Subscribe to:
POZ magazine E-newsletters
POZ Personals Sign In / Join
Username:
Password:
Lesson Special Issues for Children with HIV
en español

email

Protease Inhibitors

Drug Use in Children Use in Newborns & Infants Pediatric Formulation
Agenerase (amprenavir) Only for children 4 years of age and older. Special dosing is necessary for all children weighing less than 50 kg (110 pounds); children weighing more than 50 kg can take the adult capsules. For children weighing less than 50 kg using the liquid formulation of Agenerase, the dose is 22.5 mg per kilogram of body weight taken twice a day, or 17 mg per kilogram of body weight taken three times a day. For children able to swallow the capsule formulation of amprenavir, the correct dose for those weighing less than 50 kg is 20 mg per kilogram of body weight twice a day or 15 mg per kilogram of body weight three times a day. Using Norvir (ritonavir) to boost Agenerase levels in the bloodstream is a popular treatment option among adults. It is not yet recommended for HIV-positive children. Not recommended for any children under the age of 4 years. A liquid solution of Agenerase is available for babies and children, which is easier to give to young children than the adult capsules.
Aptivus (tipranavir) No dosing recommendations available. Not recommended for HIV-positive children beginning anti-HIV drug treatment for the first time. No dosing recommendations available. Not available.
Crixivan (indinavir) There is no official Crixivan dose for use in children. The correct dose of Crixivan—once it is made official—will depend on the size of the child. The dose currently being explored in clinical trials is 500 mg per square meter of body surface area, every eight hours. Children with small body surface areas may require lower doses of the drug. No dose available for newborns or infants. Not available.
Invirase (saquinavir) No dosing recommendations available. Not recommended for HIV-positive children under 16 years of age. No dose available for newborns or infants. Not available.
Kaletra (lopinavir + ritonavir) Children between the ages of 6 months and 12 years receive dosing based on body weight (weight-based dosing is easiest using the liquid formulation of the drug). For children weighing between 7 and 15 kg (15.4 and 33 pounds), the correct dose is 12 mg of lopinavir and 3 mg of ritonavir per kilogram of body weight, twice a day with food. For children weighing between 15 and 40 kg (33 and 88 pounds), the correct dose is 10 mg of lopinavir and 2.5 mg of ritonavir per kilogram of body weight, twice a day with food. All children weighing more than 40 kg—or older than 13 years of age—should receive the adult dosage of Kaletra (3 capsules, 2 tablets or 5 mL of liquid) twice a day with food. The dose of Kaletra may need to be increased if it is combined with Viramune (nevirapine), Sustiva (efavirenz), Lexiva (fosamprenavir), Agenerase (amprenavir) or Viracept (nelfinavir). No dosing information is available for newborns and infants under the age of six months. A liquid formulation of Kaletra is available for babies and children, which is easier to give to young children than the adult capsules.
Lexiva
(fosamprenavir)
A liquid version of Lexiva was approved by the FDA in June 2007. Lexiva is only approved for children 2 years of age or older. Once-daily Lexiva, an option for adults, is not recommended for children (even if it is used with Norvir). There are three dosing options for children, depending on their body weight and age. Children between 2 and 5 years of age should take 30 mg of liquid Lexiva per kilogram of body weight twice daily. This option is only for 2- to 5-year-olds starting HIV treatment for the first time (treatment naive), and combining Lexiva with Norvir is not recommended. For treatment-naive children 6 years of age or older, the dose is 30 mg per kilogram of body weight twice daily, or 18 mg per kilogram of liquid Lexiva plus 3 mg per kilogram of liquid Norvir twice daily. For treatment-experienced children 6 years of age or older, the dose is 18 mg per kilogram of Lexiva plus 3 mg per kilogram of Norvir twice daily. No dosing recommendations available. A liquid formulation of Lexiva is available for children two years of age and older.
Norvir
(ritonavir)
Norvir has been studied in 265 children between 1 month and 21 years of age. It was approved for use in children by the FDA in October 2005. The dose will depend on the child's body size. The dose should be between 350 to 400 mg per square meter of body area, twice a day. As the child grows, the dose will increase. However, the dose should not exceed 600 mg twice a day. The starting dose should be 250 mg per square meter of body area. Every two to three days, the dose should be increased by 50 mg, until a total of 400 mg per square meter of body area is reached. For children who cannot tolerate a dose of 350 to 400 mg per square meter of body area, alternatives to Norvir should be tried. Infants older than 1 month of age can take Norvir, using the dosing schedule recommended for children. A liquid formulation of Norvir is available for babies and children, which is easier to give to young children than the adult capsules.
Prezista (darunavir) No dosing recommendations available. Not recommended for HIV-positive children beginning anti-HIV drug treatment for the first time. No dosing recommendations available. Not available.
Reyataz (atazanavir) Only for children six years of age older, according to FDA dosing recommendations approved in March 2008. The dose of Reyataz, which should always be taken with food, will depends on the child's body weight. For children starting HIV treatment for the first time and weighing between 15 and 24 kilograms (33 and 54 pounds), the dose is one 150 mg capsule of Reyataz with 80 mg of liquid Norvir (ritonavir) once daily (Reyataz dosing is not recommended for treatment-experienced children who weigh 54 pounds or less). For children between 25 and 31 kilograms (55 and 69 pounds), the dose is one 200 mg capsule of Reyataz and 100mg of Norvir (liquid or capsule) once daily. For all children between 32 and 38 kilograms (70 and 85 pounds), the dose is one 250 mg capsule of Reyataz and 100mg of Norvir once daily. For children 39 kilograms (86 pounds) and heavier, the dose is one 300 mg capsule of Reyataz with 100 mg of Norvir once daily. For children who are at least 13 years old and at least 39 kilograms (86 pounds), but who can't tolerate Norvir, the appropriate dose is 400 mg of Reyataz (without Norvir), once daily, with food. No dosing recommendations are available for children under 6 years of age. Children under the age of 3 months should never receive Reyataz due to the risk of brain damage from excess bilirubin blood levels. Reyataz is available in 150, 200, 250 and 300 mg capsules.
Viracept (nelfinavir) Viracept is only approved for children 2 years of age and older. The approved dose for children 2 years of age and older is 45 to 55 mg per kilogram of body weight, twice a day, or 25 to 35 mg per kilogram of body weight three times a day. Viracept should be taken with a meal. A September 2007 warning from the FDA, recommending that HIV-positive children avoid Viracept due to the discovery of a possible cancer-causing impurity called EMS, has since been lifted. A dose is still being studied for newborns. The dose under evaluation is 40 mg per kilogram of body weight every 12 hours. A September 2007 warning from the FDA, recommending that HIV-positive children avoid Viracept due to the discovery of a possible cancer-causing impurity called EMS, has since been lifted. Viracept is available in a powder that can be mixed with liquid. Each gram—one level scoop—of Viracept powder contains 50 mg of the drug.

back next

email




Search for news stories about this topic

Last Revised: June 04, 2008

This content is written by the editorial team at AIDSmeds.com.
Please find profiles of this team on our "About Us" page.

"
Lesson Index
Collapse All | Up One Level


© 2008 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved. terms of use and your privacy