Alltera

Alltera is an anti-retroviral medication consisting of Lopinavir 200 mg & Ritonavir 50 mg. The combination drug is indicated against HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection. Alltera (Lopinavir 200 mg & Ritonavir 50 mg) is capable of boosting immunity thereby managing the HIV infection.

Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) inhibits the growth and proliferation of viral cells reducing the HIV-related problems. Both the molecules in the combination support each other in their activities. Ritonavir assists in restricting the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of lopinavir enabling an increased exposure to viral cells and improvements in anti-viral activities.

Recommended dosage of Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) in different populations:

Alltera can be administered as a single dose daily or two doses daily based on the resistance power of patients against lopinavir, age, and body weight. It can be taken orally with or without food. However, for better exposure, the drug is recommended with food.

Adults aged 18 years and over:

•  4 tablets of Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) once daily (800 mg/200 mg)

Adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over:

•  2 tablets of Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) twice daily (400 mg/100 mg)

Children aged between 6 months to 18 years:

•  2 tablets of Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) twice daily (400 mg/100 mg). Herein, patients should have in between 30 to 45 kgs of body weight and body surface area (calculated by height and weight of the child) over 1.2 to 1.7 m2.

Warnings and Precautions associated with Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir):

General warnings:

• •  The dosing regimen should be followed strictly to minimize the risk of overdose or underdose

• •  If children have gained any sort of body weight, the dosing should be modified accordingly

• •  Patients should avoid taking the double dose, as it increases the resistance of the virus

• •  Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) is not used for the complete cure of HIV-1 infection; patients might witness a few opportunistic infections while taking it

• •  Follow other HIV-related warnings strictly without fail

• •  Avoid Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) if patients are allergic to lopinavir or ritonavir

Drug interactions:

Inform the doctor if you are taking,

• •  Any other medicine for HIV-1 infection

• •  Estrogen-based contraceptive drugs

• •  Organ-transplant rejection drugs

• •  Cancer medications

• •  Herbal or vitamin supplements

• •  Over-the-counter drugs

Serious warnings:

In certain scenarios, Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir) is either restricted or modified based on the situation of the patients. These scenarios include,

• •  Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which includes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain

• •  Severe complications in the liver: This can occur if patients have hepatitis B and C or other severe liver problems. Their signs include loss of urge to eat, skin or white part of eyes turning yellow, urine in a dark colour, itchiness and abdominal pain

• •  Diabetes or high amount of sugar in the blood

• •  Uncalled changes in the immune system (Immune reconstitution syndrome)

• •  Changes in body fat

• •  Increased bleeding (Hemorrhage)

• •  Allergic reactions including skin rashes

• •  Problems to fetus

Side-effects of Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir):

Most common ones:

• •  Diarrhea (once-daily regimen has higher chances than twice-daily regimen)

• •  Vomiting

• •  Nausea

• •  Increased amounts of fats in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides)

Note: These are not all side-effects of Alltera (Lopinavir & Ritonavir), please ask your doctor for more info.