Ritonavir

What it is used for

Lopinavir and ritonavir is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV1 infection in adults and pediatric patients 14 days and older. Limitations of Use: Genotypic or phenotypic testing and/or treatment history should guide the use of lopinavir and ritonavir. The number of baseline lopinavir resistance-associated substitutions affects the virologic response to lopinavir and ritonavir.

Lopinavir and ritonavir is an HIV-1 protease inhibitor indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients (14 days and older).

The most important thing to know

Lopinavir and ritonavir may cause serious side effects, including: Interactions with other medicines. It is important to know the medicines that should not be taken with lopinavir and ritonavir. For more information, see "

How to take it

Take lopinavir and ritonavir every day exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Stay under the care of your healthcare provider during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir. It is important to set up a dosing schedule and follow it every day. Do not change your treatment or stop treatment without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Swallow lopinavir and ritonavir tablets whole. Do not chew, break, or crush lopinavir and ritonavir tablets. lopinavir and ritonavir tablets can be taken with or without food. If you are taking both didanosine and lopinavir and ritonavir: o Didanosine can be taken at the same time as lopinavir and ritonavir tablets, without food.

Take didanosine either 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking lopinavir and ritonavir oral solution. If you are pregnant: o You should not take lopinavir and ritonavir tablets on a 1 time each day dose schedule. Avoid use of lopinavir and ritonavir oral solution. If your child is prescribed lopinavir and ritonavir: o Tell your healthcare provider if your child’s weight changes.

Lopinavir and ritonavir should not be given to children on a 1 time each day dose schedule. When giving lopinavir and ritonavir to your child, give lopinavir and ritonavir exactly as prescribed. You may have a greater chance of getting diarrhea if you take lopinavir and ritonavir 1 time each day than if you take it 2 times each day.

Do not miss a dose of lopinavir and ritonavir. This could make the virus harder to treat. If you forget to take lopinavir and ritonavir, take the missed dose right away. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Instead, follow your regular dosing schedule by taking your next dose at its regular time.

Do not take more than one dose of lopinavir and ritonavir at one time. If you or your child take more than the prescribed dose of lopinavir and ritonavir, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What are the possible side effects of lopinavir and ritonavir? Lopinavir and ritonavir can cause serious side effects, including: Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

You may develop new or worsening diabetes or high blood sugar during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of the following signs or symptoms: o urinate more often than usual o unusual weight loss o increased hunger or thirst o increase in your blood sugar levels Your healthcare provider may need to start you on medicine to treat high blood sugar or change your diabetes medicines.

Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Call your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

Increases in certain fat (triglycerides and cholesterol) levels in your blood. Large increases of triglycerides and cholesterol can be seen in blood test results of some people who take lopinavir and ritonavir. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels before you start taking lopinavir and ritonavir and during your treatment.

Changes in body fat can happen in some people who take antiretroviral therapy. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck ("buffalo hump"), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.

Increased bleeding in people with hemophilia. Some people with hemophilia have increased bleeding with lopinavir and ritonavir or similar medicines. Skin rash, which can be severe, can happen i

Side effects, and when to stop

” for more information about serious side effects. What is lopinavir and ritonavir? Lopinavir and ritonavir is a prescription medicine that is used with other antiretroviral medicines to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults and children 14 days of age and older. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

It is not known if lopinavir and ritonavir is safe and effective in children under 14 days old. Who should not take lopinavir and ritonavir? Do not take lopinavir and ritonavir if you: are allergic to lopinavir, ritonavir, or any of the ingredients in lopinavir and ritonavir. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in lopinavir and ritonavir.

if you take any of the following medicines: o alfuzosin o apalutamide o ranolazine o dronedarone o colchicine, if you have kidney or liver problems. o rifampin o lurasidone o pimozide o ergot containing medicines including: ■ dihydroergotamine mesylate ■ ergotamine tartrate ■ methylergonovine o cisapride o elbasvir/grazoprevir o lovastatin o simvastatin o lomitapide o sildenafil (Revatio®), when used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension o triazolam o midazolam when taken by mouth o St.

John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum®) Serious problems can happen if you or your child takes any of the medicines listed above with lopinavir and ritonavir. Before taking lopinavir and ritonavir, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have ever had a serious skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain lopinavir or ritonavir.

have or had pancreas problems. have liver problems, including Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. have any heart problems, including if you have a condition called Congenital Long QT Syndrome. have low potassium in your blood. have diabetes. have high cholesterol in your blood. have hemophilia. Lopinavir and ritonavir may cause increased bleeding.

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if lopinavir and ritonavir tablets will harm your unborn baby. Lopinavir and ritonavir oral solution contains alcohol (ethanol) and propylene glycol. You should not take lopinavir and ritonavir oral solution during pregnancy because there is no safe level of alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir o Lopinavir and ritonavir may reduce how well hormonal birth control works. Females who may become pregnant should use another effective form of birth control or an additional barrier method of birth control during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir.

o Pregnancy Registry: There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiretroviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of the pregnancy registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed if you take lopinavir and ritonavir. o You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. o Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Many medicines interact with lopinavir and ritonavir. Keep a list of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with lopinavir and ritonavir. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take lopinavir and ritonavir with other medicines. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of other medicines during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir.

Who should not take it

” Side Effects in babies taking lopinavir and ritonavir oral solution. Lopinavir and ritonavir oral solution contains alcohol (ethanol) and propylene glycol. Call your healthcare provider right away if your baby appears too sleepy or their breathing changes. Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Lopinavir and ritonavir can cause pancreatitis which may be serious and may lead to death.

People who have high levels of a certain fat (triglycerides) have a risk for developing pancreatitis. If you have advanced HIV-1 disease, you may have an increased risk of high triglyceride levels in your blood, and pancreatitis. If you have a history of pancreatitis, you may have an increased risk of it coming back again during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any signs or symptoms of pancreatitis including: o nausea o vomiting o stomacj-ache (abdominal) pain Liver problems. Liver problems, including death, can happen in people who take lopinavir and ritonavir. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before and during your treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir to check your liver function.

If you have Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, or other liver problems, you may have an increased risk for developing new or worsening of liver problems during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs and symptoms of liver problems including: o Loss of appetite o Pale colored stools o yellow skin and whites of eyes(jaundice) o itchy skin o Dark-colored urine o stomach area (abdominal) pain Changes in your heart rhythm and the electrical activity of your heart.

These changes may be seen on an EKG (electrocardiogram) and can lead to serious heart problems. Your risk for these problems may be higher if you: ◦ have a history of abnormal heart rhythm or certain types of heart problems. ◦take other medicines that can affect your heart rhythm during treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: ◦ dizziness ◦ lightheadedness ◦ fainting ◦ sensation of abnormal heartbeats See “

Storing it

Lopinavir and ritonavir tablets: Store lopinavir and ritonavir tablets at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Store lopinavir and ritonavir tablets in the original container. Do not keep lopinavir and ritonavir tablets out of the container it comes in for longer than 2 weeks, especially in areas where there is a lot of humidity.

Keep the container closed tightly. Keep lopinavir and ritonavir tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.