New HIV Drug The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for HIV patients a new drug that needs to be taken only twice a day. Many AIDS and HIV medications can be difficult to take because certain drugs need to be taken on a rigid time schedule, often several times throughout the day, some with or without meals. A patient often has to take a couple dozen pills daily. Amprenavir, approved Friday, is taken with other AIDS medications and comes in capsule form for adults and liquid form for children. Sold under the brand name Agenerase, the drug can be taken with or without food, but should not be taken with a high-fat meal because the fat can decrease the body's ability to absorb the drug. Patients need to take eight capsules a day twice a day. Clinical studies showed that Agenerase lowered HIV levels in the blood and helped increase the number of immune system cells. Common side effects include diarrhea, rash, nausea and vomiting. The FDA also warns that 1 percent of patients who took Agenerase experienced life-threatening skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, in which blisters form on the mouth, genitals and eyes.