What is Aptivus?

APTIVUS is a medicine called a “protease inhibitor” that is used to treat adults with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).  APTIVUS blocks HIV protease, an enzyme which is needed for HIV to make more virus.  When used with other anti-HIV medicines, APTIVUS may reduce the amount of HIV in your blood and increase the number of CD4+ cells. Reducing the amount of HIV in the blood may keep your immune system healthy, so it can help fight infections.
APTIVUS is always taken with Norvir® (ritonavir) and at the same time as Norvir. When you take APTIVUS with Norvir, you must always use at least 2 other anti-HIV medicines.

Your healthcare provider (HCP) will prescribe APTIVUS with ritonavir twice daily by mouth as part of combination therapy. You must use APTIVUS with at least 2 other anti-HIV medications. The use of  other active agents with APTIVUS is associated with a greater likelihood of treatment response.

Ask your HCP for complete Norvir Prescribing Information for additional information on precautionary measures. For more information about APTIVUS or HIV, talk to your HCP. 

APTIVUS does not cure HIV or help prevent passing HIV to others. Be sure to practice safer sex and minimize other risky behaviors.

The most common side effects of APTIVUS include diarrhea, nausea, fever, vomiting, tiredness, headache, and stomach pain.  Rash was seen more frequently in children.

Important Safety Information for APTIVUS

Patients taking APTIVUS, together with Norvir® (ritonavir), may develop severe liver disease that can cause death.  If you develop any of the following symptoms of liver problems, you should stop taking APTIVUS and Norvir® (ritonavir) and call your healthcare professional right away:  tiredness, general ill feeling or “flu-like” symptoms, loss of appetite, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, dark (tea-colored) urine, pale stools (bowel movements), or pain, ache, or sensitivity on your right side below your ribs.  If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare professional should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems.

Patients taking APTIVUS together with Norvir® (ritonavir) may develop bleeding in the brain that can cause death. You should report any unusual or unexplained bleeding to your healthcare professional if you are taking APTIVUS together with Norvir® (ritonavir).

The most common side effects of APTIVUS include diarrhea, nausea, fever, vomiting, tiredness, headache, and stomach pain. Rash was seen more frequently in children.