Lexiva

Maker:
ViiV Healthcare

What it does:
Helps prevent replication of HIV

Traditional dosage:
For those used to protease inhibitors, 700 mg plus a 100 mg capsule of Norvir, twice daily. For those new to therapy, 1,400 mg twice daily, sometimes paired with Norvir. Available in tablets or oral solution; tablets can be taken with or without food, oral solution without food. Reduced dosage recommended for patients with liver impairment.

Drug interactions, precautions, & recommendations:
Do not take with Incivek, Victrelis, Rescriptor, Uroxatral, Rifadin, Rimactane, St. John’s Wort, certain arrhythmia medications, ergot-based medications, Propulsid, Zocor, Mevacor, Orap, Revatio (when used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension), Versed, or Halcion. If you take oral contraceptives, consider alternative birth control methods. Do not take with Viramune unless also taking Norvir. Use with caution with Seroquel, H2 blockers, and calcium channel blockers. Do not use if you have Stevens-Johnson syndrome or if you take drugs that use the enzyme CYP3A4 to metabolize.

Side effects:

severe skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, new or worsened diabetes, redistribution of body fat, elevated cholesterol, anemia, spontaneous bleeding, kidney stones

Other: diarrhea, rash, nausea, vomiting, headache