What is the most important information I should know about lopinavir and ritonavir?
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There are many other drugs that can cause serious or life threatening medical problems if you take them together with lopinavir and ritonavir. The following drugs should not be used while you are taking this medication: alfuzosin (Uroxatrol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor) or simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin), St. John's wort, pimozide (Orap), midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion), rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), sildenafil (Revatio for pulmonary arterial hypertension), or an ergot medicine such as D.H.E. 45, Ergomar, Cafergot, Ergotrate, Methergine, Migergot, or Migranal. |
Many other medicines can interact with lopinavir and ritonavir. 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.
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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. |
What is lopinavir and ritonavir?
Lopinavir and ritonavir are antiviral medications that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body
The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This medicine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Lopinavir and ritonavir may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lopinavir and ritonavir?
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You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it. |
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There are many other drugs that can cause serious or life threatening medical problems if you take them together with lopinavir and ritonavir. The following drugs should not be used while you are taking this medication: alfuzosin (Uroxatrol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor) or simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin), St. John's wort, pimozide (Orap), midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion), rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), sildenafil (Revatio for pulmonary arterial hypertension), or an ergot medicine such as D.H.E. 45, Ergomar, Cafergot, Ergotrate, Methergine, Migergot, or Migranal. |
To make sure you can safely take lopinavir and ritonavir, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- 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 triglyceride levels in your blood; or
- if you have ever used a protease inhibitor in the past.
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FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether lopinavir and ritonavir 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. |
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Lopinavir and ritonavir 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 lopinavir and ritonavir. |
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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. |
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Do not give this medication to a child younger than 14 days old without medical advice. Premature infants should not receive lopinavir and ritonavir until it has been 14 days after their original due date. |
How should I take lopinavir and ritonavir?
Take 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, especially when giving the medicine to a child.
Lopinavir and ritonavir tablets may be taken with or without food.
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Do not crush, chew, or break a lopinavir and ritonavir tablet. Swallow the pill whole. |
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Lopinavir and ritonavir liquid should be taken with food. |
Measure the liquid medicine 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 this medication 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.
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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. |
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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.
Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of lopinavir and ritonavir oral liquid could be fatal to a child. |
What should I avoid while taking lopinavir and ritonavir?
If you take lopinavir and ritonavir liquid and you also take didanosine (Videx), take the didanosine at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take lopinavir and ritonavir liquid.
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Lopinavir and ritonavir liquid contains 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 lopinavir and ritonavir liquid. |
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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. |
What are the possible side effects of lopinavir and ritonavir?
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Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
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Stop taking lopinavir and ritonavir and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: |
- dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats;
- vision changes;
- increased urination or extreme thirst;
- penis erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours;
- 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;
- loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); 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.
Less serious side effects may include:
- mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach;
- mild skin rash;
- headache, weakness, feeling tired; 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.
What other drugs will affect lopinavir and ritonavir?
Many drugs can interact with lopinavir and ritonavir. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:
- bosentan (Tracleer);
- colchicine (Colcrys);
- fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent) or salmeterol (Serevent);
- rifabutin (Mycobutin);
- itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), voriconazole (Vfend);
- an antidepressant such as bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) or trazodone (Desyrel);
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
- cancer medicine such as nilotinib (Tasigna) or dasatinib (Sprycel);
- cholesterol-lowering medicine such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), or rosuvastatin (Crestor);
- drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) or tacrolimus (Prograf);
- heart or blood pressure medicine such as amlodipine (Norvasc, Caduet, Exforge, Lotrel, Tekamlo, Tribenzor, Twynsta), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;
- heart rhythm medications such as amiodarone (Cordarone) or quinidine (Quin-G);
- other HIV /AIDS medicine such as efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), and others;
- insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;
- narcotic medication such as methadone (Dolophine, Methadose) or fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Onsolis);
- sildenafil (Viagra, Adcirca), 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 lopinavir and ritonavir. 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.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about lopinavir and ritonavir.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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