What is Lexiva?
The antiviral drug Lexiva prevents HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) from multiplying within your body.The HIV virus, which can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is treated with Lexiva.The Lexiva tablet is intended for adults and children over the age of 4 weeks. This medication is not a treatment for HIV/AIDS.
Warnings
If you also use flecainide, propafenone, or other heart rhythm medications to treat a disorder of the heart rhythm, do not combine Lexiva with ritonavir. You may want to ask your doctor if you can take a heart rhythm medicine other than Lexiva.Lexiva can have unwanted side effects. If you take any of these drugs, your doctor might need to adjust your treatment.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to fosamprenavir, then Lexiva is not for you.
Certain medicines may have unwanted or harmful effects when taken with Lexiva. If you are also taking
- Alfuzosin;
- Delavirdine;
- Rifampin;
- John's wort;
- Hypertension pulmonary arterial is treated with sildenafil (revatio).
- Antipsychotic medicine: lurasidone, pimozide;
- Cholesterol-lowering medicine: lovastatin, simvastatin;
- Ergot medicine: dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, and methylergonovine;
- Heart rhythm medicine: flecainide, propafenone,
- A sedative—oral midazolam or triazolam.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that lexiva will be safe for you:
- Hepatitis b and c are liver diseases.
- Kidney disease
- A bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia.
- Diabetes
- Allergy to drugs containing sulfa
Use your medication properly to manage your infection. HIV may be transmitted to the baby if it is not treated during pregnancy. You may have your name listed in a registry that tracks the effects of antiviral medicines on children.Lexiva may make birth-control pills ineffective. You may experience abnormal liver tests if you take Lexiva with ritonavir as well as birth control pills. Consult your doctor regarding non-hormonal birth control methods (condoms, diaphragms with spermicide).Breast-feeding is not recommended for women with HIV/AIDS. The virus can be transmitted to your child even if it is not born with HIV.A baby younger than 28 days (four weeks) should not receive Lexiva.
How to take Lexiva?
Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instructions sheets. Please read all instructions provided on your prescription label.Adults and children should take Lexiva liquid suspension with or without food. Tablets can be taken either with food or without.Before measuring a dosage, shake the orally. You can use the provided dosing device or a dose-measuring tool (not a spoon).The weight of the children is used to determine the dose. If your child loses or gains weight, the dose they need may be different.Medical tests will be required frequently.Read all the instructions and medication guides that you are given. You should not alter your dosage or schedule of medication without consulting your doctor. Each person living with HIV must be under the supervision of a physician.Keep the tablets away from heat and moisture.Store Lexiva oral suspension in the fridge, but not frozen.
Details on dosage
Lexiva Adult Dosage:
Treatment-Naive patients:
-With ritonavir:
Fosamprenavir 1,400 mg and ritonavir 200 or 100 mg, orally taken once daily
Fosamprenavir plus Ritonavir orally, twice daily: 700mg Fosamprenavir and 100mg Ritonavir
Protease Inhibitor-Experienced Patients: Fosamprenavir 700 mg plus ritonavir 100 mg orally twice a dayComments:
Some experts do not recommend the daily regimen or fosamprenavir without boosters during pregnancy.
HIV-1 Infection: Use in combination with other antiretroviral drugs
Lexiva adult dose for non-occupational exposure:
US CDC recommendations: Orally, 1400mg twice a week
Treatment duration: 28 days
Comments:
Only with expert consultation as part of a non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis regimen
Prophylaxis must be initiated as quickly as possible and within 72 hours after exposure.
For additional information, you should consult the current guidelines.
Adult dose of Lexiva used for occupational exposure:
US Public Health Service Working Group:
Fosamprenavir (1400mg) plus ritonavir (100mg), orally, once daily
Alternate dosing: orally, 1400mg twice daily (without Ritonavir).
Treatment duration: up to 28 days if tolerated
Comments:
Only with an expert's consultation as part of a different regimen to be used as HIV post-exposure prophylaxis
Prophylaxis must be initiated as quickly as possible, ideally within 24 hours of exposure.
