Lopinavir + ritonavir: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

Lopinavir + Ritonavir What Medicine?

What is lopinavir + ritonavir for?

This combination product contains two drugs: lopinavir and ritonavir. This product is used with other HIV drugs to help control HIV. These drugs help reduce HIV levels in the body so that the immune system can work better. This will lower your chances of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improve your quality of life. Lopinavir and ritonavir belong to a class of drugs known as HIV protease inhibitors. Ritonavir increases lopinavir levels and thus helps lopinavir work better.

Lopinavir / ritonavir is not a cure for HIV infection. To reduce the risk of spreading HIV disease to others, do all of the following: (1) continue to take all HIV medicines exactly as prescribed by your doctor, (2) always use an effective method of contraception (latex or polyurethane condoms / dental dams) during all sexual activity, and (3) do not share personal items (such as needles / syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have been exposed to blood or other bodily fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

OTHER USES: This section lists uses for this drug that are not listed on approved labels, but may be prescribed by your healthcare professional. Use this medication for the conditions listed below only if it has been prescribed by your doctor and health care professional. This product can also be used in combination with other HIV drugs to reduce the risk of getting HIV infection after contact with the virus. Consult your doctor for more details.

How should lopinavir + ritonavir be used?

Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily. Swallow the tablet right away. Do not crush or chew the tablet. The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment and other drugs you are taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist all the products you use (including prescription, nonprescription drugs and herbal products). For children, dosage is based on age, weight and height. The once-daily dose is not recommended for children under 18 years of age. If you are taking didanoside for this product, you can take it at the same time as this product but do not take it without eating.

It is important to continue taking this medicine (and other HIV medicines) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Don't miss any doses. This drug works best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this medication at balanced intervals. To help you remember, drink it at the same times each day. Do not take more or less than recommended or stop taking them (or other HIV medicines) for even a short time unless directed by your doctor. This can cause the viral load to increase, making the infection harder to treat or having worse side effects.

How is lopinavir + ritonavir stored?

You can store the medicine in the refrigerator until the expiration date printed on the label, or you can store it at room temperature for up to 2 months. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Dosage of Lopinavir + Ritonavir

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

Follow your doctor's advice or the dosing instructions provided on the packaging.

Side effects of Lopinavir + Ritonavir

What side effects can lopinavir + ritonavir experience?

Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this drug and contact your doctor if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

⇒ headache accompanied by chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heart
⇒ change in vision
⇒ increased urination or extreme thirst
⇒ penis erection that is painful or lasts more than 4 hours
⇒ signs of a recent infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms
⇒ sweating, tremors in the hands, anxiety, irritability, sleep problems (insomnia)
⇒ diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, menstrual changes, impotence, loss of interest in sex
⇒ swelling in the neck or throat (enlarged thyroid)
⇒ muscle weakness, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, shortness of breath
⇒ problems walking, breathing, speaking, swallowing, or moving the eyes
⇒ prickly feeling in the fingers or toes, severe lower back pain, loss of the bladder
⇒ severe pain in the upper abdomen spreading to the back, nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, dark stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

⇒ severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling of the face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially on the face or upper body) and blisters or peels.

Less serious side effects include:
⇒ mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain
⇒ mild skin rash
⇒ headache
⇒ changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, chest, and waist).
Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have any concerns about side effects, please consult a doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and Cautions Drugs Lopinavir + Ritonavir

What should be known before using lopinavir + ritonavir?

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to lopinavir, ritonavir (ritonavir), other drugs, or any of the ingredients in lopinavir and ritonavir tablets. Ask the pharmacist for a list of ingredients. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: alfuzosin (Uroxatral) cisapride (Propulsid) (t U not available S.) ergot medications such as dihydroergotamine (DHE 45, Migranal), ergonovine, ergotamine (Ergomar, in Cafergot, in Migergot), and methylergonovine (Methergine) lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor, in Advicor) midazolam (Versed) pimozide (Orap) rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, in Rifamate, in Rifater) sildenafil simvastatin (Simcor, Zocor, in tri Vytorin) orcazolam). Your doctor may tell you to stop taking lopinavir and ritonavir if you are taking either of these drugs.

