Nelfinavir

For an informed discussion with your doctor or pharmacist. This information collection is not a clinically validated interaction checker. Missing data do not establish safety. Do not change or stop prescribed medicines on the basis of this information. The findings apply to the specific conditions studied; laboratory and animal studies cannot be directly extrapolated to humans.

Active substance: Nelfinavir

Examples of brand names: Viracept [EU; historical, authorisation expired on 23 January 2013]

ATC code: J05AE04

Main use (for orientation): Historically: HIV-1, combination antiretroviral therapy

Documented research summary

Small controlled human study: no statistically significant change in nelfinavir AUC/Cmax/Cmin in the cannabis-smoking arm. This does not establish equivalence or long-term safety; do not equate the dronabinol arm with the cannabis-smoking figures.

Uncertainties and limitations

Oral VIRACEPT, a historical drug; do not extrapolate to other protease inhibitors or current market availability.

Shared enzymes must not be equated with clinical evidence of an interaction; CBD/THC findings cannot be extrapolated to other cannabinoids.

Separately recorded findings

1 separately recorded finding. Each statement applies to its documented study context.

THC-containing cannabis/dronabinol, separate study arms – clinically investigated

Finding ID: B0094

Type of result: Context-specific finding; read the limitations

Observation: No statistically significant AUC/Cmax/Cmin change in the cannabis-smoking arm.

Mechanism: Pharmacokinetics in a clinical trial

Study type: Randomised placebo-controlled pharmacokinetic study

Context studied: 34 nelfinavir participants across three study arms; 14 days.

Clinical interpretation: Individual medical / pharmaceutical assessment; do not use as dosage instructions

Limitations and uncertainties: Abstract results primarily concern the cannabis-smoking arm; do not attribute the same numerical finding to dronabinol.

Original sources for this finding: The effects of cannabinoids on the pharmacokinetics of indinavir and nelfinavir [EX05]

References and access status

[V2_LABEL_D0449] VIRACEPT (NELFINAVIR MESYLATE) TABLET, FILM COATED [AGOURON]

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: AGOURON

Year: 2025

Source type: Official US SPL / DailyMed

Source access – 23 October 2026: Source destination was accessible when checked.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

[EX05] The effects of cannabinoids on the pharmacokinetics of indinavir and nelfinavir

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Kosel BW; Aweeka FT; Benowitz NL; Shade SB; Hilton JF; Lizak PS; Abrams DI

Year: 2002

Source type: Randomised placebo-controlled pharmacokinetic study

DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200203080-00005

PMID: 11872997

Source access – 23 October 2026: Source destination was accessible when checked.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

Research as of 23 October 2026. Not all original full texts could be reviewed in full. Source accessibility and the strength of scientific evidence must be assessed separately. An accessible link does not establish medical approval; a bibliographic record with an abstract does not replace the original full text.

Drug search and explanation of the evidence · Guide: cannabinoids and medicines · Author and responsibility