The optimal prophylactic duration is not known and can vary depending on the institution's protocol.
For additional information, you should consult the current guidelines.
Use of Lexiva in children for HIV infection:
RITONAVIR WITHOUT:
Patients who are not aware of the existence of a protease inhibitor (age 2 years or older):
Oral suspension, 30 mg/kg, twice daily
Maximum dose: 1400 mg/dose
Tablets:
Weight at least 47kg: Orally, take 1400mg twice daily.
RITONAVIR
Protease Inhibitor-Naive Patients (Aged 4 Weeks or Older) and Protease Inhibitor-Experienced Patients (Aged 6 Months or Older):Oral suspension:
Weight less than 11kg: fosamprenavir at 45 mg/kg and ritonavir at 7 mg/kg, orally two times a day.
Weight 11–15 kg: Fosamprenavir (30 mg/kg) plus Ritonavir (3 mg/kg) orally, twice daily
Weight: 15 kg to 20 kg or less: fosamprenavir at 23 mg/kg and ritonavir at 3 mg/kg, taken twice daily.
Weight at least 20kg: Fosamprenavir (18 mg/kg) plus Ritonavir (3 mg/kg), orally, twice daily
Maximum dose: fosamprenavir 700 mg/dose; ritonavir 100 mg/doseTablets:
Fosamprenavir plus ritonavir orally, twice daily if you weigh at least 39 kg.
Comments:
This drug is only to be given to babies who are at least 28 days postnatal and have a gestational age of at least 38.
The Panel on Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical Management of Children with HIV recommends against using fosamprenavir boosted (with ritonavir) in infants less than six months old or fosamprenavir unboosted (without ritonavir) in children who are antiretroviral naive (of any age). Current guidelines can be used for more information.
Patients weighing more than 33 kg can use ritonavir tablets.
HIV-1 Infection: Use in combination with other antiretroviral drugs
What happens if I miss the dose?
Skip the dose you missed if it is almost time for your next one. Do not take more than 1 dose per day.
Refill your prescription before it runs out.
What happens if I overdose?
For poison assistance, call 1-800-222-1222 or get immediate medical help.
What should be avoided?
This medicine does not stop the spread of your illness. Share razors and toothbrushes. Speak to your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission while having sex. Even healthy people should never share syringes for drugs or medicines.
Side effects of Lexiva
If you experience any of the following symptoms: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling on your face, throat, or nose, or severe skin reactions (fever or sore throat with burning eyes or skin, blistering or peeling skin, or red or purple skin rash), then seek emergency medical attention.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking Lexiva immediately and contact your doctor.
- If you notice pale, yellow, or dark urine or if you feel confused or weak, this could be a sign of a fever or confusion.
- Increased urination, extreme thirst,
- High blood sugar: increased thirst, increased urine, dry mouth, and fruity breath smell
- The symptoms of kidney stones are sudden, severe back pain, or pain on your side or lower back, and blood in the urine.
Fosamprenavir can affect your immune system and cause side effects. This may occur even weeks or months later. You should tell your doctor about:
- Symptoms of an infection: fever, sweats at night, swelling glands; cold sores (cough, wheezing); diarrhoea; and weight loss.
- If you have difficulty speaking, swallowing, or moving your eyes, are weak, have a prickly sensation, or have balance problems, then this could be the cause.
- Impotence, menstrual change
Lexiva may cause side effects such as:
- Fever or other symptoms of infection
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea;
- Rash;
- Headache
- Changes in body fat distribution (particularly in your legs, arms, chest, face, breasts, and neck)
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Call the FDA to report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain drugs at the same time. Some medications can cause side effects that increase or decrease the effectiveness of another drug you are taking.Fosamprenavir can cause interactions with many drugs. Some drugs shouldn't be taken together. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you have stopped using. Included are prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medicines. This list does not include all interactions.
