Lopinavir and Ritonavir : Before Using

Lopinavir and Ritonavir - Systemic

Brand Names

Kaletra Lopinavir and Ritonavir *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For lopinavir and ritonavir, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to lopinavir or ritonavir. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Lopinavir and ritonavir has not been studied in pregnant women. However, it has been found to cause birth defects and other problems in pets at doses many times the human dose. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether lopinavir and ritonavir pass into breast milk. However, because of the possibility that this drug could cause unwanted effects in nursing babies and the risk of passing HIV on to the infant, breast-feeding is usually not recommended.

Use for Children

This drug has been tested in child 6 months of age and older and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing use of lopinavir and ritonavir in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking lopinavir and ritonavir, it is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:

Amiodarone - Cordarone
Bepridil - Vascor
Quinidine - Quinidex Levels of these medication in the body may be increased and cause toxic effects to the heart.

Astemizole - e.g. Hismanal
Cisapride - Propulsid
Flecainide - Tambocor
Pimozide - Orap
Propafenone - Rythmol
Terfenadine - Seldane These medication must not be taken with lopinavir and ritonavir due to the risk of serious heart rhythm problems.

Atorvastatin - Lipitor
Lovastatin - Mevacor
Simvastatin - Zocor Simvastatin and lovastatin must not be taken with lopinavir and ritonavir due to the risk of serious effects on muscle tissue; atorvastatin dose must be as low as possible to avoid adverse effects

Carbamazepine - Tegretol
Dexamethasone - Decadron
Phenobarbital - Luminal
Phenytoin - Dilantin These medication may reduce the effectiveness of lopinavir and ritonavir by lowering the amount of lopinavir present in the body.

Clarithromycin - Biaxin Use of lopinavir and ritonavir may increase the amount of clarithromycin in the body; diseaseds with abnormal kidney function may need to have their dose adjusted

Cyclosporine - Sandimmune, Neoral
Felodipine - Plendil
Nicardipine - Cardene
Nifedipine - Procardia
Sirolimus - Rapamune or
Tacrolimus - Prograf Use of lopinavir and ritonavir may increase the amount of these medication in the body, which may lead to increased side effects

Dihydroergotamine - e.g. D.H.E., Migranal
Ergonovine - Ergotrate
Ergotamine - Ergostat
Methylergonovine - Methergine
Midazolam - Versed
Triazolam - Halcion These medication must not be taken with lopinavir and ritonavir because serious side effects could occur

Efavirenz - Sustiva
Nevirapine - Viramune The dose of lopinavir and ritonavir might need to be increased when taken with these medication.

Ethinyl estradiol Lopinavir and ritonavir may cause this drug to be less effective; therefore, alternative or additional birth control methods must be using when birth control pills containing ethinyl estradiol are taken with lopinavir and ritonavir.

Ketoconazole - Nizoral
Itraconazole - Sporonox High doses are not recommended when taken with lopinavir and ritonavir

Rifabutin - Mycobutin Doses of this drug must be decreased and diseaseds must be monitored more closely when this drug is taken with lopinavir and ritonavir.

Rifampin - Rifadin
St. John's wort Lopinavir and ritonavir may not work properly if taken with these medication

Sildenafil - Viagra Use of lopinavir and ritonavir may increase the amount of this drug in the body, which may lead to increased side effects; your family doctor may decrease your sildenafil dose

Warfarin - Coumadin The amount of warfarin in the blood may be effected; bleeding times must be closely watched by your doct

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of lopinavir and ritonavir. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes Lopinavir and ritonavir may increase blood sugar; it may be necessary to adjust your dose of insulin or oral diabetes drug

Hemophilia Lopinavir and ritonavir may increase the risk of major bleeding.

Liver problems
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C Effects of lopinavir and ritonavir may be increased because of slower removal of the medication from the body

Pancreatitis - history of The risk that this condition will return is increased