II. Indications
- HIV Infection (part of combination therapy)
III. Mechanism
IV. Medications
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra) Tablets: 100/25 and 200/50 mg
- Do not crush, cut or chew
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra) Solution: 80/20 mg/ml
- Give buffered Didanosine either at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after Lopinavir/Ritonavir
- Ritonavir solution contains Alcohol
- With Feeding Tube administration, use only silicone or PVC
- Avoid polyurethane tubing due to Alcohols in solution
V. Dosing
-
General
- Better tolerated when taken with food
- Typically used in its boosted form with Ritonavir (combined in Kaletra)
- Use in combination with other Antiretrovirals
- Adult
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir 800/200 mg orally once daily
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir 400/100 mg orally twice daily
- Dose twice daily if risk of resistance (>=3 resistance genes), pregnancy
- Dose twice daily if on Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin
- Increase dose to 500/125 (tabs) or 533/133 (solution) twice daily if on Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Nelfinavir
- Child (off-label, but per guidelines)
- Doses are based on Lopinavir component (assumes use of Kaletra, combined Lopinavir with Ritonavir)
- Age 14 days to 12 months: Lopinavir 300 mg/m2
- Lopinavir 16 mg/kg orally twice daily
- Age 1 to 18 years
- Standard Dosing: All Lopinavir doses based on 300 mg/m2
- Weight: 13 to 15 kg: Lopinavir 13 mg/kg orally twice daily
- Weight: 15 to 45 kg: Lopinavir 11 mg/kg (up to 400 mg) orally twice daily
- Treatment-Naive Lower Dosing: All Lopinavir doses based on 230 mg/m2
- Weight: 13 to 15 kg: Lopinavir 12 mg/kg orally twice daily
- Weight: 15 to 45 kg: Lopinavir 10 mg/kg (up to 400 mg) orally twice daily
- Standard Dosing: All Lopinavir doses based on 300 mg/m2
- Pregnancy
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir 400/100 mg orally twice daily
- Consider increasing to 600/150 mg orally twice daily in second and third trimesters
- Treatment experienced with prior Protease Inhibitor
- Viral load >50 copies/ml
- Higher dose directed by serum Lopinavir levels
VI. Adverse Effects
- See Protease Inhibitor for adverse effects attributed to the class
-
Pancreatitis
- May be life threatening
- Cardiovascular
- Prolonged use increases risk of Myocardial Infarction
- PR Prolongation
- QT Prolongation
VII. Safety
- Avoid in Lactation
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy registry exists
- Considered an alternative Protease Inhibitor for pregnant women, when other preferred agents are contraindicated
VIII. Drug Interactions
- See dosing above for interactions that lower Lopinavir/Ritonavir serum levels (and require twice daily and/or higher dose)
-
Tenofovir
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir increases Tenofovir levels
-
Oral Contraceptives (OCP)
- Decreased OCP effectiveness
-
Statins
- Rosuvastatin dose limited to 10 mg
- Atorvastatin limited to lowest effective dose
-
Voriconazole
- Ritonavir decreases Voriconazole levels and efficacy
- Avoid concurrent use if possible
- Opioids
-
Clarithromycin
- Decrease Clarithromycin dose if Creatinine Clearance <60 ml/min
-
Seizure medications
- Some antiepileptic agents lower Lopinavir levels (see dosing above)
- Monitor levels of Lamotrigine, Phenytoin and Valproic Acid
IX. Resources
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir (DailyMed)
X. References
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
- (2009) Treat Guidel Med Lett 7(78): 11-22 [PubMed]
- Reust (2011) Am Fam Physician 83(12): 1443-51 [PubMed]