Tell your doctor if you are taking prescription or non-prescription drugs, herbal supplements, or vitamins. Don't forget to mention: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin) antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and voriconazole (Vfend) atovaquone (Mepron, in Malarone) beta-blockers boceprevir (Victrelis) bosentan Tracleer) bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) calcium-channel blockers such as felodipine, nicardipine (Cardene), and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia) cholesterol medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), and rosuvastatin (Crestor) clarithromycin (Biaxin) colchicine (Colcrys) (Lanoxin) fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Onsolis) fluticasone (Advair, in Flovent) fosamprenavir (Lexiva) cancer drugs such as dasatinib (Sprycel), nilotinib (Tasigna). vinblastine, and vincristine heart drugs such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), lidocaine, and quinidine (Quinidex) seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Equetro, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin), an immune suppressant drug such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf) methadone (Dolophine) oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone) antiviral drugs such as abacavir (Ziagen, in Epzicom, in Trizivir) atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), indinavir (Crixivan), maraviroc (Selzentry), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), tenofovir (Viread, in Atripla, in Truvada), tipranavir (Aptivus), saquinavir), and zidovudine (Retrovir, Combivir, Trizivir) rifabutin (Mycobutin) salmeterol (Serevent, Advair) sildenafil (Viagra) tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis) trazodone (Oleptro) and vardenafil (Levitra) disulfiram (Antabuse) or metronidazole (Flagyl). Your doctor can monitor your dose. If you are taking didanoside take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking lopinavir and ritonavir with food. If you are taking lopinavir and ritonavir tablets, they can be taken on an empty stomach along with didanoside. Tell your doctor about any herbal products you use, especially products containing St. John's wort. You should not take St John's wort while taking lopinavir and ritonavir.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had a long interval QT (a rare heart problem that can cause an irregular heartbeat, fainting spells, or sudden death), irregular heartbeat, low levels of potassium in the blood, hemophilia, high cholesterol or triglycerides (fat) in the blood, pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas), or heart or liver disease. lopinavir and ritonavir decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections). Talk to your doctor about using other forms of birth control that you can use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking lopinavir and ritonavir, call your doctor. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV or if you are taking lopinavir and ritonavir.

You should know that certain ingredients in lopinavir and ritonavir solutions can cause serious and life-threatening side effects in the newborn. Lopinavir and the oral solution of ritonavir should not be given to full-term infants younger than 14 days or premature babies younger than 14 days of their original due date, unless the doctor thinks there is a good reason for the baby to receive the right medication after birth. If your baby's doctor chooses to give your baby's lopinavir and ritonavir solutions soon after birth, your baby will be monitored carefully for signs of serious side effects. Call your baby's doctor right away if your baby is very drowsy or has changes in breathing during treatment with lopinavir and the oral solution of ritonavir.

Body fat can increase or move to other areas of the body such as the upper back, neck, breasts, and around the stomach. You may notice a loss of body fat from your face, legs and arms. You can develop hyperglycemia (an increase in your blood sugar level), even if you don't have diabetes yet. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while you are taking lopinavir and ritonavir: extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision. It's important to call your doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms, because untreated high blood sugar can lead to a serious condition called ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis can be life-threatening if not treated at an early stage. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include: dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, fruity breath, and decreased consciousness. When you take medicine to treat HIV infection, your immune system may get stronger and start fighting other infections that are already in your body. This can lead to developing symptoms of infection. If you have new or worsening symptoms after starting treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir, be sure to tell your doctor.

Is lopinavir + ritonavir safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Nursing mothers should not take this medicine. Even though babies are not infected with HIV, they can be transmitted through breast milk

Drug Interaction Lopinavir + Ritonavir

What drugs may interact with lopinavir + ritonavir?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

• atovaquone
• bosentan
• colchicine
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• lamotrigine
• salmeterol with or without fluticasone
• an antibiotic - clarithromycin, metronidazole, rifabutin
• an antidepressant – bupropion, trazodone
• antifungal drugs such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole
• blood thinners such as rivaroxaban, warfarin, Coumadin
• cancer drugs
• cholesterol drugs such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin
• medicine for pulmonary arterial hypertension avanafil, sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil, vardenafil
• heart or blood pressure medications such as amiodarone, felodipine, lidocaine, nicardipine, nifedipine, quinidine;
• the hepatitis C medicine boceprevir or telaprevir
• medicine to avoid organ transplant rejection
• narcotic drug - fentanyl, methadone
• other HIV AIDS drugs such as efavirenz, nevirapine, nelfinavir
• seizure medication - carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid or
• steroid drugs such as budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, prednisone.

Can food or alcohol interact with lopinavir + ritonavir?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or around meals at certain foods or foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with lopinavir + ritonavir?

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems.

Especially:

• cirrhosis
• diabetes mellitus
• hemophilia bleeding problems)
• hyperglycemia (high blood pressure)
• hyperlipidemia (high blood pressure, high fat)
• liver problems (hepatitis B or C)
• pancreatitis
• heart shortness
• heart failure (cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease)
• other heart problems
• hypokalaemia (low potassium) - be careful because it can increase the risk.

Lopinavir + Ritonavir overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.