Lopinavir
Lopinavir treats HIV as part of combination therapy and is always paired with ritonavir; the tablet on this page is Kaletra 200/50mg, both medicines in one.
What lopinavir does in HIV treatment
Lopinavir is an HIV protease inhibitor. HIV makes its proteins as long chains and needs the protease enzyme to cut them into working pieces; lopinavir blocks the cutting, so new virus particles come out unfinished and cannot infect further cells. Viral load, the amount of HIV in the blood, falls as a result. It is always one drug among several in a regimen. Treatment is long term: the virus is not cleared, but kept very low it spares the immune system and makes passing HIV on through sex far less likely. The HIV treatment category lists the other medicines.
Lopinavir and ritonavir in one tablet
On its own, lopinavir is broken down by the liver too quickly to be much use. Ritonavir, itself a protease inhibitor, blocks the liver enzyme responsible, so adding a small dose lets lopinavir stay at a useful level in the blood. That is why the lopinavir here comes ready-combined in Kaletra, 200mg of lopinavir with 50mg of ritonavir in each tablet.
Dosing and storage
A standard adult day is four tablets: two 200/50mg in the morning and two in the evening, each swallowed whole. The tablets do not depend on meals. What does depend on you is regularity. Every missed dose lets HIV multiply again, and repeated gaps can make the virus resistant to lopinavir. Store below 30°C, away from direct sun.
Side effects to expect
Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain are the usual complaints in the first few weeks, and they often ease as the body adjusts. Headache, tiredness and a rash also turn up. Blood tests during treatment watch triglycerides (a blood fat), cholesterol, liver enzymes and blood sugar, all of which Kaletra can raise. A blistering rash, a rash with fever, yellowing of the eyes or skin, or severe upper stomach pain are signs of a serious reaction and need urgent treatment.
Medicines that clash with it
Ritonavir blocks a liver enzyme that clears a long list of other drugs, so Kaletra can push their levels up or down in ways that cause harm. The cholesterol tablets simvastatin and lovastatin, ergot medicines used for migraine, the antibiotic rifampicin and St John's wort are combinations that are avoided. Other HIV medicines, methadone and some anticonvulsants (medicines for seizures) also interact with it.
Sources
- Lopinavir and Ritonavir: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- About HIV - CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Can I order Lopinavir online in Hong Kong?
You can order Lopinavir online with delivery to Hong Kong, where the page lists generic Kaletra as a 200/50mg tablet containing lopinavir with ritonavir. Tracked courier delivery to Hong Kong takes 5 to 9 business days and includes online tracking.
What is the price of Lopinavir?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Kaletra page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Lopinavir?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order lopinavir. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for lopinavir and ritonavir?
Kaletra is a brand name of lopinavir and ritonavir. Here, lopinavir and ritonavir can be bought online as generic Kaletra. These are generics, not the original brand.
Does lopinavir cure HIV?
No. It stops HIV from multiplying, which lets the immune system recover, but the virus stays in the body and treatment continues long term. Keeping the viral load undetectable is what protects health and prevents passing HIV on through sex.
Can Kaletra be taken once a day?
Yes, for some people. The standard adult schedule is two 200/50mg tablets twice a day, morning and evening. Adults who are new to HIV treatment can take four tablets once a day instead; people who have taken HIV medicines before stay on the twice-daily schedule.
Is Kaletra the same as lopinavir?
Kaletra is the brand name of the tablet that contains both medicines: lopinavir does the antiviral work, while ritonavir keeps lopinavir's levels high enough to last between doses. The name on the box is Kaletra; the active pair is lopinavir with ritonavir.
Can I take lopinavir with other medicines?
Not all of them. Simvastatin and lovastatin for cholesterol, ergot migraine medicines, the antibiotic rifampicin and St John's wort are combinations that are avoided with Kaletra, and doses of methadone, some seizure medicines and other HIV drugs are adjusted around it. Herbal products count too.