Kaletra

Kaletra

Generic Name: lopinavir and ritonavir (loe PIN a veer and ri TOE na veer)

Brand Names: Kaletra

What is Kaletra?

Kaletra, a combination of antiviral medications lopinavir and ritonavir, belongs to a group of HIV medicines called protease inhibitors. These medicines prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.

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

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

Important information about Kaletra

Do not take Kaletra with lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), simvastatin (Zocor), oral midazolam (Versed), pimozide (Orap), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), sildenafil (Revatio, for pulmonary arterial hypertension), St. John's wort, triazolam (Halcion), or an ergot medicine such as Cafergot, Embolex, Ergotrate, Wigraine, D.H.E. 45, Wigrettes, Medihaler Ergotamine, Migranal, or Methergine. These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking Kaletra.

There are many other medicines that can interact with Kaletra. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. 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.

Taking Kaletra will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing 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.

Before taking Kaletra

Do not take Kaletra with lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), simvastatin (Zocor), oral midazolam (Versed), pimozide (Orap), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), sildenafil (Revatio, for pulmonary arterial hypertension), St. John's wort, triazolam (Halcion), or an ergot medicine such as Cafergot, Embolex, Ergotrate, Wigraine, D.H.E. 45, Wigrettes, Medihaler Ergotamine, Migranal, or Methergine. These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you take them together with Kaletra.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a Kaletra dose adjustment or special tests:

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;

a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;

high cholesterol or triglyceride levels in your blood; or

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

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Kaletra will harm an unborn baby. 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. 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 Kaletra. 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. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 14 days old.

See also: Kaletra pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Kaletra?

Take Kaletra exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Kaletra tablets may be taken with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, or break a Kaletra tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Kaletra liquid should be taken with food.

Measure the liquid form (oral solution) of Kaletra with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

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.

To be sure Kaletra is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

Store the liquid medicine in the refrigerator or at room temperature, away from heat or moisture. If you store the medicine 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 Kaletra liquid.

Kaletra oral liquid contains a large portion of alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol while using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you also take metronidazole (Flagyl) or disulfiram (Antabuse), which can cause severe nausea and vomiting when taken with Kaletra liquid. Taking this medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing 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 any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Kaletra: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking ritonavir and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats;

fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

increased urination or extreme thirst;

easy bruising or bleeding;

signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms;

severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate; or

low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Kaletra side effects may include:

mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach;

numbness or tingling, especially around your mouth;

mild skin rash;

headache, weakness, mood changes; 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 Kaletra 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: Kaletra side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Kaletra?

Many drugs can interact with Kaletra. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent) or salmeterol (Serevent);

rifabutin (Mycobutin);

itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);

an antidepressant such as trazodone (Desyrel) and others;

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;

cholesterol-lowering medicine such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), or rosuvastatin (Crestor);

drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf);

heart rhythm medications such as amiodarone (Cordarone) or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);

other HIV /AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), efavirenz (Sustiva), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), and others;

insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;

medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra); or

seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin).

This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with Kaletra. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

More Kaletra resources

Kaletra Side Effects (in More Detail)

Kaletra Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Drug Images

Kaletra Drug Interactions

Kaletra Support Group

2 Reviews for Kaletra - Add your own review/rating

Kaletra Prescribing Information (FDA)

Kaletra Monograph (AHFS DI)

Kaletra Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Kaletra MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Kaletra with other medications

HIV Infection

Nonoccupational Exposure

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Kaletra.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.