Important note: Information in this article was accurate in June 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.When you commit to yourself to improve your health, big results can happen. This is especially true when you are living with HIV/AIDS. Make the commitment to yourself to help your body fight the virus by eating well, exercising and taking your medications as prescribed. Food, exercise and medication all work as a team to build your immune system. Our last nutrition column, (Perspective, Winter 1997), discussed the immune-boosting effects of food and exercise. This column will focus on dietary strategies to maximize the use of medications called protease inhibitors. Protease inhibitors are important new players in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Food plays a critical role with protease inhibitors. Certain foods will increase the blood levels of the protease inhibitors in the blood stream which will help fight the virus. Other foods will decrease blood levels and weaken your fight against HIV. This column will highlight which foods to eat and which foods to avoid when you take protease inhibitors. The protease inhibitors Crixivan, Saquinavir, Ritonavir and Nelfinavir will be discussed.
Each day drink at least 10 cups of water or juice to avoid kidney stones. Call your health care provider right away if you get lower back pain, it may be a symptom of kidney stones.
Good Snacks to take with your Crixivan dose.
These snacks contain less than 300 calories, 6 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat.
* Nabisco Newton Cobbler Bars 3 bars
* Fig bars and juice 2 fig bars, 1 cup juice
* Pretzels and pop 1 cup pretzels, 1/2 can pop
* Bagel and Juice 1/2 bagel (without seeds or nuts), 1 cup juice
* Corn tortilla with rice and salsa 1 corn tortilla 1/2 cup steamed rice (no added oil or fat) 3 Tbs. salsa
* Cereal and skim milk (does not include cereal with added nuts, seeds or granola ) 1/2 cup dry cereal, 1/2 cup skim milk
* English muffin with jam and tea 1 English muffin, 1 Tbs. jam, 1 cup tea with sugar
* Rice or noodles with vegetables and soy sauce 1/2 cup steamed rice or noodles (without butter or oil), 1 cup steamed vegetables, 1 Tbs. soy sauce
* Angel food cake with canned fruit and coffee 1 slice angel food cake, 1/2 cup canned fruit, 1 cup coffee
Be sure to strictly follow the serving sizes indicated. Always use standard measuring cups and spoons. Don't guess -- MEASURE!
Saquinavir (Invirase)
What to do
* Take 3 times a day, every 6 to 8 hours through out the day.
* Take within 2 hours of a high fat meal or snack. Taking it with high fat foods lets your body absorb 5 to 10 times more. See meal and snack ideas below.
* Take with a 1/2 cup grapefruit juice (use frozen concentrate) if tolerated. This increases absorption into the blood stream by 50%. Other juices have no effect.
What not to do
* Don't take it on an empty stomach.
* Don't take it with a meal low in fat and calories.
Meal and snack suggestions for taking with Saquinavir
Hamburger and French fries Meatloaf and potatoes Pizza Pasta with cream sauce Egg drop soup 1 cup of Eggnog Steak and potatoes 1 cup of Trail mix Breakfast sandwich made with egg, cheese and bacon or sausage Breakfast consisting of scrambled egg made with two large eggs, 3 oz. of sausage and 2 buttered pancakes
Special Diet Concerns
If you are vegetarian it is important to eat enough fat so your body can absorb Saquinavir. Add fat to your meals with chopped eggs, grated cheeses, margarine and butter, salad dressings and sauces. If you are a vegan, other alternatives include peanut butter, nuts and vegetable oils as well as weight gain powders and formulas. Your dietitian can help you work out the best plan.
Ritonavir (Norvir)
* Take every 12 hours.
* Take within 2 hours of a full meal.
* Don't take on empty stomach, it may make side effects worse and decrease absorption of the drug.
* Don't take it with fat-free or very low fat meals.
* Do not drink alcohol, it can severely damage your liver. * Do not smoke. If you can't quit, reduce the amount you smoke since nicotine will make Ritonavir less effective.
* Take 3 times a day with meals or a substantial snack. See ideas below. What not to do:
* It is not recommended to take on an empty stomach.
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Copyright © 1997 - Seattle Treatment Education Project, 1123 East John Street, Seattle, WA 98102. (206) 329-4857 or (877) 597-STEP [7837] (toll-free, valid only in the Pacific Northwest: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana) e-mail: step100@aol.com
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