Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules

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Generic Name: Lopinavir/Ritonavir (loe-PIN-a-vir/rit-OH-na-vir)
Brand Name: Kaletra
Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules is used for:

Managing HIV infection in combination with other medicines. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules is not a cure for HIV infection or AIDS.

Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules is an HIV protease inhibitor. It works by blocking a chemical that HIV needs to multiply, which reduces the amount of HIV in the blood.

Do NOT use Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules if: you are allergic to any ingredient in Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules you are taking alfuzosin, astemizole, atorvastatin, cisapride, dihydrolam, an ergot derivative (eg, ergotamine), ergonovine, flecainide, fluticasone, lovastatin, methylergonovine, midazolam, pimozide, propafenone, rifampin, simvastatin, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), terfenadine, tipranavir, triazolam, or voriconazole

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules:

Some medical conditions may interact with Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances if you have AIDS, pancreatitis (swelling or tenderness of the abdomen), diabetes or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or hemophilia or other bleeding disorders

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines (eg, used for infections, inflammation, aches and pains, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, seizures), multivitamin products, and herbal or dietary supplements (eg, herbal teas, coenzyme Q10, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, St. John's wort) may interact with Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules, increasing the risk of their side effects Voriconazole because its effectiveness may be decreased by Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules:

Use Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Take Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules by mouth with food. Continue to take Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules must be taken with other HIV medicines to be effective. If you are also taking didanosine, take Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking didanosine. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules works best when there is a constant level of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules in your body. It is important not to miss doses of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. If you miss a dose of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules, take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules.

Important safety information: Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules may cause dizziness or drowsiness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or nonprescription, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Talk with your doctor about which medicines should not be taken with Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules may increase the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your blood. Cholesterol and triglyceride testing should be done before and during treatment with Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. Patients with hepatitis B or hepatitis C who take Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules may have worsening liver disease. Tell your doctor before taking Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules if you have liver problems. Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor. When your medicine supply is low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. Do not stop taking Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules, even for a short period of time. If you do, the virus may grow resistant to the medicine and become harder to treat. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules is not a cure for HIV infection. Patients may still get illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules does not stop the spread of HIV to others through blood or sexual contact. Use barrier methods of birth control (eg, condoms) if you have HIV infection. Do not share needles, injection supplies, or items like toothbrushes or razors. Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms). Hemophilia patients - Report all bleeding episodes to your doctor. Diabetes patients - Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 14 days old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules while you are pregnant. It is not known if Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules is found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules to the baby. Possible side effects of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal stools; chills; depression; diarrhea; fever; gas; headache; indigestion; loss of appetite; muscle pain; nausea; pain; prickling or tingling sensation on the skin; shift in body fat to stomach and upper body; sleeplessness; stomach pain; tiredness; vomiting; weakness; weight loss.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood in stool; dark urine; drowsiness; fatigue; flushed face; increased blood sugar; increased thirst or urination; persistent fever; severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual hunger; vision changes; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Lopinavir/Ritonavir side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include change in the amount of urine; loss of consciousness; numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, hands, or feet; shallow breathing.

Proper storage of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules:

Store in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Avoid exposure to excessive heat. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date printed on label. Use within 2 months if stored at room temperature up to 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Keep Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information: If you have any questions about Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people. If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Lopinavir/Ritonavir Capsules. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012 Database Edition 12.1.1.002 Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. More Lopinavir/Ritonavir resources Lopinavir/Ritonavir Side Effects (in more detail)Lopinavir/Ritonavir Use in Pregnancy & BreastfeedingLopinavir/Ritonavir Drug InteractionsLopinavir/Ritonavir Support Group3 Reviews for Lopinavir/Ritonavir - Add your own review/rating Compare Lopinavir/Ritonavir with other medications HIV InfectionNonoccupational Exposure

Lopinavir Ritonavir Capsules

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