Kaletra Oral Solution Description

As part of your antiretroviral therapy for treating the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), your doctor may recommend Kaletra Oral Solution that contains Ritonavir and Lopinavir as the active ingredients. HIV is always treated with 2-4 medications in order to attack the virus at different stages and as a back-up measure in case the virus has become resistant to any of the drugs you take.

Although there is no cure for HIV, Kaletra Oral Solution will help to reduce the amount of this virus in your body, called the viral load. Regular blood tests can confirm the progress Kaletra Oral Solution is making by the level of CD4 cells (T cells) you have from one test to the other.

Taking Kaletra Oral Solution Reduces Your Viral Load

When taken as directed, Lopinavir (80mg per ml) works as a protease inhibitor. Protease is an enzyme that is essential to the virus for changing HIV proteins so the virus can grow and multiply. With Ritonavir (20mg per ml), also a protease inhibitor but working at a lower dosage as a booster for Lopinavir,the protease enzyme is impeded even more which boosts the effects of Lopinavir by allowing it to stay in your body longer. This double boosted combo has been effective in patients that have failed therapy previously with protease inhibitors.

About Retroviruses

A retrovirus means that the virus needs a host in order to survive. The viruses enter and infect immune cells (T cells) with its own genetic material called RNA. As the T cells multiply, it is the viral RNA that has been transformed into DNA through one of its own enzymes that is actually reproduced over and over until the number of T cells that are vital to your immune system become low. This is about the time you start noticing the symptoms of HIV.

Diagnosed and treated early, many people dealing with HIV have a regular job, family, bill payments, and other responsibilities. The virus will always be in your body and if you do not seek or want treatment, you could progress to AIDS as the viral load increases. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a medical condition and not a virus.

Before Kaletra Oral Solution is Prescribed

Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding so you can be aware of any risks with taking Kaletra Oral Solution. To determine if your doctor should prescribe Kaletra Oral Solution for you, discuss other medical conditions or allergies you have and list any current OTC or Rx drugs you take or use, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements.

Proper Use of Ritonavir/Lopinavir

Taking Kaletra Oral Solution or other HIV drugs will not protect your spouse or partner from becoming infected unless you take every precaution to be safe. The virus is still in your body and can easily be transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing needles, razors, or from mother to child during childbirth. HIV cannot survive outside the body, it needs a host in order to survive.

Possible Side Effects of Kaletra Oral Solution

• Diarrhea
• High cholesterol
• Nausea/vomiting

Drugs Similar to Kaletra Oral Solution

• Kaletra
• Viracept
• Atazanavir/Ritonavir