Side-effects

The commonest side-effects of nelfinavir (Viracept), which are most likely to occur during the early weeks of treatment, are diarrhoea, nausea and headache.1 Medicines to control diarrhoea, which occurs in 20% of patients, can be prescribed before a patient starts nelfinavir, including loperamide (Imodium), calcium tablets, L-glutamine, probiotics and soluble fibre supplements.2 3 4 5 6

As a class, protease inhibitors have been associated with a syndrome of fat and metabolic irregularities. This syndrome includes altered body fat distribution, high fat levels in the blood, insulin resistance, diabetes, increased levels of blood sugar, and increased bleeding in haemophiliacs. For more details see Metabolic changes while on ART.

References

  1. Kosmyna JM et al. The incidence and severity of diarrhoea in HIV patients from a large urban medical centre who have taken nelfinavir in the past twelve months. Twelfth World AIDS Conference, Geneva, abstract 12392, 1998
  2. Perez-Rodriguez E et al. The role of calcium supplements in the treatment of nelfinavir-associated diarrhoea. 39th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, San Francisco, abstract 1308, 1999
  3. Rachlis A et al. Step-wise intervention for the management of nelfinavir (NFV)-associated diarrhoea. Second International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment, Paris, abstract 747, 2003
  4. Razzeca K et al. The treatment of nelfinavir induced diarrhoea. Twelfth World AIDS Conference, Geneva, abstract 12383, 1998
  5. Kelliher GJ et al. Dietary supplementation with probiotics, soluble fiber and L-glutamine reduces diarrhoea in HIV men receiving nelfinavir. First International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Treatment and Pathogenesis, Buenos Aires, abstract 904, 2001
  6. Huffman F et al. L-glutamine supplementation improves nelfinavir associated diarrhoea in HIV-infected individuals. First International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Treatment and Pathogenesis, Buenos Aires, abstract 536, 2001
This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.