Lopinavir avec ritonavir pour le VIH

About lopinavir with ritonavir

Kaletra® contains two ingredients - lopinavir and ritonavir. These are both antiretroviral medicines prescribed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Lopinavir is the main active ingredient and ritonavir helps to boost the amount of lopinavir which gets into your bloodstream. Kaletra® slows the progress of HIV infection, but it is not a cure. HIV destroys cells in the body, called CD4 T cells. These cells are a type of white blood cell and are important because they are involved in protecting your body from infection. If left untreated, the HIV infection weakens your immune system so that your body cannot defend itself against bacteria, viruses and other germs. Kaletra® slows down the progress of HIV infection by reducing the amount of virus in your body. It does this by stopping the production of a protein that the virus needs to copy (replicate) itself.

Lopinavir and ritonavir belong to a group of antiretroviral medicines known as protease inhibitors (PIs). They are given alongside a number of other antiretroviral medicines, as part of a combination therapy. Taking three or more antiretroviral medicines at the same time is more effective than taking one alone. Taking a combination of different medicines also reduces the risk that the virus will become resistant to any individual medicine.

Antiretroviral medicines will be prescribed for you by a doctor who is a specialist. It is vital to take your antiretroviral medicines exactly as prescribed in order to maintain success and to help to prevent the virus from becoming resistant to the medicines. These medicines are usually taken for life.

Before taking lopinavir with ritonavir

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking lopinavir with ritonavir it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si vous êtes enceinte, si vous essayez d'avoir un enfant ou si vous allaitez.

• Si vous souffrez de diabète (diabète sucré).

• If you have a heart problem or have been told you have a heart rhythm disorder.

• Si vous souffrez d'une inflammation du foie (appelée hépatite) ou de tout autre problème hépatique.

• Si vous avez un problème de fonctionnement des reins.

• If you have inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

• If you are being treated for low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism).

• Si vous êtes atteint d'hémophilie ou de porphyrie, deux maladies sanguines héréditaires rares.

• Si vous prenez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments disponibles sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médicaments complémentaires.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament.

How to take lopinavir with ritonavir

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about Kaletra®, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take Kaletra® exactly as your doctor tells you to - the directions will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you. The usual dose for an adult is two tablets taken twice a day (12 hours apart), although some people can be asked to take four tablets once daily. If you have any difficulties swallowing tablets, let your doctor know about this as the liquid medicine could be more suitable for you.

• Depending upon their age, children can be prescribed tablets or liquid medicine. The dose will depend upon their weight and height. If you (or your child) have been given liquid medicine to take, your doctor will advise you about how much you should take for each dose, and how to measure it out correctly using the dosing syringe provided in the pack. Wash the syringe with water after each use.

• Tablets should be swallowed with a drink of water. Do not crush or break the tablet before you swallow - it should be swallowed whole. You can take Kaletra® tablets either with or without food.

• If you are taking liquid medicine, you should always take your doses with a meal. This is because food in your stomach helps the liquid medicine to be absorbed better by your body.

• Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take the tablets/medicine regularly.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless:
  

  • You usually take your doses twice a day and you are more than 6 hours late; in which case do not take the missed dose but do take your next dose when it is due.

  • You usually take your doses once a day and you are more than 12 hours late; in which case do not take the missed dose but do take your next dose when it is due.

Tirer le meilleur parti de votre traitement

• Respectez vos rendez-vous réguliers avec votre médecin afin qu'il puisse suivre votre évolution. Vous devrez subir des analyses de sang régulières.

• It is important that you continue to take antiretroviral treatment regularly. This will help to prevent the HIV from becoming resistant to the medicines you are taking. Even if you miss only a small number of doses, the virus can become resistant to treatment.

• If you develop any infection soon after you start this treatment, let your doctor know. As a result of taking this medicine, your immune system may start fighting an infection which was present before you started the treatment, but which you may not have been aware of.

• Suivez attentivement les conseils de votre médecin concernant les changements à apporter à votre mode de vie afin de réduire le risque de dommages à votre cœur et à vos vaisseaux sanguins. Il peut s'agir d'arrêter de fumer, de manger sainement et de faire régulièrement de l'exercice.

• Certaines personnes prenant des médicaments antirétroviraux développent des changements dans la façon dont la graisse corporelle est répartie dans le corps. Cela peut entraîner des modifications de l'image corporelle. Votre médecin discutera avec vous de cette possibilité.

• Bien que le traitement par des médicaments antirétroviraux puisse réduire le risque que vous transmettiez le VIH à d'autres personnes par contact sexuel, il ne l'empêche pas. Il est important que vous utilisiez des préservatifs.

• Il n'est pas rare que les personnes séropositives se sentent déprimées, surtout peu de temps après le diagnostic et le début du traitement. Si vous vous sentez déprimé ou si vous avez l'impression de vous faire du mal, parlez-en immédiatement à votre médecin.

• Certaines personnes ayant pris des médicaments antirétroviraux (en particulier sur une longue période) ont développé une maladie appelée ostéonécrose. Il s'agit d'une maladie osseuse dans laquelle le tissu osseux meurt en raison d'une diminution de l'apport sanguin. Elle entraîne des douleurs et des raideurs articulaires et peut provoquer des difficultés de mouvement. Si vous remarquez l'un de ces symptômes, parlez-en à votre médecin.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with your other medicines. This is because some remedies interfere with antiretroviral medicines and stop them from working properly. In particular, do not take the herbal remedy St John's wort.

• Si vous êtes diabétique, vous devrez peut-être contrôler votre taux de sucre dans le sang (glucose) plus fréquemment, car ce médicament peut modifier le taux de sucre dans votre sang. Votre médecin vous conseillera à ce sujet.

• Si vous devez subir une opération ou un traitement dentaire, indiquez à la personne chargée du traitement les médicaments que vous prenez.

• Treatment for HIV is usually lifelong. Continue to take this medicine regularly for as long as your doctor tells you to, even if you feel well. This is to keep your immune system healthy.

Can lopinavir with ritonavir cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with Kaletra®. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Important: some people taking Kaletra® have developed inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) - the most common signs of this are persistent stomach pain, feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), high temperature (fever), and feeling generally unwell. Let your doctor know straightaway if you develop these symptoms.

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes qui pourraient être dus au médicament, demandez conseil à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien.

How to store lopinavir with ritonavir

• Conservez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Store Kaletra® tablets in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

• Store Kaletra® Oral Solution in a refrigerator until it is needed. Once a bottle has been opened it may be kept out of the fridge providing it is in a cool place. It will keep for six weeks after being opened - after this time, make sure you have a fresh supply.

• It is a good idea to write on the label the date you removed the bottle from the refrigerator

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments