this medicine? | What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow? | What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose? | What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause? | What should I know about STORAGE and DISPOSAL of this medication? | What should I do in case of OVERDOSE? | What OTHER INFORMATION should I know? | ahfsCopyRight

IMPORTANT WARNING

Tipranavir (taken with ritonavir [Norvir]) may cause bleeding in the brain. This condition may be life-threatening. Tell your doctor if you have recently had surgery or if you have recently been injured in any way. Also tell your doctor if you have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia (condition in which the blood does not clot normally). Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medications: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin or products containing aspirin, cilostazol (Pletal), clopidogrel (Plavix), or ticlopidine (Ticlid). You should also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking vitamin E, other than the amount contained in a regular daily multivitamin. If you need to get emergency medical treatment for any reason, be sure to tell all of the doctors who treat you that you are taking tipranavir. Call your doctor immediately if you experience unusual bruising or bleeding during your treatment with tipranavir.

Tipranavir (taken with ritonavir [Norvir]) may cause liver damage that may be life-threatening. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had hepatitis (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) or any other liver disease or if you drink or have drunk alcohol. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking tipranavir and call your doctor immediately: tiredness; weakness; flu-like symptoms; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting; pain, ache, swelling, or sensitivity on your right side below your ribs; yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark (tea-colored) urine; or pale bowel movements.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body's response to tipranavir.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking tipranavir.

What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?

Before taking tipranavir,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to tipranavir, ritonavir (Norvir), sulfa medications, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in tipranavir capsules or solution. Ask your pharmacist if you are unsure if a medication you are allergic to is a sulfa medication.
  • do not take tipranavir if you are taking alfuzosin (Uroxatral); cisapride (Propulsid) (no longer available in the U.S.); ergot medications for migraines such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergoloid mesylate (Hydergine), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Bellamine, Cafergot, Ergomar, others), or methylergonovine (Methergine); certain medications for irregular heartbeat including amiodarone (Pacerone), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), or quinidine (Quinaglute); lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor, in Advicor), midazolam (Versed) by mouth; pimozide (Orap); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifater); simvastatin (Zocor, in Vytorin); St. John's wort; and triazolam (Halcion).
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: antifungal medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend); bosentan (Tracleer); calcium-channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others), felodipine (Lexxel, Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nisoldipine (Sular), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan, others); certain cholesterol-lowering medications ('statins') such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet) and rosuvastatin (Crestor); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); colchicine; desipramine (Norpramin); disulfiram (Antabuse); estrogen hormone replacement therapy; fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent, in Advair); immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf); medications for diabetes such as glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol, in Metaglip), glyburide (Diabeta, Glycron, Glynase, Micronase, others), pioglitazone (Actos, in Actoplus), repaglinide (Prandin), or tolbutamide; certain medications for erectile dysfunction including sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra); certain medications for seizures including carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote); other medications for HIV including abacavir (Ziagen, in Epzicom, in Trizivir), atazanavir (Reyataz), enfuvirtide (Fuzeon); fosamprenavir (Lexiva), lopinavir (in Kaletra), raltegravir (Isentress), saquinavir (Invirase), and zidovudine (AZT, retrovir, in Combivir, in Trizivir); meperidine (Demerol, in Mepergan); methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); metronidazole (Flagyl); omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid); oral contraceptives; rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifapentine (Priftin); salmeterol (in Advair, Serevent); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft); and trazodone. Many other medications may also interact with tipranavir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you begin taking any new medications during your treatment with tipranavir. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • if you are taking didanosine, take it 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take tipranavir.
  • if you are taking antacids, take them 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take tipranavir.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes or high blood sugar; high blood cholesterol or triglycerides (blood fats); or an infection that comes and goes such as tuberculosis (TB), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes, Mycobacterium avium, shingles, or pneumonia.
  • you should know that some people with diabetes develop worsening of their diabetes while taking tipranavir. If you have diabetes, it is important to carefully monitor your blood sugar while taking tipranavir and call your doctor if your blood sugar becomes difficult to control. Your doctor may need to change your diabetes medication or prescribe new medication to control your blood sugar.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking tipranavir, call your doctor. Do not breast-feed if you are infected with HIV or are taking tipranavir.
  • you should know that tipranavir may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, and injections). You will need to use another method of contraception to prevent pregnancy while taking tipranavir. Talk to your doctor about other ways to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medication.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking tipranavir.
  • plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Tipranavir may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
  • you should know that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body such as the back of your neck and upper shoulders ('buffalo hump'), stomach, and breasts. Your body may lose fat from your arms, legs, face, and buttocks. Talk to your doctor if you notice any of these changes in your body fat.
  • you should know that you may experience hyperglycemia (increases in your blood sugar) while you are taking this medication, even if you do not already have diabetes. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms while you are taking tipranavir: extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision, or weakness. It is very important to call your doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms, because high blood sugar that is not treated can cause a serious condition called ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis may become life-threatening if it is not treated at an early stage. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include: dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, breath that smells fruity, and decreased consciousness.
  • you should know that while you are taking medications to treat HIV infection, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight other infections that were already in your body. This may cause you to develop symptoms of those infections. If you have new or worsening symptoms at anytime during your treatment with tipranavir, be sure to tell your doctor.