kaletra

Kaletra contains a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir. Lopinavir and ritonavir are antiviral medications that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body

Kaletra is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This medicine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Kaletra may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

You should not use Kaletra if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to lopinavir or ritonavir.

Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together with lopinavir and ritonavir. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Kaletra if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to lopinavir or ritonavir.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Kaletra. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

• alfuzosin;

• pimozide;

• rifampin;

• lovastatin, simvastatin;

• midazolam, triazolam;

• sildenafil (Revatio for pulmonary arterial hypertension);

• St. John"s wort; or

• an ergot medicine (ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methylergonovine).

To make sure Kaletra is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);

• heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder;

• a personal or family history of Long QT Syndrome;

• pancreas problems;

• diabetes;

• low levels of potassium in your blood;

• a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;

• high cholesterol or triglycerides; or

• if you have ever used a protease inhibitor in the past.

It is not known whether Kaletra will harm an unborn baby. But HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of Kaletra on the baby.

Kaletra can make birth control pills or patches less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

Kaletra is not approved for use by anyone younger than 14 days old. Premature infants should not receive the medication until it has been 14 days after their original due date.

How should I take Kaletra?

Take Kaletra exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label, especially when giving the medicine to a child. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

If a child is taking this medication, tell your doctor if the child has any changes in weight. Kaletra doses are based on weight in children.

Do not crush, chew, or break a Kaletra tablet. Swallow the tablet whole. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

Kaletra liquid should be taken with food. Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

While using Kaletra, you may need frequent blood tests at your doctor"s office.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor"s advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Store Kaletra liquid in the refrigerator or at room temperature. If you store the liquid at room temperature you must use it within 60 days.

Store the tablets at room temperature, away from heat and moisture. Keep the pills in their original container with the cap tightly closed.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of Kaletra oral liquid could be fatal to a child.

What should I avoid while taking Kaletra?

If you take Kaletra liquid and you also take didanosine (Videx), take the didanosine at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take the liquid medicine.

Kaletra liquid contains alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol while using this medicine.

Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Kaletra side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Kaletra: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking Kaletra and call your doctor at once if you have:

• headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats;

• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting;

• itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination);

• penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer (if you take Kaletra with erectile dysfunction medication);

• muscle weakness, tired feeling, joint or muscle pain, feeling short of breath; or

• severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Kaletra may increase your risk of certain infections or autoimmune disorders by changing the way your immune system works. Symptoms may occur weeks or months after you start treatment. Tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of a new infection = fever, night sweats, swollen glands, mouth sores, diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss;

• chest pain (especially when you breathe), dry cough, wheezing, feeling short of breath;

• cold sores, sores on your genital or anal area;

• rapid heart rate, feeling anxious or irritable, weakness or prickly feeling, problems with balance or eye movement;

• trouble speaking or swallowing, severe lower back pain, loss of bladder or bowel control; or

• swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence, loss of interest in sex.

Common Kaletra side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• high cholesterol; or

• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Kaletra?

Many drugs can interact with lopinavir and ritonavir. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• antiviral medicines to treat hepatitis C or HIV;

• cancer medicine;

• medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection;

• "statin" cholesterol-lowering medicine;

• an antibiotic - clarithromycin, metronidazole, rifabutin;

• antifungal medicine - itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole;

• heart or blood pressure medicine - amiodarone, felodipine, lidocaine, nicardipine, nifedipine, quinidine;

• medicine to prevent blood clots - rivaroxaban, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

• medicine to treat impotence or pulmonary arterial hypertension - avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio), tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn);

• medicine to treat severe depression or schizophrenia - bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), quetiapine, trazodone;

• seizure medicine - carbamazepine, divalproex sodium, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproate, valproic acid; or

• steroid medicine - budesonide, dexamethasone, prednisone, fluticasone.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with Kaletra. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.