Kaletra is a medication which is knownto be capable of helping people control their HIV infection,significantly improving the quality of their lives. Moreover, thismedication can decrease chances of one suffering from many illnessesthat usually go hand-in-hand with AIDS.
Therefore, the following lines willprovide you with a detailed description of this medication and allthe important data regarding it use and side-effects.
Kaletra for HIV Control
Kaletra is, basically a combination oftwo medications, lopinavir and ritonavir. Both of these are used forcontrolling the HIV infection in human beings. Moreover, often, thesecan be mixed with some other medications in order to increase theeffectiveness of the treatment. Some of the diseases Kaletra canprevent in people with HIV are cancers and infections which commonlyappear due to the compromised immune system.
The drugs within this drug functiontogether because ritonavir prolongs the effectiveness of thelopinavir, helping the latter accumulate in the body more, leading toa better result. Yet, Kaletra is not a cure for AIDS or HIV, nor canit prevent this infection from getting spread to other people throughsexual or some other forms of contact. Nevertheless, it is an HIVprotease inhibitor and it makes the lives of people who suffer fromHIV much easier.
This medication comes with a medicationguide which you are advised to read before taking Kaletra in thefirst place. Additionally, prior to taking the drug for the firsttime, you should consult with your doctor about it. During thisprocess, you should let your doctor know all about your medicalhistory, mentioning everything, from past illnesses, over allergiesto medication intolerance. This information will help the healthexpert decide whether you are suitable for using this drug safely ornot.
If you are capable of using Kaletrasafely, you can start with the therapy, which usually involves takingone or two tablets a day. You should swallow these whole, before orafter eating. The tablets are design to slowly release the drug.Thus, do not chew, break or affect the tablet in any way beforeswallowing it, since this can lead to dosage issues and potentiallythe onset of side-effects.
In order for Kaletra to be fullyeffective, your body needs steady, equally distributed dosages of it.Hence, do not miss a dose and make sure you always take the sameamount of this medication, according to the instructions of yourdoctor. Skipping or missing a dose will increase chances of sufferingfrom infections. Also, this situation can trigger side-effects.
Bear in mind that this drug is notsuitable for you if you have suffered from liver diseases, especiallyhepatitis C and B, heart disease or certain disorders affecting theheart rate, Long QT syndrome, problems with the pancreas, diabetes,low potassium levels in the blood, hemophilia or a similar bleedingcondition and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.If you have suffered from any of these, inform your doctor about thisbefore taking Kaletra. Also, tell him/her if you have taken anyprotease inhibitors in the past.
Even though the effects of Kaletra on afetus have not yet been determined, you should avoid getting pregnantif you suffer from HIV or AIDS since these conditions can easily betransferred to your unborn baby. Thus, it is best to use non-hormonalmethods of contraception and birth control if you are sexually activeand infected by HIV.
Side-Effects of Kaletra
Some of the most frequently occurringside-effects related to Kaletra are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, upsetstomach, flatulence, headaches and sleeping disorders. If any ofthese start affecting you once you have started taking thismedication, let alone start getting worse, seek medical assistance assoon as possible.
Other less frequent, more dangerousside-effects that Kaletra has been known to cause are joint andmuscle pain, increased thirst and urination, blurred vision,persistent nausea and vomiting, confusion, pain in the abdominalarea, jaundice, dark urine, persistent fevers and strange fatigue.Take these signs seriously and contact your doctor immediately oncethese appear.
Finally, the most dangerousside-effects that may appear during your Kaletra treatment aresymptoms resembling a heart attack, including shortness of breath,pain in the jaw, left arm and chest and unusual sweating, along withsome other symptoms like serious dizziness, fainting or prominentheartbeat irregularities. Also, if you are allergic to thismedication, you may react to it through rashes, hives, swelling ofthe facial area, dizziness and breathing difficulties. Thus, stayalert for any of these signs and seek medical help immediately ifthese start affecting you.
Kaletra is a combination of twodifferent medications which prevent infections and other healthproblems which are commonly related to the HIV infection. Even thoughthis medication cannot stop or prevent the HIV virus or AIDS per se,it can make the lives of people who suffer from these, stillincurable, diseases, significantly easier.
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