Lexiva

Lexiva is a prescription HIV and AIDS medication that is only approved for use in combination with other drugs as part of an HIV "cocktail." It works by preventing the HIV virus from multiplying and spreading to uninfected cells in the body. The medicine comes in tablet and liquid form, and is generally taken twice daily. Potential side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Lexiva Drug Information

What Is Lexiva?

Lexiva^® (fosamprenavir calcium) is a prescription medicine used as a treatment for HIV and AIDS. It is only approved to be used in combination with other HIV medications.

(Click Lexiva Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes Lexiva?

Lexiva is made by GlaxoSmithKline.

How Does Lexiva Work?

Lexiva belongs to a group of HIV medications known as protease inhibitors. These medicines work by blocking a process that the HIV virus needs in order to multiply.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. Like other viruses, it must use a person's own cells to reproduce. Once inside an infected cell, the HIV virus uses the cell to make DNA, which enables it to make new HIV viruses that can spread to other cells. The DNA is made in long strands that must be clipped into shorter, usable strands using enzymes called proteases.

Lexiva is a protease inhibitor, which means that it stops protease enzymes from clipping DNA into short strands. Since the long, unclipped DNA strands cannot be used to make new viruses, this helps stop the spread of HIV to other uninfected cells.

This drug is not a cure for HIV or AIDS, however. It can help stop HIV from infecting healthy cells in the body, but it does not help cells that have already been infected with the virus.

Lexiva Article Continues on Next Page >