IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Prescribing Information
Indication and Usage: LEXIVA is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection. The PI-experienced–patient study was not large enough to reach a definitive conclusion that LEXIVA/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir are clinically equivalent. Once-daily administration of LEXIVA plus ritonavir is not recommended for PI-experienced patients or any pediatric patients. LEXIVA does not cure HIV or prevent passing HIV to others.
Important Safety Information: You should not take LEXIVA if you have had an allergic reaction to LEXIVA or AGENERASE® (amprenavir). Tell your healthcare provider if you have liver or kidney problems, have diabetes or hemophilia, are allergic to sulfa medicines, or are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. CONTINUED BELOW
About LEXIVA
With HIV medicine, there are two things you'll want to consider: Does your doctor feel it's the best course of treatment, and how convenient is the dosing regimen? If you're looking for a protease inhibitor that fits these criteria, LEXIVA may be right for you. Its easy-to-manage regimen is what makes LEXIVA different. While taking LEXIVA you might be able to:
Eat or drink
Eat or drink whenever you like
Once-a-day†
Take LEXIVA once a day with Norvir (ritonavir), if your healthcare provider recommends it
No yellowing effect
Take LEXIVA without yellowing of the skin and eyes
Can take heartburn drugs
Use common antacids or heartburn medications without changing how LEXIVA works‡
Easier on digestion
Have a lower chance of diarrhea compared with nelfinavir§
Less Norvir® (ritonavir)†
Take less Norvir®
†If you have taken a protease inhibitor before, neither once-a-day dosing nor reduced ritonavir is recommended.
‡LEXIVA without ritonavir may be less effective because of decreased amprenavir plasma concentrations in patients taking H2-receptor antagonists at the same time. No dose adjustment required with proton pump inhibitors when administered at the same time as LEXIVA.
§In a study versus nelfinavir, serious diarrhea was experienced by 1 in 20 patients taking LEXIVA versus 4 in 20 patients taking nelfinavir.
How LEXIVA works
LEXIVA is a protease inhibitor that decreases the amount of HIV in your blood (viral load) when used with other antiretroviral medicines. It treats HIV infection by keeping the virus from making copies of itself inside the body. With less HIV, the body's immune system can work better and make more cells, called CD4 cells, which help the body fight infection.
LEXIVA is often "boosted" with Norvir
LEXIVA is often taken with another protease inhibitor called Norvir. Norvir boosts the amount of LEXIVA in the body. These medicines do not cure HIV or prevent you from giving HIV to others, but they can help control the disease.
With the exception of LEXIVA, the products mentioned on this page are not trademarks of ViiV Healthcare. The makers of these brands are not affiliated with and do not endorse ViiV Healthcare.
*Individual experiences may vary. By prescription only.
Talk to your doctor to see if LEXIVA is right for you.
Please see the full Prescribing Information for LEXIVA
Important Safety Information
LEXIVA is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection.
- The PI-experienced–patient study was not large enough to reach a definitive conclusion that LEXIVA/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir are clinically equivalent
- Once-daily administration of LEXIVA plus ritonavir is not recommended for PI-experienced patients or any pediatric patients
LEXIVA does not cure HIV or prevent passing HIV to others.
Important Safety Information
- You should not take LEXIVA if you have had an allergic reaction to LEXIVA or AGENERASE® (amprenavir).
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have liver or kidney problems, have diabetes or hemophilia, are allergic to sulfa medicines, or are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- High blood sugar, diabetes or worsening of diabetes, and bleeding in hemophiliacs have occurred in some patients taking protease inhibitors.
- When you start taking HIV medicines, your immune system may get stronger and could begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body, such as pneumonia, herpes virus, or tuberculosis. If you have new symptoms after starting your HIV medicines, be sure to tell your doctor.
- Changes in body fat may occur in some patients taking antiretroviral therapy. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.
- Skin rashes can occur in patients taking LEXIVA.
- Opportunistic infections can develop when you have HIV and your immune system is weak. It is very important that you see your healthcare provider regularly while you are taking LEXIVA to discuss any side effects or concerns.
- Kidney stones have been reported in patients taking LEXIVA. Tell your healthcare provider if you have pain in your side, blood in your urine, or pain when you urinate.
- Missing or skipping doses of your medicine may make it easier for the virus to mutate and multiply. Your medicines may not work as well against a mutated virus, and you may become cross-resistant to other HIV medicines. It’s important to take your medicine exactly as prescribed.
Most Common Side Effects
- Most common side effects in clinical studies were diarrhea, headache, nausea, rash, and vomiting. In most cases, these side effects did not cause people to stop taking their medicine.
Drug Interactions
- LEXIVA should not be taken with: AGENERASE® (amprenavir), Halcion® (triazolam), ergot medications (Cafergot®, Migranal®, D.H.E. 45®, and others), Propulsid® (cisapride), Versed® (midazolam), Orap® (pimozide), Zocor® (simvastatin), Mevacor® (lovastatin), Rifadin® (rifampin), Rescriptor® (delavirdine mesylate), Revatio® (sildenafil), Uroxatral® (alfuzosin), or St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). If you are taking Norvir® (ritonavir), you should not take Tambocor® (flecainide) or Rythmol® (propafenone hydrochloride).
- Serious and/or life-threatening events could occur between LEXIVA and other medications, including Cordarone® (amiodarone), lidocaine (intravenous only), Elavil® (amitriptyline HCl), and Tofranil® (imipramine pamoate), tricyclic antidepressants, Advair® (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol) and Serevent® (salmeterol), and Quinaglute® (quinidine).
- Women who use birth control pills should choose a different kind of birth control. The use of LEXIVA with Norvir (ritonavir) in combination with birth control pills may hurt your liver. Also, birth control pills may not work if you take LEXIVA or LEXIVA with Norvir. Talk to your healthcare provider about choosing the right birth control for you.
- Patients taking Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) or LEVITRA® (vardenafil HCl) with LEXIVA may be at increased risk of side effects.
- This list of drug interactions is not complete. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking or plan to take, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbals.